Hurrah for Essays! All writing lessons should be this much fun.

SLJ Review: ". . .fill(s) a niche for teachers. . ."

When cousins Dennis and Mellie decide to get a dog, they consider carefully what breed would be best for each family. For example, Dennis wants a big dog, but Mellie wants tiny. He has no other pets, but she has other pets that a dog must get along with. They consider different dog personalities, family situations, and personal preferences. Dennis writes an opinion essay for his teacher, Mrs. Shirky. But will his essay convince his parents to get the dog of his dreams?

This story takes a popular subject—kids getting a pet—and adds dogs of all sizes and shapes: all writing lessons should be this much fun. In the end, it's cousins and the dogs that keep a reader turning the page. What kind of dog will Dennis choose? Will Mellie want the same kind of dog?

This story hits many notes:

• A family story about cousins, Dennis and Mellie


• Information on dog breeds


• Responsible dog ownership


• Mentor-text for teaching writing


• Model opinion essay for elementary students


• Models the writing process, especially the importance of pre-writing or planning before you write


• Completes the writing process by showing the results of Dennis's essay

I WANT A DOG almost makes opinion essays look too easy.

See other books in THE READ AND WRITE series:

I Want a Cat: My Opinion Essay

My Crazy Dog: My Narrative Essay

My Dirty Dog: My Informative Essay

"This is a remarkable children's book that has a lesson." –Fred Kampo, President of the Labrador Retriever Club

"I find these books to be the perfect resource when teaching persuasive writing and opinion essay." Peggy Carlisle, NBCT, Director, NSTA Preschool/Elementary Division, President-Elect Society of Elementary Presidential Awardees, NSTA.