Persuading Miss Doover by Robin Pulver (2018) is about writing a persuasive essay. In this case, an essay of only four sentences. Jack and Samir are classmates and best friends who conspire to embarrass their teacher. She responds by separating them. "Miss Doover sat Jack in the front of the room. She sent Amir to a seat in the back." This was simply intolerable for the boys. So Miss Doover challenges them to convince her that they should sit together. In fact, she takes writers' workshop time to challenge the entire class to write four sentences about something they would really want. She provides a template. Jack and Samir's submissions often need revision. Consequently, the reader sees their multiple attempts at convincing paragraphs. There are submissions by classmates too. "My dog should be our class pet. . . We should be allowed to take more than two books out of the library at a time. . .Recess should be for two hours." This book is an ingenious way to teach persuasion. Stephanie Roth Sisson's illustrations convey the delight and desperation of Jack and Samir. Miss Doover appears compassionately steadfast in her objective.
