Voting and President Books for Kids
It’s election session and kids are picking up on the voting vibes for sure! That’s why we rounded up our favorite voting and president books for kids. We’ve rounded up fiction and non-fiction picks for all ages to help you find the perfect book for your little one. No matter your political affiliation, it’s never to early to start educating kids about the President and how imporant the right to vote is for our country. Don’t forget to take them with you to vote this November too!
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8 Voting Books for Kids
Vote for Our Future by Margaret McNamara
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.
One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote by Bonnie Worth
The Cat in the Hat looks at how, why, and who we vote for in a rhyming, nonfiction book that’s perfect for Election Day, President’s Day, and year-round reading—now with 16 bonus-pages of kid-friendly voting activities!
Written in simple rhyme, this Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library Book introduces early readers to the concept and practice of voting—with a focus on the American Presidency! Revised to include 16 pages of activities showing kids how to hold their own elections, it’s an ideal choice for reading and talking about voting—whether for classroom pet or leader of the free world! Readers will learn the basic principles of democracy; how political parties are made; why Election Day is held in early November; and much more. Fans of the hit PBS show The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! will be delighted to see the Cat knows as much about history and civic responsiblity as he does about science!
Lillian’s Right to Vote by Jonah Winter
An elderly African American woman, en route to vote, remembers her family’s tumultuous voting history in this picture book publishing in time for the fiftieth anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
As Lillian, a one-hundred-year-old African American woman, makes a “long haul up a steep hill” to her polling place, she sees more than trees and sky—she sees her family’s history. She sees the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment and her great-grandfather voting for the first time. She sees her parents trying to register to vote. And she sees herself marching in a protest from Selma to Montgomery. Veteran bestselling picture-book author Jonah Winter and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner Shane W. Evans vividly recall America’s battle for civil rights in this lyrical, poignant account of one woman’s fierce determination to make it up the hill and make her voice heard.
The Night Before Election Day by Natasha Wing
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.
V is for Voting by Kate Farrell
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.
Go Vote, Baby by Nancy Lambert
A fun, sturdy novelty board book with 13 sliding doors!
Toddlers will love casting their vote as they “slide-and-vote” in everyday situations like striped or polka dot socks in the morning, vanilla or chocolate ice cream at snack time, and many more exciting choices every kid faces throughout the day.
This sturdy board book is a great way to encourage toddlers to always cast their votes, despite how ordinary or tiny the decision may seem!
When You Grow Up to Vote: How Our Government Works for You by Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt’s book on citizenship for young people now revised and updated for a contemporary audience.
In the voice of one of the most iconic and beloved political figures of the twentieth century comes a book on citizenship for the future voters of the twenty-first century. Eleanor Roosevelt published the original edition of When You Grow Up to Vote in 1932, the same year her husband was elected president. The new edition has updated information and back matter as well as fresh, bold art from award-winning artist Grace Lin. Beginning with government workers like firefighters and garbage collectors, and moving up through local government to the national stage, this book explains that the people in government work the voter.
Fresh, contemporary, and even fun, When You Grow Up to Vote is the book parents and teachers need to talk to children about how our government is designed to work.
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!
If You Go With Your Goat to Vote by Jan Zauzmer
What happens when you go with your grown-up to vote?
If you are a kid, you may chew over the ballot.
If you are a bunny, you may hop to the polling place.
If you are a piglet, you may squeal with delight when you get a sticker.
And best of all, if you go with your grown-up to vote . . . you will grow up to vote yourself!
Lighthearted and colorful, If You Go with Your Goat to Vote shows little ones just what to expect on Election Day—and will inspire grown-ups to be model voters. Includes 16 stickers!
12 President Books for Kids
Duck for President by Doreen Cronin
My fellow Americans:
It is our pleasure, our honor, our duty as citizens to present to you Duck for President. Here is a duck who began in a humble pond. Who worked his way to farmer. To governor. And now, perhaps, to the highest office in the land.
Some say, if he walks like a duck and talks like a duck, he is a duck.
We say, if he walks like a duck and talks like a duck, he will be the next president of the United States of America.
The Next President by Kate Messner
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.
If I Had Your Vote by The Cat in The Hat
Just in time for Election Day, this hilarious new Beginner Book featuring Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat–and the changes he’d make if elected president of the United States–is perfect for introducing young readers to the White House!
Think politics is boring for kids? Think again! If the Cat in the Hat is elected president, life in the White House is about to get a lot more interesting–and funny! The Cat plans to shake things up. On his agenda: To change the shape of the Oval Office (to make it far more OVAL-ER-ER); to replant the Rose Garden with Seussian shrubbery; to paint smiles on portraits of frowning world leaders; and (among other things) to shoot a SOCK-IT rocket into space to shower the United States with an explosion of socks! Written in rhyme and featuring a cast of characters from The Cat in the Hat and The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, this is the perfect, kid-friendly way to introduce beginning readers to life in the White House AND to the Cat in the Hat.
Bad Kitty for President by Nick Bruel
The votes are in–it’s a Bad Kitty landslide!
It’s time to elect a new president of the Neighborhood Cat Coalition! Who will win the election? The candidate chosen by the kitties on the right side of the street or the candidate chosen by the kitties on the left side of the street? When election time rolls around, one candidate (guess who?) will discover that she never bothered to register to vote and the entire election will be decided by a surprise, last minute absentee ballot sent by Old Kitty.
Kid Presidents: True Tales of Childhood from America’s Presidents by David Stabler
Hilarious childhood biographies and full-color illustrations show how George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Barack Obama, and other presidents-to-be faced kid-sized problems growing up in America.
Every president started out as a kid! Forget the legends, tall tales, and historic achievements—before they were presidents, the future leaders of the United States had regular-kid problems just like you. John F. Kennedy hated his big brother. Lyndon Johnson pulled pranks in class. Barack Obama was bothered by bullies. And Bill Clinton was crazy clumsy (he once broke his leg jumping rope). Kid Presidents tells all of their stories and more with full-color cartoon illustrations on every page. History has never been this much fun!
Commander-in-Cheese by Leslie Leavitt
Imagine The Borrowers in the White House! This fun new chapter book series follows a family of mice as a new president moves into their home!
If you are a mouse, then you might know about Ava and Dean Squeakerton. They are kind of famous, for mice. That’s because Ava and Dean and the rest of their family live in the White House.
A new president is moving into the White House, and best of all she has kids! That means cool kid treasures for Ava and Dean Squeakerton. Maybe they’ll even find a Lego! There’s only one problem. . . . Sneaking around means Ava and Dean will each have to be as quiet as a . . . mouse.
Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio
A fresh, fun, and “thought-provoking” New York Times bestseller about the American electoral college and why every vote counts from bestselling and award-winning duo Kelly DiPucchio and LeUyen Pham.
“Where are the girls?”
When Grace’s teacher reveals that the United States has never had a female president, Grace decides she wants to be the nation’s first and immediately jumpstarts her political career by running in her school’s mock election! The race is tougher than she expected: her popular opponent declares that he’s the “best man for the job” and seems to have captured the votes of all of the class’s boys. But Grace is more determined than ever. Even if she can’t be the best man for the job, she can certainly try to be the best person!
Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty
The newest picture book from the creators of Iggy Peck, Architect; Rosie Revere, Engineer; and Ada Twist, Scientist stars Sofia Valdez, a community leader who stands up for what she believes in!
Every morning, Abuelo walks Sofia to school . . . until one day, when Abuelo hurts his ankle at a local landfill and he can no longer do so. Sofia (aka Sofi) misses her Abuelo and wonders what she can do about the dangerous Mount Trashmore. Then she gets an idea—the town can turn the slimy mess into a park! She brainstorms and plans and finally works up the courage to go to City Hall—only to be told by a clerk that she can’t build a park because she’s just a kid! Sofia is down but not out, and she sets out to prove what one kid can do.
The Kid Who Ran for President by Dan Gutman
“Hi! My name is Judson Moon. I’m twelve years old and I’m running for President of the YOU-nited States.”
That’s how I introduced myself to about a zillion people. I must have kissed a zillion babies, said a zillion hellos, shaken a zillion hands . . . Will I get a zillion votes? The answer might surprise you.
Can you picture a kid as President? Imagine what we can accomplish — together — in a country where parents listen. Where teachers give no homework. Where every lawmaker obeys a single kid — me! How am I going to pull this off? Who knows! Read the book to find out.
What is a Presidental Election? by Daniel Yacka
The 2020 Election is here! And so is this book, which tells young readers all about presidential campaigns and American politics–complete with stickers, activities, and a color-your-own Electoral Map poster!
Who can run for president? What’s the difference between America’s two major political parties? Why do candidates spend so much time in Iowa and New Hampshire? And is the Electoral College really acollege?
Splat the Cat for President by Rob Scotton
New York Times bestselling author-artist Rob Scotton is back with another story about Splat the Cat, and this time your favorite frazzled cat is running for office.
Splat is thrilled to be elected student-body president, until he discovers not everyone likes his plans. So he thinks big. Real big. So big that pretty soon he’s making promises he cannot keep. Can Splat please everyone and also make a difference?
Read about Splat’s biggest role yet in Splat the Cat for President, another sure-to-be-a-classic story by Rob Scotton.
Monster Need Your Vote by Paul Czajak
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.
