For youngest readers, stories of small children accompanying caregivers to the polls and of animal elections help introduce this civic duty. Titles for slightly older kids show characters taking a more active role by paricipating in the process themselves at a local level and seeing the impacts. Books for teens explore the complicated issues around voting. And a good sampling of nonfiction titles for all ages help readers better understand the past, present, and future of the process.

Picture Books

Vote For Me! by Ben Clanton. illus. by author. Tundra. ISBN 9780735267589. 
Gr 1-3–This bipartisan picture book by the author and illustrator of the popular “Narwhal and Jelly” series pokes fun of political campaigning. Donkey and Elephant both want the readers’ votes and will do anything to get them. VERDICT This lighthearted look at an often serious, divisive subject will leave children and adults laughing and possibly questioning the election process itself.

 The Day Madear Voted by Wade Hudson. illus. by Don Tate. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen. ISBN 9780593615744. 
Gr 1-5–Just in time for the upcoming 2024 presidential election, Hudson and Tate combine their formidable talents to bring to young readers the historical context of the hard-won rights of Black people to vote. VERDICT This timely and timeless selection is a perfect fit for every school library.

Vote for Our Future! by Margaret McNamara. illus. by Micah Player. Random/Schwartz & Wade Bks. ISBN 9781984892805. 
K-Gr 3–Stanton Elementary closes on Election Day in November to serve the community not just as a school, but as a polling station for voters. The students decide to take action. They learn about the election process in an effort to spread the word about the importance of voting to those who actually have the power to vote—namely, the adults in their lives. VERDICT This entertaining and engaging story has a powerful and timely message. The children sum it up best by stating, “Kids have to live with adults’ choices,” which makes voting a difficult task to ignore.

[Read: How to Encourage Voting Through Story Time | First Steps]

Lambslide by Ann Patchett. illus. by Robin Preiss Glasser. HarperCollins/Harper. ISBN 9780062883384. 
K-Gr 2–When the lambs overhear the farmer say the word landslide, they think he says lambslide and they immediately want one. What follows is a bit of a civics lesson as the lambs poll the other farm animals to see what they think of the slide idea. Next, they petition the farmer for the slide with the help of the farmer's daughter. Finally, the animals get to vote on the new lambslide, which of course, is approved overwhelmingly. VERDICT A fun way to introduce the concepts of campaigning and voting to young readers.

The President of the Jungle by André Rodrigues & others. illus. by Larissa Ribeiro. Penguin/Nancy Paulsen. ISBN 9781984814746. 
Gr 2-4–The animal kingdom decides to replace its monarchy with a democracy after Lion, King of the Jungle, reroutes a public water supply for his own private swimming pool. Candidates for anthropomorphic animal president include Snake, Cobra, and Sloth. As they begin their campaigns, bolded vocabulary words like debate and rally are defined. VERDICT Ironically, a herd of animals may be a smart way to humanize presidential elections for our young future voters.

Yo voté: Tomar una decisión cambia la situación by Mark Shulman. illus. by Serge Bloch. Holiday House/Neal Porter. Jan. 2024. 40p. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9780823458080.  
Gr 1-5–An accessible introduction to voting—what it is, how you do it, and why it is important. Using kid-friendly examples, such as voting for a class pet, this informational text celebrates the right to vote and the importance of being an informed voter. VERDICT An excellent, Spanish-language choice for the elementary civics curriculum, especially leading up to the election season, that can be used for read-alouds or independent reading.

[Read: 4 Picture Books About Women Taking Their Daughters and Granddaughters to the Polls]

 ¡El primer voto de Leo! by Christina Soontornvat. illus. by Isabel Roxas. Dragonfly. tr. from English by Roxanna ­Erdman. ISBN 9780593900901. SP. 
K-Gr 2–Leo’s father has just become a United States citizen and will be voting in the presidential election for the first time. VERDICT A timely and informative title about the election process in the U.S. from a child’s perspective, with an emphasis on community and participation. Highly recommended for Spanish-language collections.

Leo’s First Vote! by Christina Soontornvat. illus. by Isabel Roxas. Knopf. ISBN 9780593644263. 
Gr 1-3–The proud child of a newly naturalized U.S. citizen introduces the ins and outs of voting to younger readers, both in class as his teacher conducts a mock vote, and nationally by following his single dad during the run-up to a presidential election. VERDICT A timely, if earnestly purposeful, overview of a basic civil right, aimed at younger audiences but with some savvy pointers for new Americans of any age.

 A Vote Is a Powerful Thing by Catherine Stier. illus. by Courtney Dawson. Albert Whitman. ISBN 9780807584989. 
Gr 2-4–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. VERDICT This is an inspiring read for children wishing to become more involved in their communities and the voting process.

Middle Grade & Chapter Books

Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote by Andrea Beaty. illus. by David Roberts. Abrams/Amulet. ISBN 9781419743504.
Gr 1-3–Miss Greer’s second graders are choosing a class pet, and the ever civic-minded Sofia suggests holding an election. She gets more than she bargains for, however, when Miss Greer makes her the election commissioner. VERDICT A winning (and timely) addition to the series; sure to delight existing fans and attract new ones as well.

Act by Kayla Miller. illus. by author. HMH. ISBN 9780358242185; pap. $12.99. ISBN 9780358206354.
Gr 3-7–Olive enters the world of small-scale politics when she decides to run for student council at her school. She’s committed to making the school a better place for all the students, but the competition is fierce. Olive’s supportive mother and her activist aunt Molly help her research protest movements, which the back matter supports through brief historical summaries and a recommended reading list. VERDICT An eye-opening microcosm of the often bumpy democratic process.  

Sona Sharma, a Friend Indeed by Chitra Soundar. illus. by Jen Khatun. Candlewick. ISBN 9781536238167.  
Gr 1-3–In the third installment of the “Sona Sharma” series, Sona’s class is holding an election for class president. When Pradeep, an unpopular student, becomes a candidate, Sona enters the race to prevent his victory. Her candidacy creates tension with her best friends, Joy and Renu, especially since Joy also decides to run. VERDICT A well-crafted tale of class elections, self-awareness, and childhood friendship; a valuable addition to any collection.

YA

Sources Say by Lori Goldstein. Penguin/Razorbill. ISBN 9780593117408. 
Gr 8 Up–Sisters Cat and Angeline couldn’t be more different. Angeline decides to run for student body president, but her plan goes awry when her ex, Leo—whose mom is a politician—also decides to run for school office. For Cat, this is a chance to cover real news and report the facts of this election of star-crossed lovers. VERDICT Like Natalie Sylvester’s Running and Brandy Colbert’s The Voting Booth, this shows that teens are capable of standing up and being heard. Recommended for collections where political activism is popular.

[Read: More Than Voting: 6 Election-Themed YA Novels Tackle Relationships and Political Engagement]

The Problem with the Other Side by Kwame Ivery. Soho Teen. ISBN 9781641292054. 
Gr 10 Up–A racially charged school presidential election leads to disaster on inauguration day for the students of Knight High School. Ulysses Gates, a Black teenager, and Sallie Walls, a white teenager, meet while acting in a play and quickly fall in love. What starts as a dream quickly turns into a nightmare as both of their sisters make them their respective campaign managers in the election for school president. VERDICT A romance that raises uncomfortable yet very necessary questions, this is an excellent book for discussion and purchase in young adult collections.

Wide Awake Now by David Levithan. Knopf. ISBN 9780593706978. 
Gr 10 Up–Levithan here reimagines his 2006 novel Wide Awake, with the political contention of the 2016 and 2020 elections. It is 2024 and the first gay, Jewish man, Abraham Stein, has been elected to the presidency. High school student Duncan, his boyfriend Jimmy, and their collection of friends and campaigners are elated until the governor of Kansas contests the election, stating foul play at the ballot box. VERDICT A thought-provoking political novel best suited for older YA collections. A recommended purchase.

Nonfiction

One Person, No Vote: How Not All Voters Are Treated Equally by Carol Anderson with Tonya Bolden. Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781547601073. 
Gr 6 Up–This very readable teen adaptation of Anderson’s New York Times best seller covers the systematic, racially motivated legal, physical, and psychological tactics used since the end of Reconstruction to suppress black, poor, and/or otherwise marginalized voters. VERDICT This highly recommended book can educate newly eligible voters.

We Shall Not Be Denied: A Timeline of Voting Rights and Suppression in America by Cayla Bellanger DeGroat & Cicely Lewis. Lerner. ISBN 9798765611586. 
Gr 4-8–A succinct and approachable exploration of voting rights and suppression in the United States. This work uses a time line format to present an eye-opening account of the widespread disenfranchisement of voters from marginalized groups since the foundation of this country. VERDICT A strong choice for American history and civics curriculum.

 Represent: The Unfinished Fight for the Vote by Michael Eric Dyson & Marc Favreau. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780759557062. 
Gr 9 Up–This timely and important book examines the current struggle to protect voting rights in a historical context. Dyson and Favreau trace the enduring battle for equal voting power, from the drafting of the Constitution to Donald Trump’s attempt to undermine the 2020 election results. VERDICT Highly recommended for collections serving high schoolers.

[Read: Ideas and Resources for Teaching Media Literacy in an Election Year]

Thank You for Voting: The Past, Present, and Future of Voting by Erin Geiger with Kathleen Krull Smith. HarperCollins/Harper. ISBN 9780062972385. 
Gr 5-8–This guide to America’s voting history is divided into three parts: “The Stories of How We Got the Vote,” “Know Before You Vote,” and “How to Get People to Vote.” VERDICT This title may not be at the top of your circulation reports, but it will serve a purpose when needed.

 Drawing the Vote: An Illustrated Guide to Voting in America by Tommy Jenkins. illus. by Kati Lacker. Abrams ComicArts. ISBN 9781419739989. 
Gr 8 Up–After seeing his students become disillusioned following the 2016 U.S. presidential election, college professor and author Jenkins responded by creating a graphic novel that highlights key events and issues throughout history that have shaped the way Americans vote. VERDICT Jenkins’s rousing work will inspire students to educate themselves on the issues—and, when the time comes, to vote early and often.

Give Us the Vote!: Over Two Hundred Years of Fighting for the Ballot by Susan Goldman Rubin. Holiday House. ISBN 9780823439577.
Gr 5 Up–Rubin studies the history behind winning the right to vote, both for women and people of color, and confronts issues still faced today. Events are not presented chronologically; however, the text is straightforward and journalistic. VERDICT An intriguing look at the struggles faced by voters in the United States through history and into modern times. A recommended purchase that will instill an appreciation for voting rights.

[Read: Oklahoma High School Library Runs Annual National Voter Registration Day Drive] 

 Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts: Understanding How Our Country Picks Its President by Syl Sobel. Sourcebooks/eXplore. ISBN 9781728294445. 
Gr 4-7–This text guides young readers, elementary through middle school, into the vital roles of the members of the House of Representatives, Senate, Electoral College, and several other high-ranking government positions and how they work collectively with the Commander in Chief. VERDICT This book’s comprehensive approach and conversational style invite readers to learn about the election process for its top leader, from declaring candidacy to the first day on the job. Highly recommended for all juvenile nonfiction collections.