I Want a Dog: My Opinion Essay

Darcy Pattison

Feb 2015 · The Read and Write series Book 1 · Mims House · Narrated by Josiah Bildner

About this audiobook

I Want a Dog: My Opinion EssayBy Darcy Pattison, Illustrated by Ewa O'Neill

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

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. For STEM classes, a good study of dog species.

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

About the author

ABOUT THE AUTHORTranslated into nine languages, children's book author DARCY PATTISON writes picture books, middle grade novels, and children's nonfiction. Twice her books have been named a National Science Teacher's Association Outstanding Science Trade Book. Her title, THE JOURNEY OF OLIVER K. WOODMAN (Harcourt), won an Irma Black Picture Book Honor award. Her books have received starred reviews from PW, Kirkus, and BCCB.Other titles include:The Aliens, Inc. Series (Mims House) Book 1: Kell, the Alien Book 2: Kell and the Horse Apple Parade Book 3: Kell and the GiantsAbayomi, the Brazilian Puma: The True Story of an Orphaned Cub (Mims House)Wisdom, the Midway Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and other Disasters for Over 60 Years (Mims House)Desert Baths (Arbordale)Prairie Storms (Arbordale)19 Girls and Me (Philomel/Penguin)11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph: A Military Family Story (Mims House)The Wayfinder (Greenwillow/Harpercollins)Vagabonds (Mims House)Saucy and Bubba (Mims House)The Girl, the Gypsy and the Gargoyle (Mims House)Darcy is a member of the Society of Children's Bookwriters and Illustrators and the Author's Guild. For more information, see darcypattison.com. ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:Ewa O'Neill lives in Poland with her husband and twin sons.