Picture Books that Teach Kids to Write

5 Book - HARDCOVER Collection |

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Looking for a way to make writing come alive for your students? This delightful collection of five picture books does exactly that—and your kids won't even realize they're learning!

Written by award-winning author Darcy Pattison, these beautifully illustrated books follow relatable kid characters as they tackle real writing assignments. Each book models a different type of writing while weaving in engaging stories about pets, family, and adventure. Your children will see exactly how to craft essays and letters—complete with the thinking process behind choosing topics, organizing ideas, and adding vivid details.

Why Homeschoolers Love This Collection:

• Mentor texts (sample essays) that actually work – Kids see exactly how essays are structured by watching characters write them step by step
• Writing curriculum disguised as storytime – No more groans when it's time for writing lessons!
• Covers all the major essay types – Opinion, narrative, informative, and friendly letter writing in one collection
• Recurring characters kids adore – Cousins Dennis and Mellie appear throughout the Read and Write Series, creating a connected world students love returning to
• Teacher resources included – Each book comes with extension activities and writing prompts to make lesson planning easy
• Common Core aligned – Meets standards for grades K-4 writing instruction
• Pet-themed fun – Dogs, cats, and plenty of humor keep reluctant writers engaged
• Shows the thinking process – Characters work through choosing topics, brainstorming criteria, and organizing ideas—modeling exactly what young writers need to do
• Geography bonus – Oliver K. Woodman adds U.S. geography to the mix as he hitchhikes across the country

The Read and Write Series (Books 1-4):

I Want a Dog: My Opinion Essay (Book 1) – Dennis needs to write an essay about the best dog for his family. By comparing dog breeds and thinking through his criteria, he learns how to organize an opinion essay—and earns a new furry friend!

I Want a Cat: My Opinion Essay (Book 2) – Now Dennis and his cousin Mellie want cats! Through emails and research on different cat breeds, Mellie models the opinion essay process while learning what makes each breed special.

My Crazy Dog: My Narrative Essay (Book 3) – When Dennis's dog Clark Kent leads him on a wild chase through the house, it becomes the perfect topic for a narrative essay. Kids learn to use sensory details and temporal words to bring a story to life.

My Dirty Dog: My Informative Essay (Book 4) – Cousins Dennis and Mellie spend the day at a K-9 Karnival and then write informative essays about what they learned. This book shows how to organize facts, definitions, and details into clear, engaging writing.

Also Included - friendly letter writing:

The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman – Uncle Ray can't visit his niece Tameka in California, so he builds a life-sized wooden man named Oliver and sends him hitchhiking across the country! Told entirely through letters and postcards, this charming adventure teaches friendly letter format while exploring U.S. geography.

DOWNLOAD Printable Worksheets

These lesson plans and worksheets will help kids plan and write their essays. Click the image to download.