More books for all ages that explain elections
Election season is always a strange time, and this year is, obviously, no exception. Your kids are sure to have questions about the conversations the adults in their lives are having — and, possibly, why Uncle Bob isn’t invited to Thanksgiving this year — so we’ve picked out some books to help bring kids of all ages a little context when it comes to elections.
“Vote for ME!” by Ben Clanton
This colorful and hilarious picture book features— who else? — a donkey and an elephant trying to convince the reader to “Vote for ME!” There’s plenty of hilarious mud slinging ( literally) and very little of substance in terms of issues. There’s even a surprise plot twist for independent voters. This one is more of a laugh-along read-aloud than anything of real substance, but that might actually mirror reality a little more than we are comfortable with.
“I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference” bymark Shulman
“Which do you like better? Apples or oranges?
Markers or crayons? Trampolines or swimming pools?” So begins a wonderful nonfiction introduction to voting and the power we hold as voters for very young readers. The simple illustrations and sparse text make this perfect for explaining why we vote and why it matters. As for me, I’m a crayon man.
“What is the President’s Job?” by Allison Singer
Published by the reliable folks at DK, this one’s full of facts for kids who are reading on their own. This is comparable in difficulty to an early reader or very early chapter book, ideal for the first- and second-grade crowd. The author sums up how one becomes president, what the president’s job entails and the weird traditions that we just can’t seemto let go of, like turkey pardoning and terrible first pitches. This is a first introduction to the office of the presidency.
“Election Campaigns: A Kid’s Guide” by Emma Carlson Berne
This book is part of a larger series about voting and elections, and we have the whole set! It’s a good resource for school projects or for curious upper elementary or middle school students. Readers will learn about election campaigns, campaign contributions, campaign staffs, canvassing and debates.
“Votes of Confidence: A Young Person’s Guide to American Elections” by Jeff Fleischer
This one is a super indepth look at American elections, written specifically for young people, though I suspect that the vast majority of adults would learn a lot fromthis book, too. The author does an excellent job of reinforcing concepts with real world examples. A section on “debate zingers” actually got me laughing out loud. Thiswould be a great one for a high school student doing a report or considering a career in politics. • Note: The Ferndale Library will host a virtual meet-and-greet withmy favorite president, Abraham Lincoln, at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Kevin Wood, one of the country’s premier Abe Lincoln impersonators, will give a talk specifically for kids ages 5 and older, with plenty of time for questions. You can register for this Zoom-based event at tiny. cc/ fadl- abe or by sending an email to jordan@ferndalepubliclibrary.org.