This month the “Special Selections” in the children’s area features books about elections, United States presidents and our government. Young children can learn more about making choices as a community, having a respectful disagreements, and the importance of working together. Older children can learn about the process and history of elections, interesting facts about our Presidents, and the branches of government.

The library has many fiction and nonfiction books to help your children learn about how our government works.

Preschool – 3rd Grade

E is for Everyone! by Elissa Groden

“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. From amendments and elections to Congress and our Constitution, E is for Everyone! Every Vote and Every Voice: A Democracy Alphabet helps make our system of government understandable for young readers.” -From the Publisher

Curious George has been a favorite character of children for generations. In the story Curious George Votes, George is up to his usual mischief during school elections for a new mascot. He is fascinated with the posters and the stickers and putting ballots in the ballot box. This is a great book to illustrate the basics of elections and, as usual, George teaches children what NOT to do when voting.

Curious George Votes by Margret and H.A. Rey
I Voted by Mark Shulman

This look at voting helps children make connections between individual, everyday choices like a favorite food or a favorite color to voting on things like a class pet. It then goes on to explain how adults vote in a nonpartisan, nonbiased way. Details in the back of the book goes even more in depth on the voting procedures in the United States.

Here are some other great books for young children: Splat the Cat for President by J.E. Bright, One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote by Bonnie Worth, and Smart About the Presidents by Jon Butler.

4th Grade – 8th Grade

“At least ten of our future presidents are alive today.” The Next President shares little snippets of history about each of the presidents of the United States and who they were before they became president. The author chooses different points in time and tells about what future presidents are doing. This book strengthens the idea that anyone can become president.

Next President by Kate Messner
Lifting As We Climb by Evette Dionne

In August of 2020 we celebrated 100 years of a woman’s right to vote, yet not all women were given that right. We are familiar with the names Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Now meet Mary Church Terrell, Ida B. Wells and many others. Lifting As We Climb gives a detailed account of the struggle black women have faced trying to get the right to vote; starting with the abolition movement and ending with modern day battles to keep the right to vote. It is an empowering story of dynamic figures throughout history that fought to guarantee basic rights for all women.

Presidents of the United States invites the reader inside the White House to discover fascinating facts about the U.S. commanders-in-chief their origins, accomplishments, and place in history-as told through famous quotes, important historical dates, and a timeline of events. Special sections cover the election process, the branches of government, and the role of presidents in the expansion of our nation from before the 13 colonies through westward expansion.” – From the Publisher

More titles to learn about United States presidents and our government: Kid Presidents: True Tales of Childhood from America’s Presidents by David Stabler, Where Do Presidents Come From? by Michael Townsend, and Vote! by Eileen Christelow

For these books and more, check out the Special Selections shelf in the Children’s section of the O’Fallon Public Library.


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