With Election Day right around the corner, I thought it would be an optimal time to gather a list of my favorite Election Day read alouds. This list contains a few student favorites for this holiday. Even if it isn’t a presidential election year, Election Day in the classroom can still be engaging and fun. The list of books below is geared towards K-3rd grades. Here are seven book suggestions with affiliate links to Amazon.
Grace For President
- Grace for President by Kelly DiPucchio
- What I love about this story: girl power, diversity, informational, strong illustrations
Synopsis: Grace wants to be the first female president after her teacher tells the class that America still hasn’t had a female president. Students will learn about the American democracy and election process, while also rooting for Grace throughout this book. (It even discusses electoral college votes, too, which is often not introduced in kid’s books!)
Monster Needs Your Vote
- Monster Needs Your Vote by Paul Czajak
- What I love about this story: illustrations, high interest, informational lessons on voting, rhymes and rhythm, shines importance on libraries and education
Synopsis: Monster wants to vote for a president, but is told he is too young. So instead, he decides he wants to run to become a president. He runs on several platforms, only to discover no one really wanted to vote for him. That is until he starts his library platform. He wants to keep the local library open. When he finally finds success, he learns he can’t run for president because he isn’t 35. HOWEVER, he is still told to be an advocate for what he believes in even though he is too young to vote and become president. I also really love the positive light the author shines on libraries and education!
My Teacher for President
- My Teacher for President by Kay Winters
- What I love about this Election Day read alouds option: letter writing and social studies integration, positive light on education
Synopsis: This book is written in the form of a letter. It’s all about a student writing about why their teacher would be a good president. This book does not show the election or voting process. However, it does focus on all the things that a president can do. The book puts a president’s jobs and tasks into students’ real-life connections by relating them to stuff the students see the teacher do every day.
Splat the Cat- Kid Favorite Election Day Read Alouds Pick
- Splat the Cat for President by J.E. Bright (based off the books by Rob Scotton)
- What I love about this story: Splat series, light-hearted story about strong campaigns
Synopsis: Splat the Cat won the class president election. He began to promise unrealistic things to his classmates. His classmates all loved it, but his teacher didn’t quite agree. As Splat makes promises that aren’t best for the students and won’t help them in the long run, his teacher helps him learn the true tasks of a president. He discovers why it’s important to think about what is best for the students in the classroom.
If I Ran for President
- If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier
- What I love about this story: election focus, strong social studies lessons
Synopsis: This story follows a few potential future presidents. They discuss what they would do if they ran for president, so the reader is getting a lot of information about how to run for president and what it takes to be the president. It follows several children (of different gender and races!) as they discuss these topics.
Duck for President
- Duck for President by Doreen Cronin
- What I love about this story: familiar author, humor, strong illustrations
Synopsis: Duck and the animals at the farm are tired of their tough working conditions. So, Duck decides to run for office to control the farm. The farm animals register to vote and fill out their ballots to vote Duck into office. Then, Duck decides to work his way up the ladder from the governor to president. Duck learns at the end that running a country was no fun either, so he moves back to the farm for a new life.
If I Were President
- If I Were President by Catherine Stier
- What I love about this story: informational, diversity
Synopsis: This story is written in multiple children’s voices. All students wonder and dream what it would be like to be the president. While they’re dreaming up these scenarios, they are teaching the reader about presidential jobs and tasks.
Shop Election Day Reading activities here:
Election Day Reading Flip Book
Voting Reading Passages & Worksheets
Want to learn more about running mock elections in your classroom?
- Check out this mock election blog post!
