Election-Related Books for Children
This list of election-related books is adapted from the Children's Book Council "Election-Related Books for Young People 2004." Click a title to check the Skokie Public Library catalog for the status of the book in the Youth Services collection. Titles marked with * are also available on audio.
|Kindergarten through 3rd grade|
|4th through 6th grade|
|6th grade and older|
- Battle-Lavert, Gwendolyn. Papa's Mark. 2004.
J Picture Book BAT
- Samuel learns to write his own name so that he can cast his ballot on the first election day ever on which African Americans were allowed to vote.
- Burleigh, Robert. American Moments: Scenes from American History. 2004.
Youth Nonfiction 973 B
- Readers are placed directly into the action of eighteen monumental events in American history, each moment capturing the heart and soul of our nation—the triumphs as well as the trials we've endured.
- Catrow, David. We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States.
Youth Nonfiction-Easy 324.7302 C
- This upbeat and offbeat look at the Preamble to the Constitution explains to kids the Preamble's ideas and ideals, showing the role it plays in modern day lives.
- Christelow, Eileen. Vote!. 2004.
Youth Nonfiction-Easy 324.973 C
- A lively, information-packed book that covers all aspects of the voting process, from campaigning and debating, to registering and volunteering, and all the way to the voting booth.
- Cronin, Doreen. Duck for President. 2004.
J Picture Book CRO
- Duck from Giggle Giggle Quack and Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type is back and in this story he flies the coop and works his way to the top as the next president of the United States of America.
- Fritz, Jean. Shh! We're Writing the Constitution. 1987.
Youth Nonfiction-Easy 342.73 F
- Readers will get a candid look at the people and events that shaped our nation's Constitution.
- Keenan, Sheila. O, Say Can You See? America's Symbols, Landmarks, and Inspiring Words.
Youth Nonfiction 973 K
- From Plymouth Rock to the White House, the flag to the eagle, each symbol is described on a two-page spread that is illustrated with bright pastel drawings.
- Krosoczka, Jarrett J. Max for President. 2004.
Youth Picture Book KRO
- Max is running for class president. So is Kelly. Who will the class elect? This lively story of good sportsmanship offers the youngest readers a glimpse into the election process.
- Krull, Kathleen. A Woman for President: The Story of Victoria Woodhull. 2004.
Youth Biography W8915kr
- In 1872, Ulysses S. Grant complained that he had to run for office against a woman, and that woman was Victoria Woodhull. Woodhull also achieved great success as the first female stockbroker, the first to own a newspaper, and the first to address Congress.
- Maestro, Betsy. The Voice of the People: American Democracy in Action. 1996.
Youth Nonfiction 324.973 M
- This title is a basic guide to voting and the election process in the United States.
- McCully, Emily Arnold. The Ballot Box Battle. 1996.
Youth Picture Book MCC
- Cordelia is a young girl whose relationship with her neighbor, the great suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, inspires her to undertake a remarkable act of courage.
- O'Connor, Jane. If the Walls Could Talk. 2004.
Youth Nonfiction 973.099 O
- The White House is an important place, but it's also the home of the First Family. This book tells zany stories about little-known occurrences behind the doors of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
- Piven, Hanoch. What Presidents are Made Of. 2004.
Youth Nonfiction 973.099 P
- See the presidents as never before-made out of objects! A visually enchanting book that you won't soon forget.
- Prince, April Jones. Meet Our Flag, Old Glory. 2004.
Youth Nonfiction-Easy 929.92 P
- Old Glory – brilliant, bold, strong. Hail her, wave her, celebrate her in this stunning salute to the Red, White, and Blue.
- Roy, Ron. A Spy in the White House. 2004.
Youth Easy Fiction ROY
- KC's mom is getting married... to the President of the United States! KC wants the day to be perfect, but someone keeps leaking wedding secrets. To save the wedding, KC and Marshall must track down the spy in the White House!
- Sachar, Louis. Class President. 1999.
Youth Easy Fiction SAC
- It's "hole day" at Marvin's school, when everyone wears their very worst clothes. But now they're expecting company—the President of the United States!
- Scarf, Maggie. Meet Benjamin Franklin. 2002.
Youth Biography-Easy F8316sc
- One of the most respected men of his time, Benjamin Franklin remains a role model for Americans to this day.
- Winters, Kay. My Teacher for President. 2004.
Youth Picture Book WIN
- Oliver, a savvy second grader, has been learning about the president's job, and it seems to him that his teacher would be the perfect candidate.
- Bateman, Teresa. Red, White, Blue, and Uncle Who?: The Stories
Behind Some of America's Patriotic Symbols. 2001.
Youth Nonfiction 929.9 B
- Symbols profiled include Mount Rushmore, the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
- Bausum, Ann. With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a
Woman's Right to Vote. 2004.
Youth Nonfiction 324.623 B
- A chronicle of the women's suffrage movement including wonderful biographical profiles of leaders in the movement, as well as the marches, demonstrations, and lobbying, and never-before published photographs!
- Beard, Darleen Bailey. Operation Clean Sweep. 2004.
Youth Fiction BEA
- A charming story set during 1916 and based on a true episode in the history of Umatilla, Oregon—the female takeover of the town's government.
- Donovan, Sandy. Running for Office: A Look at Political Campaigns.
Youth Nonfiction 324.70973 D
- What does it take to run for a political office? Learn all about the day-to-day work involved in trying to win your vote.
- Freedman, Russell. In Defense of Liberty: The Story of America's
Bill of Rights. 2003.
Youth Nonfiction 342.73085 T
- Learn about the origins, applications of, and challenges to the ten amendments to the United States Constitution that comprise the Bill of Rights.
- Goldman, David J. Presidential Losers. 2004.
Youth Nonfiction 923 G
- Discover the intriguing and controversial political lives of ten men who tried and failed to gain the most powerful and highest office in the United States.
- Granfield, Linda. America Votes:
How Our President is Elected. 2003.
Youth Nonfiction 324.630976 G
- From the first primaries, through the party conventions, to the final count at the polls, the race for the presidency is a whirlwind of passionate speeches, sensational campaigns, and new beginnings that every American can be a part of!
- Gutman, Dan. The Kid Who Became President. 1999. *
Youth Fiction GUT
- Both funny and packed with information on the United States government, this is the next installment in the story of Judson Moon, who won the 2000 presidential election at the age of 12.
- Gutman, Dan. The Kid Who Ran for President. 1996. *
Youth Fiction GUT
- Judson Moon makes a bid to be the first 12-year-old President of the United States.
- Hoose, Phillip. It's Our World, Too!:
Stories of Young People Who are Making a Difference. 2002.
Youth Nonfiction 302.14 H
- This invaluable companion to the award-winning We Were There, Too! gives young readers the tools to bring about change.
- Hoose, Phillip. We Were There, Too! Young People in U.S. History.
Youth Nonfiction 920.073 H
- The first United States history book of this scope to focus on the role young people have played in the making of our country, its compelling stories combine to tell our larger national story.
- Kramer, S.A. The Look-It-Up Book of First Ladies. 2001.
Youth Nonfiction 923.1 K
- Meet the women behind the men through brief, lively biographies of the women who have helped to shape the face of our nation.
- Landau, Elaine. Friendly Foes: A Look at Political Parties.
Youth Nonfiction 324.273 L
- What are political parties and how were they formed? Learn how we help our democracy to thrive by offering voters different parties to choose from.
- Landau, Elaine. The President's Work: A Look at the Executive
Youth Nonfiction 352.23 L
- Everyone knows that the President of the United States is the leader of the country and very powerful. But what does the president really do day in and day out?
- Lay, Kathryn. Crown Me!. 2004.
Youth Fiction LAY
- In this humorous middle-grade send-up of political ambitions, a class history project teaches Andrea and Justin that being monarchs can be a regal pain.
- Nash, Carol Rust. The Fight for Women's Right to Vote in American
Youth Nonfiction 324.623 N
- This book examines the women's suffrage movement from its roots in the temperance and abolition movements, through its success with the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment.
- St. George, Judith. So You Want to be President?. 2004. *
Youth Nonfiction 973.099 S
- In this revised and updated edition of the Caldecott award winning book, learn an assortment of facts about the qualifications and characteristics of U.S. presidents, from George Washington to George W. Bush.
- Thimmesh, Catherine. Madam President. 2004.
Youth Nonfiction 320.082 T
- With an engaging narrative, fascinating quotes, and elegant illustrations, this book not only shows how far women have come but also reveals the many unsung roles women have played in political history.
- Alonso, Karen. The Chicago Seven Political Protest Trial:
A Headline Court Case.
Youth Nonfiction 345.730243 A
- During the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, many demonstrators were arrested. Author Karen Alonso explores the details of the trial of the famous "Chicago Seven," as well as explaining that period of time to young readers.
- Banfield, Susan. The Fifteenth Amendment: African-American Men's
Right to Vote. 1998.
Youth Nonfiction 324.6208996 B
- This amendment guaranteed all African American men in the United States—who had previously had very few rights under the Constitution—the right to vote. The author cites historical examples and personal stories in recounting the struggles involved in the passage of this amendment.
- Blassingame, Wyatt. The Look-It-Up Book of Presidents. 2004.
Youth Nonfiction 923.1 B
- Features biographies of every president from George Washington through the winner of the 2000 presidential election.
- Fink, Sam. The Declaration of Independence. 2002.
Youth Nonfiction 973.313 F
- The complete text of the Declaration is presented here, phrase by phrase, with each word precisely inscribed in beautiful hand lettering. A large, colorful illustration on every page brings the document to life.
- Hudson, David L. The Bill of Rights: The First Ten Amendments of
the Constitution. 2002.
Youth Nonfiction 342.73085 H
- The Bill of Rights was added to the Constitution in part to ensure that the powers of the federal government would not trample upon individual liberty.
- Jaffe, Steven H. Who Were the Founding Fathers? Two Hundred Years
of Reinventing American History. 1996.
Youth Nonfiction 973.3072 J
- In this lively, photo-filled look at the one question that has always been at the center of American life, author Steven Jaffe shows that the debate over the Founders is not so much about their time as it is the never-ending search for the soul of our nation.
- Kowalski, Kathiann M. Campaign Politics: What's Fair? What's
Youth Nonfiction 324.70973 K
- Learn the strengths and weaknesses of the political process to determine what's fair and what's foul when it comes to political campaigns.
- Krull, Kathleen. Lives of the Presidents: Fame, Shame and What
the Neighbors Thought. 1998. *
Youth Nonfiction 923.1 K
- A look at the bad habits, silly nicknames, and strange pets of the United States presidents.
- Litwin, Laura Baskes. Fannie Lou Hamer: Fighting for the Right to
Youth Biography H2144Li
- Forty-four-year-old Fannie Lou Hamer had never known this one simple truth: that she had a legal right to vote. Laura Baskes Litwin paints a riveting portrait of this natural-born leader—a sharp, funny, down-to-earth woman who struggled and triumphed in the fight for civil rights.
- Monroe, Judy. The Nineteenth Amendment: Women's Right to Vote.
Youth Nonfiction 324.62 M
- This amendment guaranteed women—who were never really considered when the Constitution was originally drafted—the right to vote. The book presents personal stories of suffragist leaders who helped to make this amendment a part of our Constitution.
- Provensen, Alice. The Buck Stops Here: The Presidents of the
United States. 1997.
Youth Nonfiction 973.0222 P
- From George Washington to Bill Clinton, this lighthearted rhymed text will help readers remember the names of the presidents in sequence, and the pictures connect each president to his contributions – distinguished or dubious – to American history.
- Sergis, Diana K. Bush v. Gore: Controversial Presidential
Election Case. 2003.
Youth Nonfiction 342.73075 S
- Some extraordinary things happened during the presidential election of 2000: the winner was not known until December 12, thirty-five days after the November 7 election; and, more importantly, the voters did not make the final decision in this election. Neither did Congress. Quite surprisingly, the United States Supreme Court did.
- Sullivan, George. Mr. President: A Book of U.S. Presidents.
Youth Nonfiction 923.1 S
- Updated to include information on George W. Bush, this easy-to-read book features brief biographical summaries of each President and his term of office, including his politics, events of his time, and even some amusing anecdotes.
- Tashjian, Jane. Vote for Larry. 2004. *
Jr. High Fiction
- Vote for Larry is a witty, thought-provoking novel about an 18-year-old who runs for president and ignites young voters' enthusiasm for politics.
- Weidner, Daniel. The Constitution: The Preamble and the Articles.
Youth Nonfiction 342.7302 W
- Articles of the Constitution surpassed even the Framers' greatest hopes, creating a stable and effective government that has transferred power from one presidential administration to the next without violence or friction for over two centuries.