Don’t Forget To Vote!
Picture Books About Elections
and Voting
by Devon A. Corneal
Elections are a big deal! Talking about the voting process and the value of a peaceful transition of power in the United States with your kids is important. These books will help introduce your children to the complexities of our electoral process in terms they can understand. They’re engaging, informative, and might even make voters out of your kids. Just be prepared for their disappointment when you explain they have to wait a few years before casting a ballot.
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Baby Loves Political Science: The Presidency!
Available from:Get your future voter election-day ready with this adorable addition to the Baby Loves series, introducing political science and the presidency to babies in a fun and easy way.
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Show Up and Vote
Available from:Award-winning musician and activist Ani DiFranco's debut picture book about elections adopts a conversational tone, describing voting as the starting point where ordinary people can have a voice and make a difference. Bold illustrations portray a polling place filled with friends and community, centering feelings of belonging and pride.
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The Night Before Election Day
Available from:Natasha Wing’s delightful The Night Before series now includes the very exciting — and highly anticipatory — night before Election Day! Told from a young girl’s perspective and written in the style of Clement C. Moore’s The Night Before Christmas, it’s a fun spin on a beloved classic. There are so many questions that crop up before Election Day, and this soothing read is a great conversation-starter.
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The Day Madear Voted
Available from:The Fourteenth Amendment granted African Americans the rights of citizenship. Still, discriminatory practices denied Black Americans a voice at the polls until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that outlawed the likes of poll taxes and literacy tests. In this joyful picture book set four years after this momentous act, Charlie and Ralph's mom, Madear, excitedly casts her vote for the first time. Wade Hudson and Don Tate's poignant story offers young readers a touching family narrative coupled with a powerful account of the struggle for voting rights.
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Leo's First Vote!
Available from:Leo learns about the significance of voting when his dad, a naturalized US citizen, takes him to the polls for the first time. Through a journey that includes a mock election at school and a thoughtful conversation with his dad, Leo discovers the importance of each vote, showcasing key election moments and providing informative backmatter for curious young readers.
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I Voted
Available from:This delightful introduction to voting starts by offering simple choices like apples or bananas, cupcakes or ice cream. From there, it moves on to discuss how a group of kids would vote to decide on a class pet and ends with how adults use the electoral process to determine community representatives.
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The President of the Jungle
Available from:In this captivating tale of the democratic process, the jungle animals seek a new leader to replace the self-centered king Lion. As Lion, Snake, Sloth, Monkey, and even Lion campaign for the role of jungle president, debates, rallies, and speeches showcase their efforts to prove themselves as the best creature for the role.
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What’s the Big Deal About Elections?
Available from:Have you ever wondered why Election Day is on a Tuesday? Or if a presidential candidate has ever run without an opponent? Then this book’s for you! What’s the Big Deal About Elections? recaps the history of voting in the United States, providing tons of facts and trivia to help kids learn all about local and national elections, and how they work.
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Vote for Our Future!
Available from:The lucky students at Stanton Elementary School get an inside peek at Election Day: every two years for one special day, their school is transformed into a polling station so citizens can make their voices heard. Vote for Our Future! sends an inspiring and hopeful message about the privilege to vote, and reminds those not yet of voting age that they too can help our country toward a brighter future.
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A Kids Book About Voting
Available from:Explore the importance of voting through American history in this book written by a non-profit geared toward empowering young voters to co-create equitable, joyful communities through an authentic, collaborative, innovative democracy.
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Bold & Brave: Ten Heroes Who Won Women the Right to Vote
Available from:Accompanied by bright illustrations by Maira Kalman, Senator Gillibrand’s debut picture book introduces young readers to ten American women who worked tirelessly for equal rights. It focuses on the work of bold, brave activists and suffragists across history and, ultimately, looks optimistically to the future: "Now it's your turn," Senator Gillibrand writes. "You are the suffragists of our time."
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One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote
Available from:Learn about elections and voting from Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat! With colorful illustrations and rhyming text, this picture book focuses on the election process — whether you’re voting for a class pet, local sheriff, or president of the U.S. — and explains that elections provide a way for voters to have a say in local and national politics.
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So You Want to Be President?
Available from:On this stroll through 41 of our past Presidents (apologies to Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, who were elected after the book was published) you’ll learn what it takes to make it to the White House, as well as some of our former leaders’ idiosyncrasies.
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Lillian’s Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
Available from:Even at 100 years old, Lillian is determined to make it to the ballot box on Election Day. As she climbs a very steep hill to get to the voting booth, she reflects on all that African Americans like herself have endured in the fight for voting equality. A must-read for kids learning about civil rights and a reminder for readers of all ages to not take the right to vote for granted.
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My Teacher for President
Available from:Oliver has been learning about the responsibilities of the president in school and he has the best candidate in mind. He writes a letter to his local news station that explains why he thinks his teacher is perfect for the job. This is a great book for sparking discussions around the character and duties of a strong presidential candidate as they relate to a job kids are already familiar with.
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Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2024.