The 56th U.S. presidential election will be the first one in which both of my children (ages 18 and 20) will vote. Since only three people have held the office in their lifetimes, this will be a momentous occasion for them along with millions of other young voters who will join them at the booths on November 4th. History shows, however, that a large number of eligible voters will not participate, especially the youngest ones. According to the 2008 Statistical Abstract of the United States, published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, only 28 percent of 18 to 20-year-olds turned out for the 2000 presidential race. On the other hand, that low figure jumped to 41 percent in 2004, the largest increase in any age group, and the upswing in young adult voters may continue to rise in 2008. Meanwhile, the under-18 voters of the future have a rich variety of resources to explore historical and fictional elections from many angles. They can learn about elections in a cartoon history of presidential races or look at the potentially baffling electoral process through the eyes of some surprisingly discerning dogs. They can meet the political pioneers who fought for voting rights, including the hunger-striking suffragists of the 1910s and an African-American man casting his first vote soon after the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870. There are plenty of intriguing examples of youth involvement, from highly contested class elections to teens working on local and national campaigns, as well as some out-of-the-ordinary fictional candidates, including a schnauzer running for mayor, a politically savvy grade-schooler, and a duck with presidential aspirations. Readers who enjoy these books may not be official voters yet, but whether their eligibility is months or years away, the following titles demonstrate that reading about politics can be informative, funny, and inspiring.

Past and Present

BARDHAN-QUALLEN, Sudipta. Ballots for Belva: The True Story of a Woman’s Race for the Presidency. illus. by Courtney A. Martin. Abrams. 2008. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8109-7110-3. Gr 2-5–More than a century before Hillary Clinton’s presidential run, a determined New York lawyer became the first woman to receive official votes for the executive office. Belva Lockwood bore the scorn of most men, many women, and even some suffragists while running for an office she could not legally hold. Handsome illustrations depict the drama of a groundbreaking candidacy. BEARD, Darleen Bailey. Operation Clean Sweep. Farrar. 2004. Tr $16. ISBN 978-0-374-38034-2. Gr 3-5–Twelve-year-old Cornelius learns of his mom’s secret plans to run for mayor in 1916. This will be especially surprising to the incumbent, since he happens to be her husband. Family dynamics, small-town politics, and the growing movement for women’s rights combine in this humorous novel based on a historical event. CHRISTELOW, Eileen. Vote! illus. by author. Clarion. 2003. RTE $16. ISBN 978-0-618-24754-7; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-0-618-48606-9. K-Gr 3-In this entertaining introduction to the voting process, two dogs try to figure out a local mayor’s race. Watercolor illustrations, arranged in appealing panels, lend a lighthearted tone to the events, as do the humorous comments of the curious canines. At the same time, there’s an impressive amount of information about voter registration, parties, recounts, and even attack ads. GOODMAN, Susan E. See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House. illus. by Elwood H. Smith. Bloomsbury. 2008. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-59990-285-2; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-59990-171-8. Gr 3-6–Presidential campaigns can be dramatic and momentous; they can also be funny, flawed, and even ridiculous. This breezy look at elections uses humorous illustrations and fun facts to capture the complex craziness of more than two centuries of American politics. From inaugurations and the Electoral College to dynamic speeches and dirty tricks, this entertaining introduction provides plenty of useful and fascinating information. GRANFIELD, Linda. America Votes: How Our President Is Elected. illus. by Steve Björkman. Kids Can. 2003. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55337-086-4; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-1-55337-989-8. Gr 3-6–From platforms and PACs to swing states and spin control, this title covers the nuts and bolts of elections in a clear and entertaining fashion. Conversational writing, supported by amusing watercolors, presents lucid explanations of complex topics along with humorous tidbits such as Election Day menus and “Delegate Barbie” dolls, making this an especially engaging and informative introduction. MORRIS-LIPSMAN, Arlene. Presidential Races: The Battle for Power in the United States. 21st Century Bks. 2007. PLB $30.60. ISBN 978-0-8225-6783-7. Gr 5-8–This useful resource examines the intriguing and often amusing details of each presidential election from Washington-Adams to Bush-Kerry. Well-chosen quotations and political cartoons help to highlight the issues and controversies that arise every four years, while the historical perspective shows how elements such as primaries, conventions, and the campaign trail have evolved over time. STEELE, Philip. Vote. DK. 2008. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-3382-0; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-7566-3381-3. Gr 4-8–From the water clock used to time speeches in ancient Athens to a hanging chad from 2000, this title looks at voting practices over time and around the world through hundreds of high-quality, well-chosen images. Dynamic visuals and valuable information convey the importance of voting and its impact throughout history. THIMMESH, Catherine. Madam President: The Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics. rev. ed. illus. by Douglas Jones. Houghton. 2008. Tr $17. ISBN 978-0-618-39666-5; pap. $8.95. ISBN 978-0-618-97143-5. Gr 4-7–A girl who is sure she can be president invokes the inspiring examples of historical figures to support her point, providing a clever backdrop to 23 brief biographies of famous females. They include First Ladies, congresswomen, and world leaders, each illustrated with dynamic pencil drawings. Originally published in 2004, this revised edition includes updated entries on Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, and Condoleezza Rice. STIER, Catherine. If I Ran for President. illus. by Lynne Avril. Albert Whitman. 2007. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-0-8075-3543-1; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-8075-3544-8. K-Gr 3–Imagining what it might be like to run for president, six kids picture everything from convention speeches to the inaugural parade. Cheerful cartoon illustrations depict each of the would-be candidates in action. The lighthearted approach is a fun and effective vehicle for easy-to-follow explanations of political parties, debates, and other concepts, making this a useful introduction for younger readers.

School Elections

HOWE, James. The Misfits. S & S/Aladdin. 2001. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-689-83955-9; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-689-83956-6. Gr 5-8–When four unpopular junior high students decide to run in a class election, initial responses include ridicule, scorn, and outright anger. As the “No-Name Party” finds clever ways to speak out against the bullying that pervades the school, though, many students start paying serious attention. Engaging first-person narration adds sly humor to this insightful and thought-provoking novel. MOSS, Marissa. Vote 4 Amelia. illus. by author. S & S/Paula Wiseman Bks. 2007. Tr $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-2789-1. Gr 3-7–Amelia runs for secretary while her friend Carly vies for president, but they have a tough race in store against an opponent who hands out candy bars, flirts with his rival, and sneakily breaks election rules. In her notebook full of doodles, drawings, and funny comments, Amelia captures the unpredictable excitement of a school election. THALER, Mike. The Class Election from the Black Lagoon. illus. by Jared D. Lee. Scholastic. 2004. pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-439-55716-0. Gr 3-6–Hubie’s joke-filled run for class president is a “campaign” in the neck. Goofy humor rules as he states his “agenda” (“My 'gender’s’ a boy”) and holds his own in a debate by saying “is too” to every “is not” from his opponent. This class-elections spoof is peppered with puns, wisecracks, and comical illustrations sure to produce Election Day laughs. WELLS, Rosemary. Otto Runs for President. illus. by author. Scholastic. 2008. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-545-03722-8. PreS-Gr 2–It’s a three-way race for student president at Barkadelphia School. Tiffany is cute and smart; Charles stars on the sports field. And both make some eye-catching campaign promises. Does an ordinary guy like Otto have a chance? Appealing illustrations and tongue-in-cheek humor bring the canine cast of characters to life in this thoughtful picture book.

Unlikely Candidates

CRONIN, Doreen. Duck for President. illus. by Betsy Lewin. S & S. 2004. RTE $15.95. ISBN 978-0-689-86377-6. K-Gr 4– “Vote Duck! For a kinder, gentler farm!” reads the sign on Farmer Brown’s door, prompting a series of elections that ultimately brings Duck to the highest office in the land. Witty cartoon illustrations in this playful political satire capture the comic campaign activities that include baby kissing, parade marching, and giving “speeches that only other ducks could understand.” DVD/video and audio versions available from Weston Woods. FEIFFER, Kate. President Pennybaker. illus. by Diane Goode. S & S/Paula Wiseman Bks. 2008. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-1354-2. PreS-Gr 3–When Dad won’t let him watch TV, young Luke Pennybaker decides to run for president to “make life fair” for kids. Running as the “Birthday Party” candidate with a canine running mate and a platform championing messy rooms and lots of dessert, the grade-schooler marches to a landslide victory. Expressive watercolor cartoons enhance this whimsical child’s-eye view of elections. GUTMAN, Dan. The Kid Who Ran for President. Scholastic. 2000. pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-590-93988-1. Gr 4-7–Twelve-year-old Judson Moon’s run for president seems crazy at first, but with a boy-genius campaign manager, a middle-school model as “First Babe,” and a running mate in her 80s, anything is possible. Judson wisecracks his way through an election that’s as funny as it is improbable in this novel full of laugh-out-loud moments and sly pokes at politics. Audio version available from Recorded Books. TEAGUE, Mark. LaRue for Mayor: Letters from the Campaign Trail. illus. by author. Scholastic. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-439-78315-6. K-Gr 3-When a mayoral candidate calls for a “canine crackdown” in Snort City, a new figure steps into the political ring: it’s Ike LaRue, the “dog friendly” candidate. “Opponents point out that he is, in fact, a dog.” His hard-fought campaign is cleverly related through newspaper headlines, inventive illustrations, and Ike’s own letters to his oblivious owner.

Voting Rights

BATTLE-LAVERT, Gwendolyn. Papa’s Mark. illus. by Colin Bootman. Holiday House. 2003. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-1650-9. Gr 1-4–Papa learns to sign his first ballot with help from his son in this moving story from the post-Civil War era. The boy and his father motivate many of their African-American neighbors to cast their first votes ever. Emotive oil paintings capture the impact of their triumph, which culminates in the closing sentences: “Papa voted. Lamar County changed.” BAUSUM, Ann. With Courage and Cloth: Winning the Fight for a Woman’s Right to Vote. National Geographic. 2004. Tr $21.95. ISBN 978-0-7922-7647-0; PLB $32.90. ISBN 978-0-7922-6996-0. Gr 7 Up–American women officially won the right to vote in 1920, but only after more than 70 years of struggles that included speeches, protests, imprisonment, and hunger strikes by determined crusaders for suffrage. Lively narrative, firsthand accounts, and period photographs introduce the heroic individuals who continued the battle through to the triumphant ratification of the 19th Amendment. KRULL, Kathleen. A Woman for President: The Story of Victoria Woodhull. illus. by Jane Dyer. Walker. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8027-8908-2; RTE $17.85. ISBN 978-0-8027-8909-9; pap. $6.95. ISBN 978-0-8027-9615-8. Gr 3-5–Woodhull’s run for office in the 1872 presidential election was “the wildest, most outrageous act she could dream up to prove women’s equality,” and her candidacy helped energize the early suffragist movement. Vivid prose and elegant watercolors capture the essence of this controversial woman whose colorful life also included roles as a spiritualist, stock trader, and newspaper owner. SCHWABACH, Karen. The Hope Chest. Random. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-84095-1; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-94095-8. Gr 4-7–Eleven-year-old Violet runs off to find her adventurous older sister in this historical novel. As she journeys from New York to Washington to Nashville, the girl becomes deeply involved in the 1920 fight to pass the 19th Amendment. Along the way she learns about racial discrimination, romance, and the importance of standing up for her beliefs. STONE, Tanya Lee. Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote. illus. by Rebecca Gibbon. Holt. 2008. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7903-6. Gr 1-4–This lively biography shows how a “strong-spirited, rule-breaking” girl became a pioneer in the fight for women’s voting rights. Folk-art drawings depict Elizabeth in action as an athletic girl, a dedicated student, and a determined leader. An inspiring introduction to a woman whose brave actions helped ignite a revolutionary idea that eventually became constitutional law. WHITE, Linda Arms. I Could Do That!: Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote. illus. by Nancy Carpenter. Farrar. 2005. Tr $16. ISBN 978-0-374-33527-4. Gr 2-4–If Esther Morris can take care of her family, run a business, and become an abolitionist, she decides she can certainly vote as well. Her efforts resulted in voting rights for women in the Wyoming Territory, more than 50 years before the 19th Amendment. Lighthearted illustrations and enthusiastic narration tell the story of this little-known early suffragist. DVD/video and audio versions available from Weston Woods.

Youth Involvement

BAUER, Joan. Hope Was Here. Putnam. 2000. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-399-23142-1; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-14-240424-9. Gr 5-9–A 16-year-old waitress joins other teens in a small Wisconsin town to support an underdog mayoral candidate. With a reliable sense of humor and strong support from new and old friends, Hope endures surprising setbacks, dirty tricks, and election fraud as she tries to prove that politics, like waitressing, really is “about serving up your very best.” Audio version available from Listening Library. BOYERS, Sarah Jane. Teen Power Politics: Make Yourself Heard. 21st Century Bks. 2000. PLB $24.90. ISBN 978-0-7613-1307-6. Gr 7 Up–Though it was published two election cycles ago, this rousing look at the potential of young people to influence the political scene remains relevant and effective. Wide-ranging practical advice is supported by pertinent political cartoons, insightful quotations, and real-world success stories featuring teens who have made a difference at local and national levels. DECLARE YOURSELF: SPEAK. CONNECT. ACT. VOTE. MORE THAN 50 CELEBRATED AMERICANS TELL YOU WHY. HarperCollins. 2008. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-147332-6; pap. $11.99. ISBN 978-0-06-147316-6. Gr 9 Up–Fifty famous figures, including authors, actors, athletes, and pop stars, each deliver the same message: young people need to vote! The varied efforts include earnest lectures, funny personal stories, and thought-provoking essays. Many of the contributors are not far past 18 themselves, so their stories may resonate particularly strongly with readers who are at or approaching voting age. EDWARDS, Nancy. Mom for Mayor. illus. by Michael Chesworth. Cricket. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8126-2743-5. Gr 4-6–When the city sells his neighborhood ballpark, Eric decides it’s time for a change. So he signs up his mother as a candidate for mayor without telling her about it. When Mom finally agrees to run, Eric learns firsthand about the ups and downs of local politics as the election impacts family and classroom as well as his town. Amusing drawings complement the lighthearted tale. GEPHART, Donna. As If Being 12¾ Isn’t Bad Enough, My Mother Is Running for President! Delacorte. 2008. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73481-3; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90479-7. Gr 5-8–When her mother’s presidential campaign takes off, it’s no picnic for Vanessa. Mom no longer has time for popcorn and games, Vanessa can’t have a secret admirer without Secret Service involvement, and mysterious threatening letters start showing up at school. Vanessa’s sharp narration and self-deprecating humor make this an appealing and suspenseful tale of politics and family. LEVITHAN, David. Wide Awake. Knopf. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-375-83466-0; PLB $18.99. ISBN 978-0-375-93466-7; pap. $8.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89146-5. Gr 9 Up–When the first-ever gay Jewish candidate gets elected, the “Decents” who opposed him try to reverse the results. Duncan and his boyfriend join millions of others who converge upon the state of Kansas to show their support. Set in the near future, this thought-provoking novel examines issues of tolerance, fairness, and the political process. TASHJIAN, Janet. Vote for Larry. Holt. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8050-7201-3. Gr 7 Up–After creating an amazingly popular Web site, 17-year-old Josh comes up with an even bigger idea: running for president. His innovative campaign strategies and fresh ideas for change strike a cord with young voters, but opponents will stop at nothing to sabotage his candidacy. Inspiring quotes and eye-opening statistics provide serious food for thought along with mystery and humor. Audio version available from Listening Library.

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Steven Engelfried is a Youth Librarian at Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR.