The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant illustrated by Kathryn Brown*

An old woman names various items she owns, but only items that will outlive her.  She has outlived all of her friends and refuses to become attached to anything else that may pass away or become worn out before her.  Then a stray puppy arrives outside her gate and shakes up her well ordered world!!
*Highly recommend.
-I own this book.
Strategies: mentor text for personal narratives; character traits