Elections for Kids: A PCL Pathfinder

Each year elections take place in every town and city throughout the United States . An election is the process by which people vote for candidates that they want to govern them. We not only vote so that people can lead our government, but we also vote on proposals or questions that may result in a new hospital or library, or changes to the city charter. The basis of democratic government is that citizens have the right to choose the officials who will govern them. Elections play a very important part in our daily lives. This guide introduces researchers to some of the basic informational sources on the topic. The terms and phrases listed in the subject headings below can be used to search for more materials in the library's catalog and research databases. If you need further assistance, please ask a librarian.

Alison Goes For The Gold by Catherine Connor. Portland, ME : Magic Attic Press, c1995.
ISBN: 0606084738.
Alison experiences her share of ups and downs when she runs for fifth-grade class president and travels through the magic attic's mirror to the Junior World Cup Skating Championship in Germany.
J Magic Attic Club

Class President by Johanna Hurwitz and Sheila Hamanaka. New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1990. ISBN: 0688091148.
Julio hides his own leadership ambitions in order to help another candidate win the nomination for class president.
J HUR

Dinah for President by Claudia Mills. New York : Macmillan, c1992. ISBN: 0027669998.
Dinah Seabrooke, now in her first year of middle school, struggles to become a big fish in what seems like an ocean--and in the process discovers the value of recycling and of friendship with the elderly.
J MIL

Phineas L. MacGuire Gets Slimed by Frances O'Roark Dowell. New York : Atheneum, 2007. ISBN: 9781416901969.
When his new best friend, Ben, decides to run for class president, fourth-grade science whiz Phineas MacGuire reluctantly agrees to be his campaign manager in exchange for help with his latest experiment--cultivating exhibits for a mold museum.
J DOW

The Misfits by James Howe. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2001. ISBN: 0689839553.
Four students who do not fit in at their small-town middle school create a third party for the student elections to represent students who have been called names.
TEEN BC HOW

My perfect life by Dyan Sheldon. Cambridge, Mass : Candlewick Press, 2002. ISBN: 076361839X.
Ella has no interest in running for class president at her suburban New Jersey high school, but her off-beat friend Lola tricks her into challenging the rich and overbearing Carla Santini in a less-than-friendly race.
TEEN SHE

Vote for Larry / Janet Tashjian. New York : Henry Holt, 2004. ISBN: 0805072012.
Not yet eighteen years old, Josh, a.k.a. Larry, comes out of hiding and returns to public life, this time to run for President as an advocate for issues of concern to youth and to encourage voter turnout.
TEEN TAS

Vote! by Eileen Christelow. New York : Clarion Books, c2003. ISBN: 0618247548.
Using a campaign for mayor as an example, shows the steps involved in an election, from the candidate's speeches and rallies, to the voting booth where every vote counts, to the announcement of the winner.
J 324.97 CHR

Voting and elections / by Dennis B. Fradin. Chicago : Childrens Press, 1985. ISBN: 0516012746.
A brief history of elections and voting and an explanation of how these procedures work in the United States today.
J 324.9 FRA

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Ben's Guide to U.S. Government
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/election/
The election process explained for children, with special age-appropriate sections.

Congress for Kids: Elections
HTTP://www.congressforkids.net/Elections_index.htm
Everything you need to know about elections from how the candidates are chosen, voting methods, and an explanation of the electoral college.

Project Vote Smart
http://www.vote-smart.org
Candidate backgrounds, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances, and performance evaluations.

The Library of Congress: Elections…the American Way
http://learning.loc.gov/learn/features/election/home.html
This site reviews the history of voting in America, with links to source documents such as political posters and recorded debates.

MiKids - You.gov
http://www.michigan.gov/mikids/0,1607,7-163-15942---,00.html
All about Michigan government and elections for kids.

The 30 Second Candidate
http://www.pbs.org/30secondcandidate/
An overview of political commercials organized on a time line.

Elections