I have always been a voter. The main reason I’ve always voted is because my parents always voted. From an early age, they stressed to me how important it was to vote in every election, no matter the candidates or issues on the table. And so, as a parent, I take my children to vote with me as often as I can. I want them to understand how important voting is, and that every vote and every race matters.
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We also read books about elections and voting, so they can understand the why and how behind casting a ballot. Beyond that, we talking about voting rights, and the sacrifices others have made so that women, minorities, and the poor could vote alongside white, landowning men. Even today, there are attempts to limit the ability of certain groups of people to vote. That’s why my vote matters; because it speaks for all of those who may not be able to exercise that right.
These books about elections and voting will help you teach your children about the process of voting and the history behind it. They’ll help you raise future voters who will one day do their part to change the world.
18 Children’s Books About Elections and Voting
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Dare to Question: Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote by Jasmine A. Stirling
As an inquisitive young child, Carrie Chapman Catt wanted to know the “why” behind lots of things, including why her mother couldn’t vote. Carrie kept asking questions and pushing for change, becoming the president of The National American Woman Suffrage Association.
Carrie’s work took her all the way to August 18, 1920, a pivotal day in the fight for women’s rights. Would women finally have the right to vote in the United States?
This gorgeous picture book is perfect for sharing with children ages 5 and up. Head to the end of this post for a giveaway of the book! Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to share my opinion.
What’s the Big Deal About Elections by Ruby Shamir
This bright and colorful nonfiction book is a great introduction to voting for elementary-aged kids. It explores the history of elections, voting rights, who can run for office, and why voting matters at every level. I love all the fun facts and interesting tidbits in this book!
Granddaddy’s Turn by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein
When Michael’s Granddaddy puts on a suit, Michael knows that it must be a special day. Michael thinks they might be going to the fair, but instead, Granddaddy is going to vote for the very first time. However, when they reach the polls, Granddaddy is turned away because he can’t read. Michael vows that one day, he will vote, because of his Granddaddy. This gorgeous book tells the story of the author’s own experiences, and it’s an excellent introduction for children to the struggle of voting rights.
Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio
Grace Campbell is shocked when she looks at a poster of all the United States Presidents and sees NO girls! When Grace’s teacher explains that a woman has never been president, Grace is not happy. Grace decides that she wants to be president, and she runs in her school’s mock election. This excellent book teaches kids (and adults!) about running for president, the Electoral College, and the suspense of election day. It’s one of my favorite books about elections!
If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier
If you ran for President, what would you have to do? This informative book explains that someone running for president must campaign, choose a running mate, participate in debates, and much more. Kids will learn about the glamorous and not-so-glamorous parts of running for office, and will also learn more about the Electoral College. A great introduction to voting for kids ages 4 and up.
Lillian’s Right to Vote by Jonah Winter
Lillian is a one-hundred-year-old Black woman who is walking to her polling place to vote. As she walks, she recalls the struggles Black Americans have faced in the name of gaining the right to vote. She thinks of her great-grandfather voting for the first time after the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment. She thinks of the marches and protests that led to the passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. And she won’t let anything keep her from casting her vote. This book is one that every child should hear.
Vote! by Eileen Christelow
This picture book/graphic novel hybrid takes a look at a local election, through the eyes of the candidates pets. Readers will learn about registering to vote, debates, Election Day, recounts, rallies, and more. I recommend this book for independent readers ages 6 and up. The style makes it a difficult read-aloud, but it’s perfect for younger readers to explore on their own.
Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote by Tanya Lee Stone
“What would you do if someone told you you can’t be what you want to be because you’re a girl?” Elizabeth Cady Stanton was not content being treated as “less than” to men, and that drove her to become a leader in the fight for women’s suffrage. Kids will love the straightforward storytelling and bright illustrations in this book.
For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters by Jeff Foster
This illustrated guide breaks down the big questions kids have about elections, voting, and the United States government. This dynamic book is full of photos, illustrations, infographics, maps, and charts that teach about how our government works and why voting matters.
This book is a great choice for fans of graphic novels, and I recommend it for readers ages 8 and up.
The Night Before Election Day by Natasha Wing
The Night Before series has always been a popular one in our house, and this volume is one of my favorites. Readers follow a little girl and her family as they cast their vote, and she waits to see who the next President will be. It’s a great introduction to voting for young readers.
I recommend this book for kids ages 3 and up.
Vote for Our Future! by Margaret McNamara
Each election year, Stanton Elementary closes on Election Day so it can be a polling location. The students aren’t old enough to vote, but that doesn’t keep them from encouraging their parents, neighbors, and family members to take part in democracy and vote!
This fun picture book is an excellent choice for kids ages 4 and up.
V Is for Voting by Kate Farrell
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.
This awesome, progressive picture book takes young readers through the alphabet and shows the connection between voting, civil rights, and social justice. It’s an awesome read for kids ages 3 and up!
This Little Voter by Ann Bonnie
Told in the style of the “This Little Piggie” nursery rhyme, this board book introduces the youngest readers to voting. It follows a class of young children as their prepare for their own election, and shows everything that goes into getting ready for Election Day.
I recommend this book for children ages 2 and up.
Just Help! How to Build a Better World by Sonia Sotomayor
In this book, authored by Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor, a young Sonia is asked by her Mami every night what she did to help that day. The book explores the many ways that people can help, including being involved in the community through voting. The bright, beautiful illustrations compliment this excellent story that shows how to be a good citizen.
This book is a must-own and I recommend it for kids ages 4 and up.
Belle, The Last Mule at Gee’s Bend: A Civil Rights Story by Calvin Alexander Ramsey
While sitting and waiting for his mother on a hot day, Alex notices a mule chomping on collard greens in someone’s garden. An older woman joins him on the bench, and he ends up asking her about the mule. Is the mule allowed to just eat out of people’s gardens like that?
The older woman explains that Belle, the mule, has earned the right to eat wherever she’d like. In the 1960s, local authorities tried to keep the black residents of Gee’s Bend from registering to vote. Many of the residents used wagons, pulled by mules like Belle, to get around detours and register to vote.
This lovely story shows the unbreakable link between past and present, and is perfect for reading with kids ages 5 and up.
V is for Votes! A Suffragette Alphabet – 100 Years of Female Suffrage! by Erin Rose Wage
This adorable board book takes readers through the history of women’s suffrage. Children will be introduces to the people who worked to make voting more equal, and the elements of voting and organizing that are so important. I appreciate that this book has a diverse collection of historical heroes who fought for women’s rights.
I highly recommend this book for kids ages 3 and up.
Evicted!: The Struggle for the Right to Vote by Alice Faye Duncan
This middle-grade picture book explores the history of voting rights through the lens of Fayette County, Tennessee in the 1950s. While it was technically legal for Black people to vote, local White citizens and Ku Klux Klan members made it impossible for them to do so, particularly for the sharecroppers and field hands. When Black landowners began organizing to help these folks vote, the sharecroppers found themselves evicted from their homes by White landlords.
This powerful story shows how a community came together in the toughest of circumstances, and draws a line to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. I recommend this book for readers ages 9 and up.
Finish the Fight!: The Brave and Revolutionary Women Who Fought for the Right to Vote by Veronica Chambers and the Staff of the New York Times
For many years, when we learned about the Women’s Suffrage Movement, the names associated with the movement were always those of white women. While these women were important, we can’t ignore the work of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Queer people who also worked to create a more equal society for all.
This book dives into some of the lesser know women of the movement, and highlights the work they did and the discrimination they faced, even from other suffragists. Heroes like Zitkála-Šá, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, Ida B. Wells, and Mary Burrill are highlighted, along with many more.
I recommend this book for children ages 8 and up.
Enter for the chance to win a personalized, signed copy of Dare To Question: Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote, a set of 5 Girl Power Enamel pins, and a $100 Amazon gift card!
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
-A personalized, signed copy of Dare To Question: Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote
-A set of 5 Girl Power Enamel pins
-A $100 Amazon gift card!
Four (4) winners receive:
-A personalized, signed copy of Dare To Question: Carrie Chapman Catt’s Voice for the Vote
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