Children’s books about voting, elections, and democracy are vital for teaching kids the importance of making their voices heard today to ensure a vibrant tomorrow. These are the perfect books to help little ones understand why and how we exercise this significant right!
- Children’s Books About Voting and Elections Teach Kids the Importance of Exercising Valuable Rights!
- We are privileged to live in a country where we can make our voices heard.
- Children’s books about voting and elections help kids learn the importance of civic engagement.
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our favorite children’s books about voting!
Children’s Books About Voting and Elections Teach Kids the Importance of Exercising Valuable Rights!
We spend a significant amount of time impressing upon our children those qualities we hope they eventually embody: kindness, respect, honesty, and self-confidence.
We do everything we can to teach them right from wrong, to be upstanders in their classrooms, and to be selfless in their actions. Our goal is to create a generation of gracious, honest, and intelligent leaders, children who grow into adults that want to both BE good and DO good.
In light of our current climate, though, there’s something else we must strive for, something that holds equal importance.
We are privileged to live in a country where we can make our voices heard.
We have inalienable rights, freedom, and the power to elect representatives. So how do we make sure we raise children that understand these rights, participate in the democratic process and also take an active role in protecting and defending our freedoms?
You may think it is way too early to talk to kids about the government, our political process, and the United States Constitution. But guess what? We can so easily bring these topics down to levels children understand by relating this subject matter to their everyday lives:
- Kids have school rules they must follow every day (just like real “laws”!)
- They have leaders that make decisions for them (school principals- who, in their young eyes, are virtually akin to the president!)
- They even have their own version of elections (student government, starting as early as kindergarten!)
The point? Even young children can grasp the basics of our government and the importance of protecting the fundamental ideals our country was founded upon. Whether we are in an election year or not, children’s books about voting and elections are always valuable when talking to kids about how our government works, why we vote, how we got the right to vote and how we choose which candidates we want to represent our voices.
Children’s books about voting and elections help kids learn the importance of civic engagement.
We’ve been reading a lot in our house, and from fun fiction picture books for your littlest kids to non-fiction works for your older children, Happily Ever Elephants has a list of fabulous books to explain democracy in action. We sincerely hope you enjoy this list, share it widely, and, most importantly, always exercise your right to vote!
RELATED: Do you want to check out all of our children’s book lists in one place? This is the link you need!
Frequently Asked Questions
From a young age, kids will learn that their voices have power! Not only does teaching kids about voting connect what they learn in the classroom to the world at large, but it also helps them recognize how they can take stands on issues that matter to them. Teaching children about voting both at school and at home increases the likelihood that they will become civically engaged voters as adults.
Kids are never too young! Even preschoolers can learn about voting and the importance of raising their voices to help make decisions. Do you want chicken or fish for dinner? Do you want to play outside or paint a picture? Family “elections” and elections in the classroom teach kids to be confident in their choices and help them discover their passion for what they want and believe in.
I will forever love President Squid for the amazing discussions it has prompted with my students about leadership, honesty, and humility. I also love I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference to teach election and voting basics. Both are fabulous and discussed below!
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Our favorite children’s books about voting!
Even your littlest kids can learn the basic notion of what it means to vote in this darling board book that empowers young children to make decisions in everyday situations. This fabulous board book teaches toddlers always to cast their vote, no matter how small their voices or decisions may seem!
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It’s time for one young class to vote on their class pet! Who wants fins? Paws? Who wants wings and who wants claws? This adorable, interactive book celebrates classroom elections, the importance of voting, and the power of using our voices. Even young readers can learn what it means to rock the vote!
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When Grace learns there has never been a female president, she takes matters into her own hands and decides she must be the next president of her school. Grace thus enters the race, only to find herself running against another student who claims to be the “best man for the job” and has already captured all of the boys’ votes. Instead of getting nervous, Grace buckles down and runs on the platform that she is the best “person” for the job – and she may have just what it takes to go all the way! We love this book about a strong, young girl, and we also love the latest book in this series, Grace Goes to Washington.
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We adore this nonpartisan book that, with wit and easy-to-understand language explains the concept of voting to young children. From voting for what snack to eat to voting for elected representatives, this delightful and necessary story is a wonderful primer for children that also teaches an important lesson: you may not always win, but voting is important for everyone… and we must all make our voices heard! “If you don’t vote, you don’t get to choose[!]”
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Looking for a great ABC book to teach kids about voting, social justice, and civil rights? This is that book! V is for Voting is an excellent primer on elections and advocacy, introducing children to the tenets of democracy and the active participation needed to make our country strong and just.
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What makes a good leader? Is it the size of his house? The tie he wears? Having a book named after him? President Squid is satire at its finest, providing young readers with a keen look at the qualities needed to be the big boss, especially honesty and humility. We use this book frequently at school to discuss the important qualities any leader must possess, whether in the classroom or in the White House.
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Duck isn’t happy with life on his farm, so he takes matters into his own hands and organizes an election for a new leader. Who wins? Duck wins! But Duck’s ambitions don’t end at his farm alone. He next makes a run for governor and, after that, for president. Through it all Duck learns that being a leader requires quite a lot of hard work.
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This is quite the satire on the current state of American politics, featuring a donkey and an elephant in the throes of an election. It is a witty take on the nomination process and the negativity that often prevails, showcasing how mud-slinging tactics and misconstrued statements are often utilized to make a candidate’s case. Is this the right way to campaign? Does it detract from the real issues? This is a fabulous picture book for prompting important discussions with your older readers.
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Kids may not be old enough to vote — but that shouldn’t stop them from making a difference! The kids of Stanton Elementary School know that every two years, on the first Tuesday of November, their school will be closed and used as a voting location. And though the students themselves can’t vote, that doesn’t mean they can’t encourage others to raise their voices and get to the polls. We love how this vibrant book helps kids recognize that only if they vote today can they encourage positive change for tomorrow!
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I adore this non-fiction book. It is jam-packed with information and fabulous for kids of all ages – you can easily pare it down for your younger kids, or go over every important word with your older ones. This book is as fun as it is informative, featuring not just information about voting rights, our branches of government, and the role of the electoral college, but also wacky facts and trivia to delight readers of all ages. This is a must for every home and library!
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This is a powerful historical picture book about a 100-year-old African-American woman who makes a long trek up a steep hill to vote for the very first time. As she walks, she remembers her family history — from the passage of the fifteenth amendment to her parents registering to vote, from the impossible tests given to prevent Blacks from voting to marching in the civil rights protest from Selma to Montgomery. Moving, lyrical, and tremendously important, this is a fabulous glimpse at Black and American history.
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Take a walk through the first forty-one of our nation’s presidents, including wacky “tips” to abide by if you want to make it to the White House and some of the zaniest characteristics exhibited by our leaders. A fun and funny read with some fabulous information!
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What would it take for you to run for president? A lot of hard work, that’s for sure. This is a fabulous primer for young readers about how one runs for president. What is a caucus? What is a primary? What is a debate? Simple answers to these questions, with fun and humor inserted throughout the pages, make this book a winner.
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In 1916, two women set out on a mission— to drive 10,000 miles across America to make their voices heard. What message did they want to share? That women should have the right to vote, of course! This is a fascinating look at a unique journey during the women’s suffrage movement, featuring two strong women who would brave all the elements to further one singular, critical cause: equal voting rights for women. Lively and vibrant, this book rocks!
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This is a phenomenal, updated reissue of a chapter book that Roosevelt first wrote in 1932 when her husband was elected president. The book discusses something many children don’t always recognize- the government works for the people! The book begins by talking about government workers, then moves through explanations of our local and national governments, thus providing young people with a terrific overview of how our government is designed to function. A wonderful, informative, and easy-to-understand book for your tweens!
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Suppose you have a tween in upper elementary or middle school who wants to learn more about the Constitution and the inner workings of the United States government. In that case, your child will love this informative and accessible book! With clear text that is easy to grasp and vibrant illustrations, this book is a great introduction to how one singular document, the Constitution, establishes justice, frames our government, and affects our everyday lives. We absolutely love this one!
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