










Regular price
$9.99
Sale price
Unit price per
CLICK to Read Sample
Hurrah for Essays! All writing lessons should be this much fun.
In this story book, cousins Mellie and Dennis decide to get a cat. They consider carefully what breed would be best for each family. For example, Mellie wants a cat that pounces, but Dennis wants a lazy cat, like his lazy dog, Clark Kent. Mellie wants a lap cat, but Dennis just wants a warm body BESIDE him. They consider different cat personalities, family situations, and personal preferences.
Mellie writes an opinion essay for her teacher, Mr. Eagle. But will her essay convince her parents to get the cat of her dreams?
This story takes a popular subject—kids getting a pet—and adds cats of all sizes and shapes: all writing lessons should be this much fun. In the end, it’s the cousins and the cats that keep a reader turning the page. What kind of cat will Mellie choose? Will Dennis want the same kind of cat?
PRAISE FROM CAT EXPERTS
“This is an absolutely delightful story book intended for children, but actually one that is informative for adults as well, it reinforces the importance of considering various factors when selecting a cat as a pet. The two cousins are exchanging thoughts about their lifestyles and priorities. They each have a vision of their ‘ideal cat.’ Though every cat is an individual, the book expresses the value of predictable personality traits and other characteristics of various pedigreed cat breeds. It is a charming story of the two children each going through the process of finding a cat who best fits their own preferences. The playful illustrations compliment the humorous and educational quality of the book.”
--Joan Miller, Cahir, CFA Outreach and Education, Cat Fancier’s Association
This is quite simply as informative a cat book as any text out there. Each selected breed pinpoints the single most important trait to know about it before choosing a cat ‘purrfect’ for you. Although written from a child’s perspective, it makes clear sense to readers of all ages. As a cat lover and Maine Coon Cat breeder and enthusiast, I was thrilled with the spot on description and story of this beloved breed.
— Alexis Mitchell, Syracoon/Furensics, Maine Coon Cat Breed Council Secretary, Maine Coon Cat breeders of CFA
This story book hits many notes:
- A family story book about cousins, Dennis and Mellie
- Scientific information on cat breeds
- Responsible cat 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 CAT almost makes opinion essays look too easy. For STEM classes, a good study of cat species.
See other books in THE READ AND WRITE series
- I Want a Dog: My Opinion Essay
- My Crazy Dog: My Narrative Essay
- My Dirty Dog: My Informative Essay
FAQ
CUSTOM-PRINTED IN AMERICA
- Hardcover or paperback
MIMS HOUSE is a U.S. boutique publisher of children's books. When you order a Mims House book, it is custom-printed just for you in North Carolina. We create your custom book by printing and binding it with the highest quality materials.- Custom Printing for each book
- FSC certified environmentally safe paper
- Environmentally safe inks
- No waste or warehousing of thousands of books printed overseas

Our custom process means a longer wait time to read your book.
We don't apologize! The quality is worth the wait. And the environment is worth the wait.
(But we can suggest an ebook if you want to read something, like, RIGHT NOW!)
T-shirts are also custom printed in the United States.
BOOK SHIPPING
We could hire a super-hero or super-heroine to fly these books directly to you! Instead, we lovingly custom print and then ship as quickly as possible. When you check out, you’ll have a choice of two shipping methods:
- Mail - 7-10 days delivery. $4.99, or $9.99 for orders $50+
- Priority Shipping - 5-7 days delivery. $9.99 for orders under $25; $11.49 for orders $25-49; $15.99 for orders 50-$149. $19.99 for orders $150+
STOP THE PRESSES! REFUNDS POLICY
We can't yell, "STOP THE PRESSES!" Each book, T-shirt or sticker is created just for you, so please be sure you've ordered the correct item. We guarantee 100% satisfaction. If your book, t-shirt or sticker has been misprinted in some way or damaged in shipping, please send a photo to suefoster@mimshouse.com We'll immediately order a new custom printing to ship to you. For returns, please email suefoster@mimshouse.com for instructions.
Choosing the right book for the right reader.
Our books are appropriate for elementary or middle school students ages 5-14. Lexile reading levels appear on each book page. Read this post for more information on helping your student choose a great book.
Purchase Orders & Volume Discounts
Please contact SueFoster@mimshouse.com for a quote.
#MimsKids -
Follow us on social media with the hashtag, #MimsKids.eBOOKS and AUDIOBOOKS
Our digital books are delivered by Bookfunnel.com, a company that specializes in making sure you can read or listen to your book on the device of your choice. They own a copy of each of the 100 or so ebook readers ever made. And they’ve tested delivery of ebooks and audiobooks on each of them. They are friendly and happy to help you to move the ebook or audiobook onto your device. If you're not satisfied, we'll gladly refund ebook and audiobooks for three days after purchase. Orders older than three days will not be refunded. Contact SueFoster@mimshouse.com