Char Sidell has come out of retirement to work at The Codman Academy Charter School in Dorchester
I’ve had a hard time deciding on a topic to write about for this Forum. I really want the books I choose to both be ones that are new to you as well as useful in your work with children. After some thought, I decided to look at books about the Election, a topic on everyone’s mind. The task of selecting books was difficult for me since in my repertoire I don’t have many books with first hand experience on this topic. The favorite books that do come to mind are ones you are probably familiar with already. But if you aren’t, let me introduce you to two old favorites that I enjoy sharing with the younger set and three books published in the last year.
The first book, for younger readers, is MAX FOR PRESIDENT by Jarrett J. Krosoczka (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2004). There is an election for class president and both Max and Kelly decide they want to run. They make campaign signs, buttons and promises. When the time comes to vote, each student gets to make a mark on a ballot with just Max and Kelly as choices. Kelly wins and Max is disappointed. The teacher tells Kelly that her first job as president is to pick a good vice-president. After some thought, Kelly asks Max! Together they work together to improve their school, incorporating both their ideas from their election campaigns. Presented with simple text and animated illustrations, this book has a positive message.
The second book is MY TEACHER FOR PRESIDENT by Kay Winters and illustrated by Denise Brunkus (New York: Dutton Children’s Books, 2004). Written as a letter to TV Channel 39, second-grader Oliver explains why his teacher would be just right for President. Each illustrated double-page spread explains why, with one side showing what his teacher does in school and the other side how it translates into the job of President. For example, “She’s used to being followed everywhere.” in school by lines of children and in the adult world by reporters and gawking onlookers. Some other reasons are: “she goes to lots of meetings, she acts quickly in emergencies, she deals with the media every day, she would be good for our country because she wants to clean up the earth and she finds jobs for people, she’s a good listener, and she believes in peace.” Oliver adds, “Just make sure she doesn’t leave before the end of the year.”
Both of these previous books were published in an election year. I decided then to look at election books that were published around this election year and I found several. I also found a theme among these books – the many struggles by different groups to get the RIGHT to VOTE and the importance of exercising that right
There have been many books published about the women’s struggle for women’s Voting Rights. This year, a new picture book is out commemorating the 100th anniversary of an amazing and daring cross-country adventure of two suffragists, Nell Richardson and Alice Burke. AROUND AMERICA TO WIN THE VOTE: TWO SUFFRAGISTS, A KITTEN, AND 10,000 MILES by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Hadley Hooper (Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2016) is a new book to me. It received starred reviews in SLJ and Booklist. I found this a fascinating and entertaining story about two relatively unknown characters in America’s history. The text is lively and fun to read, celebrating the energy, independence, and determination of these two women as they undertook an almost unheard of adventure across America in an automobile at a time when only a few men had accomplished this feat. They named their car the “Golden Flier” and the color yellow is prominent throughout the book, standing for “Votes for Women everywhere in the USA”, a fact explained in the back matter. After reading the entertaining narrative, I read the four pages of back matter and felt it added a great deal to explain and enhance the story. It appears that Mara Rockliff did extensive research to create this book as shown in this back matter as well as presenting a clear and informative review of the long fight in “Winning the Vote”. I think this would be a great read for Read Across America Day or for third grade students who study the USA. The narrative describes Nell and Alice’s trip through the states as they brought their great cause to all they met. There is a two-page spread of a map of the USA showing their route across the continent east to west. I am looking forward to sharing this book with my students this fall before the election. If you have used this book, I would appreciate your feedback in the Comments section, as I am sure others would, too!
Two books published in 2015 are historical picture books of the civil rights movement and the struggle to bring voting rights to everyone, especially African-Americans with the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The first book, celebrating the 50th anniversary of this important legislation, is GRANDDADDY’S TURN: A JOURNEY TO THE BALLOT BOX by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein and illustrated by James E. Ransome (Somerville, MA.: Candlewick Press, 2015). Set in Alabama, this is a beautifully written narrative of a young boy and his grandfather who goes to vote for the first time in his life. His proud grandfather wears his newly pressed Sunday suit and takes the family camera along for a photo of this momentous event. As he walks to the voting booth, he is stopped by a deputy and subjected to a “literacy test”. His grandson can tell how angry he is, but his grandfather does not say a word on the walk home. “But I saw something I’d never seen before – my big strong granddaddy had tears in his eyes. “Don’t worry, Granddaddy. I’ll vote for you one day,” I said to him. Granddaddy passed away before he ever got a chance to vote. I never forgot that day he tried to vote...Even though it wasn’t his time to vote that day, he looked to the future…He was right. The day finally came. And I knew that – just like my granddaddy – I would never take it for granted. With his picture in my hand, I put my ballot in the box, smiled, and said to myself, Now it’s Granddaddy’s turn.” James Ransome’s beautiful water-colored illustrations add warmth and feeling to this moving story completing the experience for the reader. Back matter on the last page discusses the civil rights movement as it related to the nullification of voting rights, especially individuals being considered “undesirables” and given a “literacy test”, denying them of their constitutional right to vote.
The second book on this topic, also published in 2015, is LILLIAN’S RIGHT TO VOTE: A CELEBRATION OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Shane W. Evans (New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2015). This book received starred reviews from SLJ, Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly. The illustrations in this book are stunning throughout, right from the cover illustration of Lillian against the backdrop of the American flag looking hopeful as she gazes into the book. The steep hill on the endpapers leading into this book, and in the background throughout the narrative, are a subtle reference to the upward struggle Lillian’s family and many African Americans experienced to win the Right to Vote. Lillian is a hundred years old as she climbs up the hill to cast her first vote. As she does, she recounts her life’s family history from when her great-great-grandparents were slaves to August 6, 1965 when President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. This important legislation protects all Americans’ Right to Vote. Shane Evans’ final double-spread illustration of Lillian finally casting her vote is powerful. There is an “Author’s Note” in the back matter in which Jonah Winter explains that this book is intended as a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. A chronological history of voting rights legislation is presented here as well as a biographical sketch of the real Lillian that inspired the author’s main character. Jonah Winter ends his Author’s Note with a “sad coda to this story” in which he presents problems of the “voter ID laws” that many states created after the Supreme Court in 2013 made it possible. He challenges readers to protect the right to vote with the question, “Will a new generation rise and continue this fight?”
Without being too political, I feel that exercising our RIGHT to VOTE is more important in this year’s election than ever before. I hope these books will give us opportunities to engage our students on this important aspect of the 2016 Election by providing some history and appreciation for the struggles of those who made it possible.
Without being too political, I feel that exercising our RIGHT to VOTE is more important in this year’s election than ever before. I hope these books will give us opportunities to engage our students on this important aspect of the 2016 Election by providing some history and appreciation for the struggles of those who made it possible.