A Vote Is a Powerful Thing

Gr 2-4–How powerful can one vote really be? Ms. Trask’s class is learning all about voting as the November presidential election approaches. In a hands-on learning opportunity, Ms. Trask presents her class with two options for a school field trip: the cookie factory or the wilderness park. To determine where they will go, the class will vote. Callie has many fond memories of the wilderness park; however, the cookie factory has the added allure of free cookies for visitors. Callie decides to run a campaign to show her classmates how great the wilderness park can be, while her classmate Lynn puts together a similarly compelling argument for the cookie factory. In the end, the decision comes down to one important vote. This book helps children make the leap from abstract concept to concrete understanding of the importance of these decisions and why voting matters. Brightly colored illustrations in bold hues form a dynamic backdrop against which this story is told. Each image serves to provide more context for the story, and some illustrations stand alone without text. Middle elementary students will enjoy the blend of complex ideas with accessible language as they learn more about the history of voting. The back matter includes additional information, a time line, and resources for further inquiry.