As politicians and commentators argue about change and status quo in this remarkable political year, I see these same qualities reflected in recent children’s books. Below are recommendations for politically- interested teachers and parents who want to inspire children.
Every election turns publishers into political book pushers, this year’s contenders show two surprises. For the first time, there are books being published about the candidates before they are elected. There are several about McCain (including one by his daughter Meghan), a few about Clinton and at least six Obama books (not including the Barack coloring books and paper dolls).
Just as surprising was the number of books about feisty female historical political figures . My favorite is Barbara Kerley’s What to Do About Alice? How Alice Roosevelt broke the Rules, charmed the World and drove her Father Teddy Crazy (Scholastic, $16.99, ages 7-10). The bouncy text and lively illustrations by Edwin Fotheringham unite to portray the enthusiasm, verve and audacity of Teddy’s beloved daughter who was “running riot” (his words) as she “ate up the world” (her words). Alice “shriveled” at the thought of becoming a proper young lady at boarding school, entertained guests with her pet snake Emily Spinach, traveled the world being outrageous, and became the one problem her capable presidential father could never solve.
Tanya Lee Stone, Elizabeth Leads the Way: Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the Right to Vote (Holt, $16.95, ages 6-8) “What would you do if someone told you can’t be what you want to be because you’re a girl?” This biography tells about a woman who bucked the system.
Catherine Thimmesh, Madam President: The Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics (Houghton, $17.00, ages 9 and up) Twenty portraits of brave and tenacious women include congresswomen, suffragettes, and female leaders from around the world.
Laurie Halse Anderson, Independent Dames: What You Never Knew About the Women and Girls of the American Revolution (Simon and Schuster, $16.99, ages 6-9). An engaging conversational voice highlights intriguing early American heroines.
Walter Dean Myers, Ida B. Wells: Let the Truth Be Told (HarperCollins, $16.99, ages 5-9) Emotionally-strong writing tells of the teacher, activist and organizer who a crusader for justice as the “Princess of the Press”.
One classic children’s book strategy is to put child characters into election situations, providing identification for young readers. The downfall of this plan is that because the ground has been covered before, you need a new tactic. You’ll find one in Kelly DiPucchio’s Grace for President (Hyperion, $15.99, ages 7-9). The author gives the confusing concept of electoral college an elementary school translation as two clever teachers subject vying child candidates to scrutiny by fellow students. Each student represents a state and its electoral votes. Grace, inspired by the fact that there haven’t ever been elected females, takes on the smart, sporty Thomas. Thomas runs a slicker campaign, realizing early on that the electoral votes are boy-heavy. He kicks back as Grace keeps campaigning. In the final vote, Grace edges out her opponent when one student refuses to vote down gender lines, instead choosing “the best person for the job.” An author’s note explains the complexities of the electoral system.
Kate Feiffer, President Pennybaker (Simon and Schuster, $16.99, ages 5-8) Luke Pennybaker’s parents won’t let him watch TV, so he and his dog, Lily, run as “Birthday Party” candidate for president…and win!
Lane Smith, Madame President (Hyperion, $16.99, ages 6-9) Smith gives us a unique pint-sized female president and a book for parent-child sharing. Both will enjoy the humor and an adult can extend pictures and explain concepts.
When approaching a subject that is foreign, familiarity can open minds. Numbers of recognizable characters appear to help--like popular illustrator and writer, Rosemary Wells. Her illustrations will be familiar to all students who read Otto Runs for President (Scholastic, $15.99, ages 5-7) Barkadelphia School finds its citizenry embroiled in a difficult campaign—Tiffany, the cute, smart, pink-clad poodle is idolized by female students while the males support Charles, a bulldog and “captain of all the teams”. In this political popularity contest promises are made, slander is slung, and parents get extreme. Then Otto enters the ring, wanting to listen and work with to his classmates. His attitude and approach triumphs with the clear lesson for young future voters that popularity doesn’t count.
Mark Teague, Larue for Mayor: Letters from the Campaign Trail (Scholastic, $16.99; ages 5-8). The comic canine hero, Ike LaRue, runs for mayor. As in previous books, pictures and newspaper articles review a truth that reveals the bias of Ike’s slanted letters to his hospitalized owner.
Jim Benton, Franny K. Stein: The Frandidate (Simon and Schuster, $14.99, ages 7-10) Franny, the mad scientist, stars in her 11th sequel and puts her genius into becoming the president of her class.
If you’re going to explain something as potentially boring to children as elections, you’d better do it with verve. Susan Goodman’s See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House (Bloomsbury, $9.95, ages 9-12) uses buoyant good humor, anecdotes and accessibly tones to describe the history of the Constitution, electoral college, media and image, the party system and more!
Like politicians, children’s books provide…there’s even a book for adults unhappy with the last eight years. Erich Origen and Gan Golan’s Goodnight Bush: an unauthorized parody (Little Brown, $14.99) uses the iconic volume that has lulled toddlers to sleep for generations as the expression of the false messages of security that beamed from the passing administration. The authors milk every nuance from the original book and current politics--Dick Cheney sits in the rocking chair whispering “hush”, a mini Bin Laden scurries around on every page waiting to be found by page-turners, a child-like Bush, clad in a flight suit, is surrounded by broken toys like a shattered Federal Reserve piggy bank and a tower of blocks toppled by a plane. It will be offensive to some, brilliant to others, worthy of wonder to all…just like the original.