This November, the USA will choose a candidate for president. The television and internet are full of commercials and news reports about the candidates. Kids are full of questions about the election process. This list of election and president books for kids is sure to inform and entertain future voters. After all, exercising our voting right is part of our citizenship.
Books about Elections and Voting
Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Some titles were also sent to me by the publishers. All opinions expressed are my own.
All of these picture books would be great to read-aloud. Some address parts of the election process or running for president. Others delve into the terms and vocabulary surrounding an election.
The President of the Jungle by Andre Rodrigues helps children understand how to become a candidate, how to campaign, and how to vote using animal characters. This would be a fun one for holding a mock election too.
I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference by Mark Shulman is a great for young listeners including preschoolers and kindergarteners. Voting is explained as a choice that will make a difference.
Perfect for an election year we have V is for Voting by Kate Farrell and illustrated by Caitlin Kuhwald. Encourage civic engagement starting at an early age with this informative alphabet book “A is for active participation.” and “Z is for zeal.” Learn about what each of the other letters stands for in this beautiful and educational book.
Another good choice for young listeners is Vote For Our Future!by Margaret McNamara.
Campaigning is quite the site to take in from commercials, to promises, to slogans, to even mud slinging. Learn all about it in Vote for Me!by Ben Clanton.
Max for President by Jarrett Krosoczka would be an appropriate read-aloud for preschoolers and early elementary. It’s the story of a boy and girl who run for class president. It discusses campaigning and voting with simple text.
Monster Needs Your Vote by Paul Czajak is the story of a colorful monster who decides to run in the election. And, what cause is most dear to him? Saving a library of course. This is a silly and playful story but still delivers a message of standing up for something you believe in.
Grace can’t believe that there has never been a woman president in Grace for President by Kelly S. DiPucchio. So, she decides to run. Also check out Grace Goes to Washington.
If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier is the story of what life would be like if you were running for president.
It’s full of vocabulary associated with elections and is the perfect book to read before playing our Election Vocabulary Bingo.
I’m eagerly awaiting the book, The Next President: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of Americas Presidents (Presidents Book for Kids; History of United States Presidents When They Were Young) by Kate Messner. It will look at past president and the future planting the seed that one day the person reading the story could be president.
It’s important to point out that women haven’t always been able to vote in elections. Read Around America to Win the Vote by Mara Rockliff to showcase the women’s suffrage movement. This is the story of two women who would not let anything keep them from spreading the word about equal voting rights for women. They braved all sorts of obstacles to further the cause.
African-Americans haven’t always had the right to vote either. I had tears in my mind while reading Granddaddy’s Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein. We learn about justice, about perseverance, and about the love of family-centered around the act of voting.
Through the eyes of a one-hundred-year-old African-American woman we see the voting rights transform and struggle through the generations in Lillian’s Right to Vote by Jonah Winter.
Books About Presidents
Take a step back from current politics, elections, and mud slinging to learn about some of our past presidents with these books.
Hail to the Chief by Callista Gingrich takes us back in time to visit some of the most influential presidents of history.
Abraham Lincoln by Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire is a gorgeously illustrated book about the 16th president. There is a lot of text in the book which would make it a read aloud over a few days. Also, check out George Washington by the same authors.
Nice Work Franklin! by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain shares about the life of the 32nd president during the Great Depression.
Also, check out this list from What Do We Do All Day? for presidential books that won’t put you to sleep.–>See the List
Printable Book List of Elections, Voting, and Presidents
Grab a printable copy of the books above. It’s helpful for lesson planning and taking to the library.
Cast your vote. Which book on the list are you most excited to share with a child?
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This post originally appeared on Growing Book by Book on 8/8/16.
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