Opinion writing is an important skill for students to develop, as it empowers them to express their thoughts and ideas effectively. One effective way to teach opinion writing is through the use of mentor texts. Mentor texts are pieces of literature that serve as examples for students to study and model their own writing after. Here are 19 mentor texts that can help students improve their opinion writing skills:

1. “I Wanna Iguana” by Karen Kaufman Orloff – This book explores the persuasive techniques used by a boy who wants an iguana as a pet.

2. “Hey, Little Ant” by Phillip and Hannah Hoose – This story presents a dilemma and encourages readers to form their own opinions about whether or not to squish an ant.

3. “The Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt – This cleverly written book features crayons who express their opinions through a series of letters, providing a unique perspective on color choices.

4. “My Brother Dan’s Delicious” by Steven L. Layne – This story narrates the main character’s efforts to persuade his brother to eat a variety of unusual foods.

5. “The Best Part of Me” by Wendy Ewald – In this photography book, children share their opinions and stories about their favorite body parts.

6. “Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School” by Mark Teague – This humorous book consists of letters from a dog named Ike who tries to convince his owner that he should be allowed to come home.

7. “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type” by Doreen Cronin – This entertaining story follows the clever cows on a farm who use their newfound ability to type to demand better working
conditions.

8. “The Sandwich Swap” by Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah – This book teaches children about embracing cultural differences and forming their own opinions about food preferences.

9. “Hey, That’s My Monster!” by Amanda Noll – In this imaginative story, a young boy defends his opinion that he wants his monster back.

10. “I Am Enough” by Grace Byers – This empowering book encourages children to form positive opinions about themselves and others.

11. “What If Everybody Did That?” by Ellen Javernick – Through a series of humorous situations, this book teaches the importance of considering the consequences of one’s actions and forming responsible opinions.

12. “Enemy Pie” by Derek Munson – This heartwarming story explores the power of friendship and challenges readers to form opinions based on getting to know others.

13. “Fish in a Tree” by Lynda Mullaly Hunt – This novel tells the story of a young girl with dyslexia who discovers her self-worth and forms her own opinions about her abilities.

14. “Voices in the Park” by Anthony Browne – Through multiple narrators, this book explores different perspectives and encourages readers to form their own opinions about the events that take place in the park.

15. “Those Shoes” by Maribeth Boelts – This book tackles topics of peer pressure and materialism, encouraging readers to form their own opinions about what truly matters.

16. “How I Became a Pirate” by Melinda Long – Through a hilarious adventure, this book prompts readers to form their own opinions about the pirate lifestyle.

17. “The Name Jar” by Yangsook Choi – This book tells the story of a girl who moves to a new country and invites readers to form their own opinions about names and identity.

18. “Enemy Pie” by Derek Munson – This heartwarming story explores the power of friendship and challenges readers to form opinions based on getting to know others.

19. “We Don’t Eat Our Classmates” by Ryan T. Higgins – This humorous book discusses empathy and forming positive opinions about classmates.

These mentor texts offer a wide range of topics and writing styles to engage students in opinion writing. By studying and analyzing these texts, students can develop their skills in persuasion, critical thinking, and forming well-supported opinions. Use these mentor texts as a springboard for classroom discussions, writing prompts, or as examples to inspire students’ own opinion writing pieces.