With the upcoming presidential election, talking about the voting process and the value of a peaceful transition of power in the United States with your kids is important. These Picture Books About Voting and Elections books will help introduce your children to the complex systems of our electoral process. Not only are they engaging and informative, these books might even make life long voters out of the kids in your life.
Comment below with other new titles to help our readers
find new favorites for their bookshelves at home
and in the classroom!
•Children's Picture Books About Voting and Elections•
Wave your flags! It's time to vote! Election Day is right around the corner in the latest big moment to be celebrated in Natasha Wing's best-selling series.
Yes! It's almost here. And the big question is: Who will be our next president? Will our leader be a he or a she? A young citizen gives her take on politics and Election Day in this charming story (featuring a colorful sticker sheet!), told in the style of Clement C. Moore's holiday poem.
THE NIGHT BEFORE ELECTION DAY
Written by Natasha Wing and Illustrated by Amy Wummer
Published by Grosset & Dunlap
EVERYONE GETS A SAY
Pudding the snail and his friends can't seem to agree on anything. Whatever Jitterbug the chipmunk wants, Geezer the goose does not. Whatever Toast the butterfly wants, Duffles and Nudge the otters are absolutely against. And if somehow Toast and Duffles and Jitterbug and Nudge all agree on something, then Geezer is not having it.
So when Toast suggests they need a leader, the friends try to figure out the best way to pick someone to be in charge. Should that someone be the fastest? The fluffiest? The squishiest? Or can Pudding show his friends that there just might be a way where everyone gets a say?
In this follow-up to The Someone New, Jill Twiss and EG Keller cleverly underscore the importance of speaking up and using your voice.
EVERYONE GETS A SAY
Written by Jill Twiss and Illustrated by Eg Keller
Published by HarperCollins
SHOW UP AND VOTE
From the Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, political activist, and feminist icon comes a story of connectedness and collective responsibility, as told through the eyes of a young child going to vote for the first time.
Singer-songwriter, activist, feminist, and best-selling author Ani Di Franco has penned a lyrical narrative for her youngest audience: a picture book about the eye-opening act of voting. A young girl accompanies her mother to their local polling station and pays witness to the commonality of this experience. Her mother gently reinforces the great responsibility and importance of this act, while the girl moves through feelings of excitement, nervousness, and ultimately, invigoration. Rachelle Baker adds an authentic neighborhood feel in a range of bright, bold colors and familiar faces, establishing a realistic and relatable setting. An age-appropriate call-to-action for all young citizens.
SHOW UP AND VOTE
Written by Ani Difranco and Illustrated by Rachelle Baker
Published by Rise X Penguin Workshop
THE DAY MADEAR VOTED
A moving look at a Black family's journey to exercise their right to vote and imagine a better future.
Charlie and Ralph's mom has waited a long time to vote because countless obstacles have been put in Black people's way to stop them from having a say in elections–obstacles that it took a lot of hard work to tear down. But now, in 1969, Madear is going to vote for the very first time, and the boys are coming along on this exciting day. A day that puts a new bounce in their mom's step, and enables them all to begin to dream of a better future.
Wade Hudson and Don Tate give young readers a warm family story as well as a powerful glimpse into the struggle that had to be waged to achieve a fundamental right of citizenship.
THE DAY MADEAR VOTED
Written by Wade Hudson and Illustrated by Don Tate
Published by Nancy Paulson Books
LEO'S FIRST VOTE
Get out the vote! In this kid-friendly picture book introduction to voting and elections, Leo's father teaches him about the importance of every single vote, and how to use their voices to uplift their community.
Leo's dad is voting in his first election as a naturalized US citizen, and he promises to take Leo to the polls with him. Leo can't wait! But, after his cousin Ray casts doubt on the importance of a single vote, it'll take Leo's class mock election results, as well as a talk with his dad to convince him that each and every vote matters.
This lively picture book shows us how citizens decide who will be in charge, hitting key moments in an election, from voter registration to polling places, to staying in line, and features extensive backmatter for kids who want to dig deeper.
LEO'S FIRST VOTE
Written by Christina Soontornva and Illustrated by Isabel Roxas
Published by Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
V IS FOR VOTING
V Is for Voting is an ABC book that introduces progressive families to concepts like social justice and civil rights and reminds readers that every vote counts! A is for active participation.
B is for building a more equal nation.
C is for citizens' rights and our duty.
D is for difference, our strength and our beauty. An engaging introduction to the tenets of democracy, V Is for Voting is a playful, poetic, and powerful primer about the importance of voting and activism. Featuring Kate Farrell's rhyming text and Caitlin Kuhwald's bold art, plus thoughtful back matter, the book is a gorgeous, and crucial, addition to every young reader's library. It makes the perfect gift for fans of A Is for Activist, Woke Baby, and Feminist Baby.
V IS FOR VOTING by Kate Farrell
Illustrated by Caitlin Kuhwald
Published by Henry Holt & Company
EQUALITY'S CALL: The Story of Voting Rights in America
Learn all about the history of voting rights in the United States–from our nation's founding to the present day–in this powerful picture book from the New York Times bestselling author of The Pout-Pout Fish. A right isn't right
till it's granted to all… The founders of the United States declared that consent of the governed was a key part of their plan for the new nation. But for many years, only white men of means were allowed to vote. This unflinching and inspiring history of voting rights looks back at the activists who answered equality's call, working tirelessly to secure the right for all to vote, and it also looks forward to the future and the work that still needs to be done.
EQUALITY'S CALL: The Story of Voting Rights in America Written by Deborah Diesen
Illustrated by Magdalena Mora
Published by Beach Lane Books, Simon and Schuster
VOTE FOR OUR FUTURE!
In this charming and powerful picture book about voting and elections, the students of Stanton Elementary School learn how we can find–and use–our voices for change. Every two years, on the first Tuesday of November, Stanton Elementary School closes for the day. For vacation? Nope! For repairs? No way! Stanton Elementary School closes so that it can transform itself into a polling station. People can come from all over to vote for the people who will make laws for the country. Sure, the Stanton Elementary School students might be too young to vote themselves, but that doesn't mean they can't encourage their parents, friends, and family to vote! After all, voting is how this country sees change–and by voting today, we can inspire tomorrow's voters to change the future.
VOTE FOR OUR FUTURE! by Margaret McNamara
Illustrated by Micah Player
Published by Schwartz & Wade Books, Penguin Random House
SPEAK UP
When something really matters, one voice can make a difference. This spirited, vibrant picture book celebrates diversity and encourages kids to speak up, unite with others, and take action when they see something that needs to be fixed.
Join a diverse group of kids on a busy school day as they discover so many different ways to speak up and make their voices heard! From shouting out gratitude for a special treat to challenging a rule that isn’t fair, these young students show that simple, everyday actions can help people and make the world a better place.
SPEAK UP Written by Miranda Paul
Illustrated by Ebony Glenn
Published by Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers
THE NEXT PRESIDENT: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America's Presidents
An inspiring and informative book for kids about the past and future of America's presidents. Who will be the NEXT president? Could it be you? When George Washington became the first president of the United States, there were nine future presidents already alive in America, doing things like practicing law or studying medicine. When JFK became the thirty-fifth president, there were 10 future presidents already alive in America, doing things like hosting TV shows and learning the saxophone. And right now–today!–there are at least 10 future presidents alive in America. They could be playing basketball, like Barack Obama, or helping in the garden, like Dwight D. Eisenhower. They could be solving math problems or reading books. They could be making art–or already making change.
THE NEXT PRESIDENT by Kate Messner
Illustrated by Adam Rex
Published by Chronicle Books
GRACE GOES TO WASHINGTON
In this follow-up to the New York Times bestseller Grace for President, award-winning duo Kelly DiPucchio and LeUyen Pham present a fun, kid-friendly introduction to the branches of American government as well as the struggle and joys that comes with being a public servant.
“Who's in charge here?”
When Grace learns about the three branches of the United States government, she and the rest of the student council put the lesson into practice as they debate how to spend the money from a school fund-raiser. The arguments continue as they travel to Washington, DC, for a field trip. Grace feels closer than ever to her dream of becoming president someday, but she and her classmates have a lot to learn about what it means to serve the needs of the people, especially when the people want such different things!
GRACE GOES TO WASHINGTON by Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Published by Disney Hyperion Books
Bonus Read
I VOTED
With the next presidential election upon us, this witty, nonpartisan book will help explain the concept of voting to the youngest readers. I Voted explains the concept of choosing, individually, and as a group, from making a simple choice: “Which do you like better, apples or oranges?”, to selecting a class pet, to even more complicated decisions, like electing community representatives. You may not always get want you want, but there are strategies to better your odds Serge Bloch's effortless and charming illustrations paired with Mark Shulman's funny and timely text create a perfect resource for discussing current events with your children. Backmatter includes information about the United States electoral process.
I VOTED by Mark Shulman
Illustrated by Serge Bloch
Published by Neal Porter Books, Holiday House
Bethany Edwards is an elementary educator as well as a reading and literacy
specialist. On Biracial Bookworms, she focuses on multiracial and multicultural resources for teaching literacy skills using reading, travel, and learning multiple languages. Additionally, she offers online and self-paced courses for parents and caregivers on Biracial Bookworms Academy.
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