1. Vote!
Clarion Books
Eileen Christelow's exuberant illustrations and the book's comic book style lend themselves well to this story about an election. While the example here is about the campaign and election of a mayor, Christelow covers the major components in any election for public office and provides lots of bonus information as well. The inside front and back covers feature election facts, games, and activities. I recommend it for ages 8-12. Compare prices. (Sandpiper, 2008. ISBN: 9780547059730)
2. Running for Public Office
PriceGrabber
I recommend this nonfiction account of the process of running for public office for upper elementary students, particularly for Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. Written by Sarah De Capua, it is part of the A True Book series. The book is divided into five chapters and covers everything from What Is a Public Office? to Election Day. There is a helpful index and a great many color photographs that enhance the text. Compare prices. (Children's Press, A Divison of Scholastic. ISBN: 9780516273686)
3. Vote (DK Eyewitness Books)
DK Publishing
The book is too short for more than a brief overview of these topics, but, between the many photographs and charts and the text, it does a nice job of providing a global look at democracies and elections. The book comes with a CD of annotated photographs and/or clip art related to each chapter, a nice addition. I recommend the book for ages 9-14. Compare prices. (DK Publishing, 2008. ISBN: 9780756633820)
4. So You Want to Be President?
Judith St. George is the author of So You Want to Be President?, which she has revised and updated several times. The illustrator, David Small, received the 2001 Caldecott Medal for his irreverent caricatures. The 52-page-long book includes information about each president of the United States, accompanied by one of Small’s illustrations. I recommend it for ages 9-12. Compare prices. (Philomel Books, 2000, 2004. ISBN: 0399243178)5. Duck for President
Farmer Brown's farmyard animals, first introduced in Doreen Cronin's Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type, are at it again. This time, Duck is tired of all the work on the farm and decides to hold an election so he can be in charge of the farmyard. While he wins the election, he still has to work hard, so he decides to run for governor, and then, president. The text and Betsy Cronin's lively illustrations are a riot. I recommend it for 4-8 year olds. Compare prices. (Simon & Schuster, 2004. ISBN: 9780689863776)6. Max for President
Max and Kelly are running for class president at their elementary school. The campaign is a busy one, with speeches, posters, buttons, and lots of outlandish promises. When Kelly wins the election, Max is disappointed until she selects him to be her vice president. This is a good book for 7-10 year olds. It was written and illustrated by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Compare prices. (Dragonfly, reprint, 2008. ISBN: 9780440417897)
7. With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman's Right to Vote
This children's nonfiction book by Ann Bausum focuses on the 1913-1920 time period, the final years of the struggle for a woman's right to vote. The author sets the historical context for the struggle and then goes into detail about how the right to vote for women was won. The book contains many historical photographs, a chronology, and profiles of a dozen women who fought for women's voting rights. I recommend it for 9-14 year olds. Compare prices. (National Geographic, 2004. ISBN:9780792276470)
