Rock the Vote: Election Day

Every four years, that first Tuesday following the first Monday in November ceases to be just another weekday and becomes Election Day. Voting is an important right for American citizens, and many parents, caregivers, and teachers begin educating their under-eighteens about “rocking the vote” years before they are ready to enter a polling booth. Books — both fiction and non-fiction — are a great way to get kids thinking about the government, elections, and how the lives of citizens are affected by political decisions.

To find books about Election Day combine a “juvenile literature” subject search with a keyword search of “Election Day,” “Election,” “vote,” or “voting.”

To find books about the presidents, combine a “juvenile literature” subject search with a keyword search of “president*” or the name of a particular POTUS; you can also try “white house” or “oval office” for more historical information.

To find fiction about these topics, combine a “juvenile fiction” subject search with a keyword search of “election,” “president,” “voting,” or other Election-Day-themed term.

Books about Election Day and Voting

Freedman, Russell.
Because They Marched: The People’s Campaign for Voting Rights that Changed America. 2014.
When we talk about exercising the right to vote, it is important to remember that for many years, that right was given only to white, land-owning men. This non-fiction book, complete with historic pictures, tells the story of the 1960s battle for voting rights for the African-American community.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB Q. S. 323.1196073 F875b]

Granfield, Linda.
America Votes: How Our President is Elected. 2003.
Even young children can learn about how the President is voted into office, preparing for the day they will be able to cast their own vote.
[SSHEL S Collection S. 324.6 G765a]

Grodin, Elissa.
D is for Democracy: A Citizen’s Alphabet. 2004.
Take an A to Z adventure throughout the American government and its important terms and concepts.
[SSHEL S Collection S.320.973 G892d]

Lishak, Anthony.
Elections and Voting. 2008.
What do some of the major voting issues — like climate change and equal rights — have to do with you? This book includes lists of websites for each issue it covers to provide further information.
[SSHEL S Collection S.324.6 L6873]

Stier, Catherine.
Today on Election Day. 2012.
A group of school kids teach the reader about Election Day when their gym becomes a polling place.
[SSHEL S Collection S.324.60973 St524t]

Wagner, Heather Lehr.
The History of the Republican Party. 2007.
The History of the Democratic Party. 2007.
This pair of informational books breaks down the two primary political parties into easily understood concepts.
[SSHEL S Collection S. 324.273 W125h and S. 324.273609 W125h]

Worth, Bonnie.
One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote. 2016.
In this play on Dr. Seuss, the Cat in the Hat introduces readers to the American presidency, voting, and Election Day.
[SSHEL S Collection S. 324.650973 W899o]

Books about the Presidents

Cook, Jane Hampton.
What Does the President Look Like? 2011.
If the President showed up at your doorstep, you’d probably immediately know who it was. But wait! How did people across the country know what the President looked like before digital cameras and news stations? Cook discusses how the image of the President has changed and how American citizens came to know what the President looked like even before they’d seen him on CNN.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. S.973.099 C77w]

Gilpin, Caroline Crosson.
Barack Obama. 2008.
Learn about the amazing life of Barack Obama leading up to his election as first African-American President!
[SSHEL S Collection SB. O121g]

Hudson, David L.
The Handy Presidents Answer Book. 2012.
Show off to all your friends with your new in-depth knowledge about the trivia behind each of the Presidents, from Washington to Obama.
[SSHEL S Collection S.973.099 H867h]

Katz, Susan.
The President’s Stuck in the Bathtub: Poems about the Presidents. 2012.
Some pretty silly things have happened to presidents over the years, and Katz parodies and celebrates these events with rhyming aplomb.
[SSHEL S Collection Q.S. 811 K199p]

Norwich, Grace.
I am George Washington. 2012.
Learn about our very first president, who defined the office and now graces the one-dollar bill.
[SSHEL S Collection SB. W31n]

Rhatigan, Joe.
White House Kids: The Perks, Pleasures, Problems, and Pratfalls of the Presidents’ Children. 2012.
Okay, so maybe you aren’t ready to be President. But what if your parent became Head of State? What is it like to grow up in the White House? Rhatigan explores the lives of the First kids throughout history, complete with anecdotes.
[SSHEL S Collection S.973.099 R341w]

Stabler, David.
Kid Presidents: True Tales of Childhood from America’s Presidents. 2014.
How does one grow up to be President? Stabler presents some of the past presidents childhood shenanigans.
[SSHEL S Collection S. 973.099 St118k]

St. George, Judith.
So You Want to be President? 2004.
What does it really take to be president? This book explores the quirks and backgrounds of America’s first 42 presidents with humor and cartoonish illustrations.
[SSHEL S Collection Q.S.973.099 St23s 2004]

Stier, Catherine.
If I Were President. 1999.
A diverse class of school kids imagines what being president might be like, from the daily schedule to the built-in bowling alley.
[SSHEL S Collection S. 352.230973 St521i]

Fiction about Elections

Bruel, Nick.
Bad Kitty for President. 2012.
Bad Kitty is running for president of the Neighborhood Cat Association, but the voters are split down the middle — the right side of the street votes for one candidate and the left side votes for the other. Will a last-minute absentee ballot tip the balance?
[SSHEL S Collection S.B832bap]

Czajak, Paul.
Monster Needs Your Vote. 2015.
Election season is here and Monster is ready to vote! But why cast your ballot when you can run for president instead? With speeches, debates, and a soapbox or two, Monster’s newest tale is a campaign encouraging kids to take a stand and fight for what they believe in.
[SSHEL S Collection Q. SE. C994m]

DiPucchio, Kelly.
Grace for President. 2008.
When Grace discovers that there has never been a female president, she decides to be the first. Grace for President!
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB Q.SE. D626g]

Gutman, Dan.
The Kid Who Ran for President. 1996.
Twelve-year-old Judson Moon sets out to become the first kid president with the help of his best friend and his babysitter.
[SSHEL S Collection S. G985k]

Paulsen, Gary.
Vote: The Theory, Practice, and Destructive Properties of Politics. 2013.
Kevin, a 14-year-old hoping to impress his girlfriend, spontaneously decides to run for office at school before getting excited about the chance to make a difference.
[SSHEL S Collection S. P285vo]

Smith, Lane.
Madam President. 2008.
A little girl imagines what her day would look like if she were the president.
[SSHEL S Collection and CCB SE. Sm618m]

Winston, Sherri.
President of the Whole Sixth Grade. 2015.
Breanna is president of her middle-school class, but sometimes that feels more like a headache than an honor. Between backstabbing classmates and an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., Breanna may have bitten off more than she can chew.
[SSHEL S Collection S. W733pr]