Picture books provide effective models for student writing. For purposes of organization and writing lessons, the models found in picture books may be divided into three groups: (1) language patterns; (2) story structures; and (3) literary elements. Language patterns include repetitive sentence patterns, verse forms, word patterns, and cultural sequences (concepts such as the alphabet, numbers, or the days of the week). Story structures instill in young writers an organization for their thinking. Some story structures even primary children can emulate are cumulative tales, problem centered sequences, explanation-direction sequences, episodic patterns, chronological structures, and interlocking sequences. Literary elements--plot, character, setting, theme, and tone--can be approached through textless picture books. Because picture books rely upon a multitude of these patterns and structures, the more forms the students recognize and utilize from a single picture book, the more diverse their writing will become. (JL)