Teach Your Kids About Elections With These 8 Storybooks
It’s not a high profile election year (that comes in 2016), but Tuesday’s school holiday is the perfect opportunity to introduce young Brooklynites to our country’s electoral system.
Kids don’t need to know every mudslinging detail of Washington politics (leave the vitriol to Trump), but with a little help from the Brooklyn Public Library, we’ve pulled together eight storybooks that explore political elections in a fun and kid-friendly way.
1. Let’s Vote On It, by Janice Behrens, is a great starting point that shows a group of kids voting for their new class pet.
2. Vote!, by Eileen Christelow, transports readers to a small town mayoral election, with everything from rallies to the voting booth. The election’s official commentators (a little girl and some hilarious dogs) keep the story light and engaging.
3. LaRue For Mayor, by Mark Teague, tells the story of Snort City, where local dogs are feeling the heat from an anti-canine candidate. Can a savvy pup named LaRue save the day?
4. Max For President, by Jarrett Krosoczka, shows kids that, even though you might run an impressive campaign, there can only be one winner. The best part, though, is how the candidates for school president end up working together in the end. We know several grownup politicians that could learn a thing or two from this book…
5. Monster Needs Your Vote, by Paul Czajak, proves that you don’t need to be a grownup to make a difference in your community. With fantastic rhythm, Monster finds his groove, and ultimately helps to save local libraries.
6. Vote For Me!, by Ben Clanton, is one of those picture books that both kids and adults will get a kick out of. Donkey and Elephant (get it?) are both running for office, but get caught up in a ridiculous cycle of partisan mudslinging (sound familiar?). Unlike most real politicians, the two mend fences near the end of the book, but will it be in time to save their campaigns?
7. Duck For President, by Doreen Cronin, is one of our all-time favorite stories (Click, Clack, Moo still reigns supreme, but this one is a close second). Duck is fed up with all of his chores on Farmer Brown’s farm, so decides to run for office. He’s in for a rude awakening, though, when he finally lands in the White House.
8. Grace For President, by Kelly DiPucchio, introduces both the electoral college and the idea that a little girl can strive for higher office. Even though popular Thomas looks like a shoe-in for class president (the boys hold more electoral votes), Grace walks away with the victory after proving to one voter that she is “the best person for the job.”
Do you have any other suggestions for election themed books? Share your ideas in the comments below.
Special thanks to Rakisha from the Brooklyn Public Library for helping to put our list together.
