Library Media Connection Editor's Choice Award
"This title is a step above the usual election books, both in content and entertainment value…Stier does a good job of explaining election details, both in an introductory note about electoral votes and in the text itself.…The lively cartoons cheerfully clarify the action and reinforce the concepts. Libraries will want this kid-friendly title."—School Library Journal
"Children will come away with a better understanding of the complex election-process, and, just maybe, an enduring respect for it."—Booklist
"No scandal mongering or shady PACs weasel their way into Stier's bright-eyed story of running for the office of president. This will be an innocent and charmingly earnest race with lots of different kids tossing their hats into the ring…This is a campaign to yearn for, all issues and not a spin doctor in sight."—Kirkus Reviews
"Children will come away with a better understanding of the complex election-process, and, just maybe, an enduring respect for it."—Booklist
"Stier enthusiastically describes the processes of running for and electing a president in the United States. After a clear one-page overview of the electoral college, the first person text imagines six kids on the campaign trail, from declaring candidacy to moving into the White House."—The Horn Book Guide
"This would be an outstanding tool for teachers to use as a starting point for classroom discussion."—Library Media Connection
"This book would make an excellent contribution to a social studies class leading to further discussion of the democratic process."—Children's Literature
Gr 1-3
This title is a step above the usual election books, both in content and entertainment value. Six children take turns explaining the election process as if they were running for president. They discuss their decision to run, campaigning, primaries and conventions, debating, being interviewed, meeting the public, voting, and being sworn in on Inauguration Day. Stier does a good job of explaining election details, both in an introductory note about electoral votes and in the text itself. The fact that one must be 35 years of age is only mentioned in the note. The author adds flavor by providing humorous examples, such as the need to smile despite indigestion. However, the multiple narrators can be confusing. One must rely on the illustrations to know which child is speaking, and sometimes it is not apparent at first glance. The lively cartoons cheerfully clarify the action and reinforce the concepts. Libraries will want to consider this kid-friendly title.
—Barbara KatzCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
No scandal mongering or shady PACs weasel their way into Stier's bright-eyed story of running for the office of president. This will be an innocent and charmingly earnest race with lots of different kids tossing their hats into the ring. (Forget for the moment that candidates must be at least 35 years old, one of the bevy of facts presented at the outset.) Stier follows the candidates, and Avril draws them in all their crayon guilelessness, as they brood over entering the race, move from caucus to convention, ponder their positions and spread their wares before the public. Whiners need not apply, as Stier lets it be known that getting your message across is a long, tough job. But the story is refreshing, too; no one is pandering or posturing. Honesty is a virtue here, as is being concerned and well-scrubbed. This is a campaign to yearn for, all issues and not a spin doctor in sight. It's enough to make you consider lowering the age requirement by about 30 years. (Picture book. 6-9)
