Teaching persuasive writing with books is a great way to grab the kids’ attention. More importantly, exposure to persuasive language through such books can hasten their understanding of the subject. Kids are typically attracted to colorful illustrations. So, it is no surprise that the best persuasive books for kids are picture books. But besides that, if the book has a plot that appeals to their whims, it will have them glued.
Explore our list of some of the best books for teaching persuasive writing below. You’ll surely come across just the right set of books for your persuasive writing unit classes.
Best Persuasive Books for Kids at a Glance
- Most Humorous Book – The Day the Crayons Quit
- Most Adorable Picture Book – Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
- Best for Opinion Writing – In My Opinion
- Attention-Grabbing Story – Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late
- Best for Teaching Kids How to Debate Over Multiple Options – The Perfect Pet
- Best for Teaching Encouragement through Persuasion – Ricky, the Rock That Couldn’t Roll
- Best for Persuasive Letter Writing – Can I Be Your Dog?
- Best for Encouraging Creative Writing – Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
- Best for Two-way Debate – Hey, Little Ant
- Best for Counterargument – The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
- A Story About Making a Personal Request – I Wanna New Room
Our Best Persuasive Books Review
#1. – The Day the Crayons Quit
The Day the Crayons Quit is best for teachers who want to teach their students how to appeal to various emotions.
The humor-themed story of a boy trying to appease his aggrieved crayons is something the kids can relate to. Kids typically have crayons. So, imagining what it would feel like if their crayons put up a protest may not be far from them.
One thing this book does is create multiple unique situations; each crayon is upset for a different reason. So, your students will be exposed to different emotions. At the same time, they get to learn how to pacify those different emotions.
All in all, this book has a lively story and is full of passionate arguments. It also introduces kids to the art of writing letters.
#2. – Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Thanks to its rich visuals and funny storyline, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus is best for getting the kids engrossed in the class. It is highly interactive and relatable for kids.
The book is centered around a pigeon who wants to drive a bus. At first, the pigeon’s request to drive the bus was turned down. But then, the pigeon pleaded and persuaded.
To make the class interactive, you could read aloud and then ask what the students think about letting the pigeon drive the bus. Then you could have them make a case for whichever side of the argument they choose.
#3. – In My Opinion
In My Opinion is best for helping your students improve their opinion writing skills. It is centered around an opinionated young girl named Maddie. It not only helps with opinion writing, but it could also help kids learn how to accept new views and change old opinions.
The book also helps with communication. In it, Maddie learns to share her opinions. At the same time, she found out that not everyone agrees with her views. She also learned to accept opposing views. Of course, there must have been some exchange of information for these to happen
#4. – Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late
As with the other pigeon-themed book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late is illustrative and funny.
Like many kids, the pigeon in this book seems reluctant to go to bed at night. So, you can tell that your students will surely relate to the narrative. But then, instead of being at the end of being swayed to go to bed, your students get to be the ones doing the convincing.
As a class activity, you can get your pupils to write about how they will convince the pigeon to go to bed.
#5. – The Perfect Pet
The Perfect Pet is best for showing your class how to debate when there are multiple options/outcomes. In this tale, the main character, Elizabeth wants any one of a selection of animals as a pet. However, her parents have a different opinion. But in the end, she got a pet – not one of her earlier options, but it was perfect.
You can get your little persuasive writers to write about a topic like “Which animal do you think would be the perfect pet for Elizabeth?” You may even put them in groups and let each group debate for one of the animals in Elizabeth’s selection.
#6. – Ricky, the Rock That Couldn’t Roll
Ricky, the Rock that Couldn’t Roll is best for helping the students develop their sense of persuasion and motivation. While the title seems a bit sad, the plot, especially the end, is pretty bright.
Ricky, the Rock That Couldn’t Roll may not really contain so many words for persuasive writing. However, it teaches how perseverance is a powerful tool for conviction.
All in all, the storyline in this book has many lessons for children. Said lessons are even applicable beyond persuasive writing.
#7. – Can I Be Your Dog?
Can I Be Your Dog is best for helping students learn persuasive letter writing. It is about a homeless pooch trying to find a home by writing letters to every house on Butternut Street. So, there are enough letters in different styles for your students to learn from.
Besides having rich content, this persuasive kids’ book is entertaining. It packs a fair amount of hilarious elements. It is highly immersive and totally sweet.
#8. – Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type
Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type is best for helping students develop persuasive writing and creative writing skills. It has the kind of odd storyline kids enjoy so much. The plot is pretty imaginative, and it could help your students form ideas for similar creative stories.
The narrative centers around cows that used the typewriter they found on their farm to type a letter to their farmer. The plot gets even more interesting when you find out that they requested electric blankets in the note.
The farmer declined the cows’ request. But as a class activity, you can ask your pupils to write to the farmer to convince him to get electric blankets for the cows.
Besides the physical book, it is available as an audiobook. So, you may choose not to read aloud by yourself.
#9. – Hey, Little Ant
Hey, Little Ant helps show your students how to be persuasive in a two-way discussion. The plot involves a conversation between an ant and a boy looking to crush it. The little boy was going to crush the ant. But in an unexpected turn of events, the ant starts talking while trying to convince the boy not to crush it. After the ant made its case, the boy replied with his argument for wanting to crush it.
You can get your pupils involved by asking their opinion of what the boy should do. You could also make them write about how they would convince the other party if they were the boy or the ant.
#10. – The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs is best for teaching the kids counterarguments. If you know of “The Three Little Pigs” story, you probably know that the wolf was the bad guy in many versions of the story. But the plot of the “True Story of the Three Little Pigs” gives the wolf a chance to tell its side of the story.
Basically, the plot teaches how to challenge an opinion that is already widely accepted. You can have your students write a counterargument against a view they’ve always accepted as true.
#11. – I Wanna New Room
I Wanna New Room is about a kid trying to get his parents to give him a new room after he started sharing his current room with his brother. It accompanies another book titled “I Wanna Iguana”, and both books see the boy writing to persuade his mom & dad to grant him some personal requests.
You can test your student’s understanding of this book by telling them to write to their parents, requesting something they’ve wanted for a while.
