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This guide highlights the Curriculum Center's collection of resources that model the election process while educating young minds on the importance of voting and encouraging them to do so.
Elementary Resources: Materials for Grades PreK - 4
Be a Suffragist! by Fiona MacDonald and David Antram
Call Number: JK1898 .M35 2009 - Picture Books
Colorful illustrations and text describe the struggle of women to obtain the right to vote in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Dear Mr. President: Letters to the President by Chris Roberts
Call Number: E176.1 .R63 2003 - Picture Books
When 150 school children, ages six through twelve, sit down to write letters to the President, the resulting correspondence is a candid mix of sage advice, serious concern, and hilariously funny observations about the office of the President and the goings-on at Capitol Hill.
Twenty poems explore liberty, kids' rights, free speech, political debates, unusual presidential candidates, the two-party system, voting, the electoral college, and more. "A Voter's Journal" appears at the end of the book, featuring a dozen writing prompts and a discussion guide with space for journal entries. These poems are simple enough for a second grader to understand, yet complex enough to start interesting discussions among people of all ages.
Democracy for Dinosaurs by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
Call Number: JC423 .B814 2020 - Picture Books
This essential, kid-friendly nonfiction guide isn't just for families looking to share genuinely patriotic values during an election year -- it's for everyone. Using accessible dinosaur characters and clear language, Democracy for Dinosaurs explores key civic values on every adult's mind and helps showyoung readers how the things they do every single day can be guided by principles we must share in a democratic society: freedom, fairness, the rule of law, equality, respect for free speech, and respect for the truth.
D Is for Democracy by Elissa Grodin and Victor Juhasz
Call Number: JK40 .G76 2004 - Picture Books
Despite the banter in today's media, many Americans are still in the dark when it comes to knowing and acting upon their rights and responsibilities as citizens of a democratic society. In refreshingly candid and straight-to-the-point language author Elissa Grodintakes readers of all ages on an A-Z trip through our government's structure.
Duck for President by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Levin
Call Number: PZ7.C88135 Du 2008ax - Picture Books
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.
E Is for Everyone! Every Vote and Every Voice by Elissa Grodin and Victor Juhasz
Call Number: JK1978 .G76 2020 - Picture Books
Civics lessons are always timely, always important, and often very complicated. And despite the easy banter in today's media, many adult Americans are still in the dark when it comes to knowing their rights and responsibilities as citizens of a democratic society. So how do we help our youngest citizens to understand this important information in ways that make sense? This streamlined ABC approach uses poetry and colorful artwork to explain the basic building blocks of America's democratic system of government, from its earliest beginnings to how it works in today's world.
Election Day by Margaret McNamara and Mike Gordon
Call Number: PZ7 .M232518 EL 2004 AX - Picture Books
Beginning readers will love joining Mrs. Connor's classroom as they vote on a new class president! Today is election day in Mrs. Connor's class. The students will listen to speeches and vote for a new class president. Today is also Becky's first day at Robin Hill School. She thinks she would make a great class president, but she's new and has no friends yet. When Becky takes a chance and makes a speech, the whole class is surprised by the winner!
Elizabeth Leads the Way by Tanya Lee Stone; Rebecca Gibbon
Elizabeth Cady Stanton stood up and fought for what she believed in. From an early age, she knew that women were not given rights equal to men. But rather than accept her lesser status, Elizabeth went to college and later gathered other like-minded women to challenge the right to vote. Here is the inspiring story of an extraordinary woman who changed America forever because she wouldn't take "no" for an answer.
Equality's Call by Deborah Diesen and Magdalena Mora
Call Number: JK1846 .D54 2020 - Picture Books
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.
First Mothers by Beverly Gherman and Julie Downing
Call Number: E176.3 .G47 2012 - Picture Books
Did you know that Thomas Jefferson's mother ran a plantation by herself, or that Abraham Lincoln's mother was a wrestler? James Madison's mom called him "Jemmy" and made his shirts while he went to college, and Woodrow Wilson created Mother's Day to celebrate all mothers--especially his.
Granddaddy's Gift by Margaree King Mitchell
Call Number: PZ7 .M6937 GR 2004X - Picture Books
When her grandfather registers to vote while living in segregated Mississippi, an Afro-American girl begins to understand why he insists that she attend school.
I Can Be President by Christy Webster; Kellee Riley
Call Number: PZ5 .S74X STEP2 BARBIE PRESIDENT - Picture Books
Barbie has been a ballerina, a pet vet, a teacher, and a horse rider--and now she runs for class president.
If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier; Lynne Avril
Call Number: JK517 .S747 2008X - Picture Books
If you ran for president, you would get to do fun things, but you would also have a lot of hard work. You'd study the nation's problems, tell the American people about your platform, select a running mate, and debate your opponents on live television. In November, Election Day would arrive. You would keep your fingers crossed and wait for the results. The entertaining yet informative text is a good conversation starter for discussions on the election process.
If You Lived When Women Won Their Rights by Anne Kamma and Pamela Johnson
Call Number: JK1846 .K36 2006X - Picture Books
A different time...a different place...What if you were there? There was a time that girls and women in the United States could not: wear pants; play sports on a team; ride a bicycle; or go to college. That all began to change in 1848, when American women (and some men) met in Seneca Falls, NY, at the first convention for women's rights.
I Voted by Mark Shulman and Serge Bloch
Call Number: JK1978 .S348 2020 - Picture Books
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! Backmatter includes information about the United States electoral process.
LaRue para Alcalde by Mark Teague
Call Number: PZ73 .T372945 2008X - Picture Books
Cuando Hugo Moscoso presenta su candidatura a la alcald a, promete encargarse de todos los perros vagabundos, lo que pone en peligro las libertades del pobre Ike. Ike tiene que hacer algo y decide presentarse I tambin a las elecciones.
Letters from the Campaign Trail by Mark Teague
Call Number: PZ7 .T2193825 LAR 2008X - Picture Books
Ike finds his civil liberties at risk when Hugo Bugwort, the hard line mayoral candidate, promises to crack down on free-roaming, fun-loving dogs. As the anti-dog rhetoric escalates, Ike is compelled to join the political fray and run for mayor himself.
Madam President by Lane Smith
Call Number: PZ7 .S6538 MAD 2008 - Picture Books
A little girl imagines what her day would be like if she were Madam President. There would be executive orders to give, babies to kiss, tuna casseroles to veto (or VETO!)?and so much more! Not to mention that recess would definitely require more security. With deadpan wit and hilarious illustrations, best-selling picture book creator Lane Smith introduces readers to an unforgettable new character.
Margaret Chase Smith: A Woman For President by Lynn Plourde
Call Number: E748 .S667 P58 2008 - Picture Books
This timeline biography of Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to run for president on a major party ticket, highlights key moments in her personal and political life.
Max for President by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Call Number: PZ7.K935 Max 2004x - Picture Books
Max thinks that he would like to be class president. So does Kelly. But there can only be one president! Who will the class elect? Full of laughs and suspense, Max for President is a lively story of good sportsmanship--and a great way for kids to learn a little about elections, too!
The President's Stuck in the Bathtub by Susan Katz and Robert Neubecker
Call Number: PS3561.A775 P74 2012 - Picture Books
Playful political poems about the penchants and peccadilloes of the presidents! Sure, William Taft got stuck in his tub, but did you know that John Quincy Adams used to skinny-dip in the Potomac? Herbert Hoover spoke Chinese with his wife, and Gerald Ford had his name changed from Leslie Lynch King. It's true!
Presidential Pets by Laura Driscoll
Call Number: E176.48 .D75 2009 - Picture Books
Many of our presidents have had extraordinary pets including an alligator, tiger cubs, elephants, bald eagles, a hippo, a bear, a zebra, and a coyote. Find out more about the amazing presidential pets -- including the Obamas' dog -- in this easy read
President Pennybaker by Kate Feiffer and Diane Goode
Call Number: PZ7 .F33346 PR 2008 - Picture Books
What if a boy ran for president and won? Being a kid isn't easy, just ask Luke Pennybaker. Chores, school, homework, and more chores. Who needs it? Sent to his room for a time-out, Luke devises a plan to run for president and make like fair for kids once and for all. As "Pennies for Pennybaker" builds momentum, Luke's campaign takes hold across America. Being president of the United States is all a kid could hope for - or is it?
In a 1776 letter cautioning her husband to "remember the ladies," Abigail Adams made one of the earliest pleas for women's rights in America. How could she have known, in the years to follow, just how many strong and independent women would step forward to forge new paths in their fight for equality?
Vote! by Eileen Christelow
Call Number: JK1978 .C48 2004X - Picture Books
Using a town's mayoral election as a model, this lively introduction to voting covers every step in the process, from the start of the campaign all the way to the voting booth.
Vote for Our Future! by Margaret McNamara
Call Number: PZ7.M47879343 Vot 2020 - Picture Books
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.
A Vote Is a Powerful Thing by Catherine Stier and Courtney Dawson
Call Number: PZ7.S8556295 Vot 2020 - Picture Books
Callie knows there's a presidential election coming up. Her class is having an election, too, about an issue that affects them all--the class field trip! She's about to witness first-hand what a difference a vote can make--even a single vote--and along the way will find out about the election process and why people have fought for the right to vote throughout history.
Amelia Bedelia's First Vote by Herman Parish and Lynne Avril
Call Number: PZ7.P2185 Ap 2012 - Picture Books
Amelia Bedelia is sure she will love everything about school election day. The fun choices Having a voice Running for office Working together Voting Amelia Bedelia can't wait. What could be better? Hooray for school! Hooray for elections! Hooray for voting! Amelia Bedelia has been making readers laugh since 1963, when the first Amelia Bedelia book was published. Now, for the first time, you can meet the young Amelia Bedelia. Come join the fun!
America Votes by Linda Granfield and Steve Björkman
Call Number: JK528 .G68 2003X - Picture Books
Kids shouldn't have to wait until they're old enough to vote to get caught up in the excitement of presidential elections! 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!
Around America to Win the Vote by Mara Rockliff; Hadley Hooper
Call Number: JK1898 .R63 2019x - Picture Books
In April 1916, Nell Richardson and Alice Burke set out from New York City in a little yellow car, embarking on a bumpy, unmapped journey ten thousand miles long. They took with them a typewriter, a sewing machine, a wee black kitten, and a message for Americans all across the country: Votes for Women!
Bad Kitty for President by Nick Bruel
Call Number: PZ7 .B82832 BAF 2012 - Picture Books
ISBN: 9781596436695
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.
Bold and Brave by Kirsten Gillibrand and Maira Kalman
Call Number: JK1898 .G55 2018 - Picture Books
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was inspired by her own great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother to be bold and brave--to stand up and fight for what she believes in. But who inspired them? The long chain of women before them who spoke out for what's right--women who taught each generation that followed how to be bold and brave. Here are the stories of ten leaders who strove to win the right to vote for American women--a journey that took more than seventy years of passionate commitment. From well-known figures, such as Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth to lesser known women such as Alice Paul and Mary Church Terrell, these are heroes who dreamed big and never gave up.
Elizabeth Started All the Trouble by Doreen Rappaport; Matt Faulkner
Call Number: HQ1236.5.U6 R37 2016 - Picture Books
Elizabeth Cady Stanton called on women across the nation to stand together and demand to be treated as equal to men-and that included the right to vote.
Grace for President by Leuyen Pham and Kelly DiPucchio
Call Number: PZ7 .D6219 GR 2008 - Picture Books
ISBN: 9780786839193
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.
If the Walls Could Talk by Jane O'Connor and Gary Hovland
Call Number: E176.1 .O28 2004 - Picture Books
In case you've ever wondered, the walls at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue have eyes and ears -- and, what's more, they don't miss a thing. Now, listen up because the walls have a thing or two to tell you!
Lambslide by Ann Patchett and Robin Preiss Glasser
Nicolette Farmer is running for class president, and the rest of the Farmer family tells her she'll win by a landslide. A pack of overconfident lambs mistakenly hear lambslide and can't believe there's a slide made just for them. But when they can't find one on the farm, there's only one thing left to do: take a vote! They campaign. They bargain. They ask all the other animals if they, too, would like a lambslide. Will the lambs ever get their special slide?
Lillian's Right to Vote by Jonah Winter and Shane W. Evans
Call Number: F334.S4 L69 2015 - Picture Books
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.
Margaret Chase Smith by Lynn Plourde; David McPhail
Call Number: E748 .S667 P58 2008 - Picture Books
This timeline biography of Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to run for president on a major party ticket, highlights key moments in her personal and political life.
Mr. President Goes to School by Rick Walton and Brad Sneed
Call Number: PZ7 .W1774 MR 2010 - Picture Books
When his day starts off badly, Mr. President decides he needs a time-out from running the country. Sneaking out of the White House, he hurries to the local school and enrolls in Mrs. Appletree's class. There, Mr. President spins on the merry-go-round, and practices saying "please" and taking turns. But when he returns to the White House, he is greeted by panic and two angry world leaders.
My Senator and Me by Edward M. Kennedy and David Small
Call Number: JK1025 .K46 2006 - Picture Books
There's an old saying: "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." A few years ago, Senator Ted Kennedy decided to do just that. Now his beloved Portuguese Water Dog Champion Amigo's Seventh Wave (nicknamed Splash) is the most famous canine on Capitol Hill. Here we follow Senator Kennedy and Splash through a busy day in D.C., from press conferences to meetings with school groups to committee discussions to a floor vote.
My Teacher for President by Kay Winters and Denise Brunkus
Call Number: PZ7 .W7675 MY 2004AX - Picture Books
Just in time for election season, a nomination teachers and students alike will endorse. Oliver has been learning about the president's job, and his teacher would be the perfect candidate. She loves white houses, she's used to being followed everywhere, she attends lots of meetings, she finds jobs for people, and she believes in peace. Images of Oliver's teacher depicted during a typical school day are contrasted with scenes of his heroine carrying out presidential duties.
One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote by Aristides Ruiz, Bonnie Worth & Joe Mathieu
Call Number: JK1978 .W67 2016 - Picture Books
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!
Papa's Mark by Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert and Colin Bootman
Call Number: PZ7 .B32446 PAP 2003 - Picture Books
After his son helps him learn to write his name, Samuel T. Blow goes to the courthouse in his Southern town to cast his ballot on the first election day ever on which African Americans were allowed to vote.
President Squid by Aaron Reynolds and Sara Varon
Call Number: PZ7.R33213 Pr 2016 - Picture Books
Join Aaron Reynolds and Sara Varon as they explore the ideal qualities of leaders, diplomats...and giant squid. Squid knows all about being president. It means living in a big house, doing all the talking--oh, and having a tie is crucial. He's all set! In the next election, make a more informed choice. Vote for President Squid!
Smart about the Presidents by Jill Weber; Maryann Cocca-Leffler; Dana Regan; Susan Saunders; Jon Buller
Call Number: E176.1 .S618 2004 - Picture Books
Kids will love discovering the floor plan of the White House, a list of presidential perks, and lots of interesting info about all the presidents, from George Washington to Barack Obama. (Did you know he is the only president born in Hawaii?) Each page is jam-packed with trivia, fun facts, and information on the historical events of each presidency.
So You Want to Be President? by Judith St. George
Call Number: E176.1 .S699 2008X - Picture Books
For a limited time only, and just in time for the election! Dont miss the deluxe paperback version of the Caldecott Medal winning classic, fully updated with current facts on all our presidents. The timing could not be more perfect with the election coming up. From Washington to Lincoln, from Nixon to Clinton catch up with all your favorite (and not-so-favorite) presidents as the nation prepares to elect our next. An excellent addition to any classroom library, now at a lower price.
Susan B. Anthony by Deborah Hopkinson
Call Number: HQ1413 .A55 H67 2005 - Picture Books
Unlike most girls of her time, Susan B. Anthony received an education. And besides reading and writing, her schooling taught her that women should have the same rights as men, above all the right to vote. So from the time she was a young woman until the day she died, Susan worked very hard to change America and make her dream reality.
Truth or Lie: Presidents! by Erica S. Perl and Michael Slack
Call Number: PZ5.S74x STEP3 Truth President - Picture Books
Just in time for Presidents' Day and the 2020 election! Proficient readers will enjoy hunting down the TRUTH about several of our U.S. presidents in this book, part of an innovative new series. President William Howard Taft, the twenty-seventh president of the United States, got stuck in the White House bathtub, right? That's a LIE! The TRUTH is, he never actually got stuck in the bath during his presidency, but he did go on to become a Supreme Court chief justice after his term.
V Is for Voting by Kate Farrell and Caitlin Kuhwald
Call Number: JK1978 .F37 2020 - Picture Books
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.
Vote for Me! by Ben Clanton
Call Number: PZ7 .C523 VO 2012AX - Picture Books
Hey, you! Yes, you with the dazzling smile! The donkey wants your vote. So does the elephant. And each will do just about anything to win your support. Brag? Sure! Flatter? Absolutely! Exaggerate, name-call, make silly promises and generally act childish? Yes, yes, yes and yes. Soon, the tension mounts, and these two quarrelsome candidates resort to slinging mud (literally) and flinging insults. And what happens when the election results are in? Well, let's just say the donkey and the elephant are in for a little surprise--
Wackiest White House Pets by Kathryn Gibbs Davis
Call Number: E176.48 .D38 2004 - Picture Books
White House pets come in every size, shape, and species. What are some of the pets that belong to the world's most powerful men and their families? John Quincy Adams' alligator liked to slither across the White House steps and was fond of chasing the guests! Thomas Jefferson took walks around the garden with his pet grizzly bears! James Buchannan received a herd of elephants from the King of Siam! William Howard Taft, who was fond of creamy fresh milk, kept a milk cow in the kitchen!
What Presidents Are Made Of by Hanoch Piven
Call Number: E176.1 .P69 2005X - Picture Books
See America's presidents as never before--made of objects! Using everything from blue jeans to boxing gloves, Hanoch Piven "builds" the characters of eighteen of our nation's leaders. Revealing anecdotes accompany the creative collages and lend insight to the charismatic personalities of prominent presidents.
Which Puppy? by Jules Feiffer and Kate Feiffer
Call Number: PZ7 .F33346 WH 2009 - Picture Books
Calling all puppies! The White House is looking for a pet! When word spreads far and wide around the globe that the First Family is looking for a pet, animals of all sorts want the part: puppies from Egypt, India, and France; a Neapolitan mastiff from Maryland; and even a kitten, a guinea pig, skunks, turtles, and a raccoon. Which puppy will be chosen? Pulitzer prize winner Jules Feiffer teams up with his daughter Kate to tell a warmhearted tale of a worldwide competition to be the perfect pet!
Who Named Their Pony Macaroni? by Marilyn Singer and Ryan McAmis
Call Number: PS3569.I546 W46 2019 - Picture Books
A family of mice. A runaway goat. A mischievous snake. A shocking parrot. A pardoned turkey. A pampered raccoon. A ghostbusting dog. A celebrity cow. The White House housed more than presidents and First Families--who could forget the furry, scaly, feathered friends who impressed the press, guarded their charges, and kept them company through all the ups and downs of their respective terms?
The Next President by Kate Messner and Adam Rex
Call Number: E176.8 .M47 2020 - Picture Books
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.