Mentor Texts For Forms of Writing K-8

This picture book shares the tale of Arfy, a homeless mutt who lives in a box in an alley. Arfy writes to every person on Butternut Street about what a great pet he'd make. His letters to prospective owners share that he's house broken! He has his own squeaky bone! He can learn to live with cats! But, no one wants him. Won't anyone open their heart--and home--to a lonesome dog? Readers will be happily surprised to learn just who steps up to adopt Arfy. Troy Cummings's hilarious and touching story is a perfect gift for a child wanting a dog, and for pet adoption advocates. It also showcases many different styles of letter writing, making it appealing to parents and teachers looking to teach the lost art of written communication.

When Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn they start making demands, and go on strike when the farmer refuses to give them what they want. Farmer Brown thinks it's odd when he hears the sounds of typing coming from the barn, but his troubles really begin when his cows start leaving him notes. First they demand better working conditions, then they stage a strike!

When Duncan arrives at school one morning, he finds a stack of letters, one from each of his crayons, complaining about how he uses them.

George and Blaise are pen pals, and they write letters to each other about everything- their pets, birthdays, favorite sports, and science fair projects. There's just one thing that the two friends don't know- George is a human, while Blaise is a dragon! What will happen when these pen pals finally meet face-to-face?

"A well-thought-out presentation of an important environmental message." --Kirkus When the kids in Room 5 write to Earth asking what they can do to help save our planet, they are delighted to get a letter back. This beautiful picture book is a celebration of every child's ability to connect with the environment and make a positive impact. A monthly exchange of ideas between the kids and Earth becomes a lasting friendship in this affectionate story about how to be an Earth Hero, lyrically written by Erin Dealey and gorgeously illustrated by Dilys Evans Founder Award-winning illustrator Luisa Uribe. Young readers will learn about environmental conservation, along with simple things they can do to help care for the planet--like recycling and reducing energy consumption. There is even a reversible jacket cover that features a poster printed on the inside with twelve months of Earth Hero activities. These fun and interactive activities will encourage children to help protect our planet, not just in honor of Earth Day but year-round. Dear Room 5, Your letter arrived on the wind. A whisper of hope in the night. I'm thankful for helpers who care for their planet...

Although Juno, a Korean American boy, cannot read the letter he receives from his grandmother in Seoul, he understands what it means from the photograph and dried flower that are enclosed and decides to send a similar letter back to her.

A young girl and her teacher correspond about the whale she has discovered in her pond.

A beguiling dog laments his fate at obedience school through a series of hilarious letters home--by the best-selling illustrator of HOW DO DINOSAURS SAY GOOD NIGHT?When Ike Larue is "imprisoned" at the Igor Brotweiler Canine Academy, he tries everything to get sent home--weepy letters to his owner, even illness. In reality, Brotweiler is more like camp than prison, but still, Ike's not cut out for life w/o Mrs. Larue & his creature comforts. Finally, he runs away only to find himself back in Snort City--just in time to save Mrs. Larue's life.Teague is at the top of his fetching form in this madcap comedy where the real world of Brotweiler & the one Ike imagines are brilliantly depicted thru split-screen visuals, the former in color & the latter in b&w.

Alex and his mother write notes back and forth in which Alex tries to persuade her to let him have a baby iguana for a pet.

Alex is desperate for his own room. No hard-working, well-behaved, practically-grownup boy should have to put up with sharing a room with a brother who always breaks stuff, barks like a walrus, and sticks crayons up his nose. Just because his new sister came along shouldn't mean that the number one kid has to suffer! Writing letters to his mom convinced her to let him get a pet iguana, so Alex puts pencil to paper again. Though all of his powers of persuasion can't get his dad to add a new wing onto the house, he does come through with a fun alternative.

The postman delivers letters to fairy tale characters and the reader gets to look at the contents of each envelope. Pockets throughout the book act as envelopes.

An impulsive little boy experiences the power of unconditional love Timothy Shmoe isn't a bad kid, but sometimes he makes honest (and not-so-honest) mistakes. Time after time, Timothy finds himself in disasters of his own creation, leaving a trail of broken heirlooms, torn tutus, and innocent bystanders (including his cat, Fluffy). Told in a series of letters, readers follow Timothy through his hilarious antics and missteps. When his pocketful of marbles wreaks havoc at his sister's ballet recital, Timothy realizes he's gone too far. In one final, remorseful letter, Timothy apologizes for the ballet blunder and says his father probably wishes Timothy had never been born. What follows is a touching lesson about the redeeming power of acceptance. Bright, comic-like illustrations and hand-lettered text bring Timothy and his shenanigans to life. Hilarious and heartwarming, The Sorry Life of Timothy Shmoeis a call to empathy for children who struggle with impulse control, and a tribute to unconditional love.

A series of letters describe the actions of Goldilocks, Peter Rabbit, the Three Pigs, Little Red Hen, and other storybook characters when Little Red Hen and her chicks become the target of the unsavory Wolf and his cousin, Fer O'Cious.