Voting and Election Day Picture Books for Upper Elementary 2024

When the calendar flips to November, we start to think, read, and learn about the government, democracy, and of course, elections, voting, and the electoral process, especially when it is a presidential election year. 

November 2024 is a United States Presidential Election year. You can easily bring these complex topics into your upper elementary classroom with these picture book read-alouds.

Keep reading to learn more about my go-to picture book read-alouds, perfect for Election Day. These picture books were hand-selected for upper elementary students. Plus, grab some fun and free activities below, that will go perfectly with your lessons on voting, the election process, and the Presidential Election.

1. If I Ran for President by Catherine Steir

If I Ran for President by Catherine Stier introduces young readers to the U.S. presidential election process in a simple and engaging way. Through the perspective of different children imagining themselves as presidential candidates, the book explains the steps involved in running for office, from campaigning to winning the election. It's an educational resource that helps kids understand the basics of democracy and the responsibilities of being a leader.

2.  V is for Voting by Kate Farrell

V is for Voting by Kate Farrell is an alphabet book that introduces young readers to the concepts of democracy, civic engagement, and the importance of voting. Each letter of the alphabet is paired with a word or phrase that relates to the voting process and civil rights, making it a great tool for teaching children about their future roles as good citizens. The book combines simple rhymes with colorful illustrations to make learning about democracy accessible and fun.

3. What's the Big Deal About Elections by Ruby Shamir

What's the Big Deal About Elections? by Ruby Shamir is a nonfiction book aimed at young readers that explains the importance and mechanics of elections in the United States. It covers the electoral process, including the history of voting rights, how elections work, and why participating in them matters. The book helps children understand how elections shape their community and country through engaging text and illustrations.

Get ready for Election Day 2024 with these FREE printables!

4. A Kids Book About Voting by Next Up

A Kids Book About Voting by Next Up introduces children to the concept of voting and why it’s important in a democracy. It explains in simple terms how voting gives people a voice in making decisions that affect their lives and communities. The book is designed to empower young readers by helping them understand civic duties and how their vote can make a difference.

5. So You Want to be President? by Judith St. George 

So You Want to be President? by Judith St. George is a fun and informative book that explores the lives and personalities of U.S. Presidents throughout history. It highlights the diverse backgrounds, quirks, and challenges of different presidents, while also discussing what it takes to hold the nation's highest office. The book offers our students a fun and insightful look at the presidency with engaging text and fun illustrations.

6. What is a Presidential Election? (2024) by Douglas Yacka and Who HQ

What is a Presidential Election? by Douglas Yacka and Who HQ is an informative chapter book that explains the U.S. presidential election process to young readers. The book covers the history, key concepts, and procedures for electing a president, including primaries, campaigns, and the Electoral College. It’s part of the super popular Who HQ series, providing a guide to help children understand how the nation's leader is chosen and why elections are so important in a democracy.

7. The Presidents Visual Encyclopedia by DK

The Presidents Visual Encyclopedia by DK is a comprehensive and visually engaging reference book that profiles all U.S. Presidents, from George Washington to the most recent leaders. This book is very similar to one of my favorites as a child! The book combines detailed biographies with historical facts, timelines, and hundreds of images, offering a rich visual exploration of the lives and legacies of the presidents. It serves as an excellent resource for young readers interested in American history and our Presidents.

8.  I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference by Mark Shulman

I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference by Mark Shulman is a picture book that introduces children to the concept of voting and decision-making in a simple and relatable way. Through everyday examples, the book explains how making choices, big or small, is a form of voting and how those choices can have an impact. It's a great resource for teaching young readers about the importance of participation and the power of their voice in a democracy. This book pairs perfectly with any mock elections you hold in your classroom!

9. Vote! by Eileen Christelow

Vote! by Eileen Christelow is an engaging picture book that explains the voting process in the United States through the story of a local election. Using a blend of narrative, humor, and cartoon-style illustrations, the book breaks down how elections work, from campaigning to casting ballots, and the importance of every vote. It is a valuable resource for teaching children about democracy and the significance of participating in elections.

10. Related books that you would also like to read:

✅ Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts by Syl Sobel 

This one is new to me and super engaging for kids! It explains the U.S. presidential election process, including historical insights and fun trivia. 

✅ The Voice That Won the Vote by Elisa Boxer

✅ Lillian's Right to Vote by Jonah Winter

✅ Be a Good Citizen! A book about laws, rights, and responsibilities by Julien Bodrieu

✅ D is for Democracy by Elissa Grodin

As November 2024 approaches, it's the perfect time to dive into lessons on government, democracy, and the electoral process in your upper elementary classroom. With a United States Presidential Election on the horizon, these topics become even more engaging for students.  These picture books will spark important discussions and deepen students' understanding of the election process. 

Happy teaching!

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Looking for no-prep activities for
Election Day? Head HERE!

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*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)

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Presidents Day Activities for Upper Elementary Students

I love taking time each February to celebrate Presidents' Day! It gives us the opportunity to get in some Social Studies activities, which are oftentimes cut out of our day due to time constraints. 

Celebrating Presidents' Day not only gives the students an opportunity to learn about the past, but to also celebrate the current President in office, and think about the future, too. One of our country's future Presidents is sitting in your classroom right now!

While I know that holidays do not always make the cut in everyone's lesson plans, teaching lessons that incorporate the holidays and seasons is totally my thing! Here are three activities that I love to do to celebrate Presidents' Day in the upper elementary classroom. And since they are all reading and writing based, they are the perfect way to weave the holidays and social studies into your ELA lesson plans!

1. Compare and Contrast Washington and Lincoln 

Reading and analyzing paired passages and comparing and contrasting informational passages are two activities that we do anyway, so bringing in President Washington and President Lincoln to compare and contrast is easy and effective!

Get started by having students watch these quick videos, take notes with the FREE organizers below, and then put their close reading strategies to work by reading and comparing the paired passages about Washington and Lincoln.

Kindly Note: Please preview the videos to make sure they are just right for your class!

• George Washington Video (about 4 minutes)
• Abraham Lincoln Video (about 4 minutes)
• Washington and Lincoln Paired Passages
  
  

2. Studying the Past and the Present

When Presidents' Day rolls around in February, we are knee-deep in nonfiction and informational text studies during both reading and writing.  We focus on nonfiction structure and biographies. Studying both United States Presidents of the past and present is a great way to study both history and current events while supporting both reading and writing standards.

When it comes to research and writing biography reports, I make sure to:

• have students brainstorm who they want to study 
• approve who each student researches to avoid duplicates in class
• breakdown what needs to be in a biography research project (see tips HERE)
• give students specific tasks each day so that they are focused and organized
• have students present projects, creative tasks, or speeches about their research

Teacher Tip: Use the current President in Office to write a class biography to serve as a model for student work. This helps students learn about who is currently in office and see a model in action before beginning their own research project. We also take this time to make sure that we know the difference between fact and opinion so that our research projects can be factual!

We also take our informational reading skills and use them to read, annotate, and reflect on a wide range of U.S. Presidents from the past.

Try these differentiated  U.S. Presidents reading passages to use as models of informative writing for students!

3. When I Am President...A Look Into the Future!

Presidents' Day is a great day to spend learning about Presidents of the past. After all, the holiday of Presidents' Day came from the original holiday of Washington's Birthday. However, after we study the U.S. Presidents of the past and the present, we look ahead to the future!

What better way to look into the future than to see what the current generation thinks about how they would run the country! My students always love to learn about the responsibilities of the United States President and then reflect on what they would do as the President of the United States. This is such a high-interest activity for the kids and it makes a great bulletin board display, too! #teacherwin

4. Get Your Doodle On or Make a Poster

Lately, the kids are obsessed with coloring! I love using these Doodle Thinkers throughout the year to get them focused, relaxed, and brainstorming before they complete word work and a writing task!

If you are working on nonfiction, informative writing, then have your kids do a little research and create their own informative writing report, essay, or poster! These posters are great to tie together history, holiday learning, and nonfiction writing! 

Bonus Idea: Read a book!

You know I love reading a good picture book any chance I get! These are my favorites to share with students as we dive deep into Presidents Day learning!

• Abe Lincoln Remembers by Ann Turner
• So You Want To Be President? By Judith St. George
• If I Ran For President By Catherine Stier
• A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln By David A. Adler
• Mr. Lincoln’s Whiskers By Karen Winnick (my favorite)
• A Picture Book of George Washington By David A. Adler
• Take the Lead George Washington By Judith St. George
• US Presidents Encyclopedia Reference Book

 

When it comes to celebrating Presidents' Day in your upper elementary classroom, tie your studying into your ELA lesson plans simply and seamlessly! Focus on reading, research, writing, and projects. Your students will love to learn about the past, present, and future of the United States Presidency with these engaging activities!

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Grab highly engaging President activities HERE.

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*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)