THE CAT IN THE HAT, HOW ABOUT THAT
In mock election, kids’ choice pledges kindness for all
Some voters approached the polls apprehensively, unsure of the presidential candidates before them.
Others deliberated for only a moment before casting their ballots, confident in their choices in a high-stakes election.
Thing 1 and Thing 2 captured an early lead Saturday in a tight race at the Children’s Museum of Houston, but a bespectacled Cat in the Hat ultimately trumped them with promises of better education, cleaner oceans and kindness for all.
“A person is a person, no matter how small,” he said.
The lighthearted election centered on the story line of “One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote,” a picture book meant to introduce children to the political process. In it, the Cat in the Hat explains the evolution of voters’ rights, political parties and presidential campaigns.
“We’re bringing it to life,” said Ke’ara Hunt, the museum’s educational events coordinator. “This is going to include the kids so they can get an early start in the democratic process.”
The election offered a re- prieve from the vitriol of the campaign cycle’s final days. After coloring an “I Voted” badge, Kaissa Hecham, 7, admitted the real presidential race made her sad.
“Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are not being nice to each other,” she said.
Jaysen Smith, recalling some of Trump’s comments about Mexicans and African-Ameri- cans, said he didn’t want to talk about the Republican nominee. Trump’s behavior, he said, reminded him not to be rude to his mother.
“Now I know how she feels,” the 9-year-old said.
Before votes were counted, a confident cat donned his red-striped hat and took questions from two young voters hoping he would build more playgrounds and push for more school field trips.
Trayvon Williams, 6, liked what he heard. He and his friend Jamarion Jordan, also 6, both cast their ballots for Cat in the Hat, whose real identity is museum discovery guide Nick Cuellar.
“He’s going to make the world better,” Williams said.
Leah Golden, the boys’ chaperone, trekked from Conroe just so they could participate in the event. She hoped it would inform their approach to politics when they come of age to vote.
“I’m in the process of teaching them why you should vote for someone,” she said. “What are they going to do for you?”
Thing 1 and Thing 2 ran on a platform similar to the Cat in the Hat’s. They promised to expand education, protect the environment and fight against hunger.
That was enough for Kaissa, who reasoned that one would be president and the other vice president.
“They could build more schools, so that lots of kids could have an education,” she said.
The duo had Jaysen’s vote well before the event got underway. He expressed confidence in their ability to pass good laws and veto bad ones.
“I have been watching them ever since I was little,” Jaysen said.
When the polls closed in the early afternoon Saturday, the Cat in the Hat took the podium to remind the young voters that elections make their voices heard. He reveled in his victory amid a shower of confetti and a parade of percussion.