Through this article, we describe an instructional strategy termed "Beautiful Books." This strategy involves the creation of images and texts to be used in the development of oral and literacy skills. We explore the historical roots of the strategy in Language Experience Approach (LEA) and Whole language and consider how dictation and early writing can be used together to support development. We discuss the inherent tensions in emergent writing, dictation, and sharing the pen, and describe some of our recent research using Beautiful Books in preservice teacher education. (Contains 6 figures.)