Vote for Our Future!

by Margaret McNamara, Micah Player (Illustrator)

Overview

In this charming and powerful picture book about voting and elections, the students of Stanton Elementary School learn how we can find—and use—our voices for change.

Every two years, on the first Tuesday of November, Stanton Elementary School closes for the day. For vacation? Nope! For repairs? No way! Stanton Elementary School closes so that it can transform itself into a polling station. People can come from all over to vote for the people who will make laws for the country. Sure, the Stanton Elementary School students might be too young to vote themselves, but that doesn't mean they can't encourage their parents, friends, and family to vote! After all, voting is how this country sees change—and by voting today, we can inspire tomorrow's voters to change the future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781984892805
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	02/18/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	37,343
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD530L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Margaret McNamara is the author of the Mr. Tiffin Classroom series, including The Dinosaur Expert, A Poem in Your Pocket, The Apple Orchard Riddle, and How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin? She is also the author of Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, which Booklist called "lovely" in a starred review. Ms. McNamara lives in New York City. Visit her on the Web at margaretmcnamara.net.

Micah Player is a former creative director of Paul Frank Industries and the co-founder and former creative director of Lately Lily. He began his illustration career designing characters, graphics, and style guides for the apparel industry. He is the author/illustrator of the picture books Chloe, Instead and the Lately Lily series. Visit him on the Web at speedballart.com.

Editorial Reviews

11/25/2019

Every Election Day, Stanton Elementary School “changes from a school to a POLLING STATION!” And while the kids who attend Stanton are too young to vote, they’ve realized, as McNamara puts it, “Kids have to live with adult choices!” So they’re going to make sure those adults stop making excuses and exercise their right to vote. Player’s digitally drawn cast may sport eager eyes, big smiles, and rosy cheeks, but they will not be denied. The kids canvass, help their own families develop voting plans, and when a woman tells one group she’ll be out of town, little Mia pipes up, “In our state you can vote early!” And it works: the turnout is so big, it covers an entire double gatefold. An exhilarating tribute to junior grassroots organizing that might just inspire a Get an Adult to Vote movement. A list of acts of Congress concludes. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Margaret McNamara's Vote for Our Future!

“Essential—the energetic narrative and uplifting illustrations will inspire and empower young readers to get out the vote.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“An exhilarating tribute to junior grassroots organizing that might just inspire a Get an Adult to Vote movement.” —Publishers Weekly

Praise for Margaret McNamara's The Dinosaur Expert:

"A pivotal moment in a child's life, handled with grace and sensitivity rather than conflict or ineffective lecturing." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A beautifully crafted picture book." —Booklist, starred review

"This story is illustrated with great care and attention to detail from page one, and the text and artwork work together in harmony to bring home powerful messages about gender equality, evolving to improve, and being careful with the feelings of others." —School Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher

01/01/2020

K-Gr 3—Stanton Elementary closes on Election Day in November to serve the community not just as a school, but as a polling station for voters. The students decide to take action. They learn about the election process in an effort to spread the word about the importance of voting to those who actually have the power to vote—namely, the adults in their lives. From the author of A Poem in Your Pocket, this book is a motivational call to action. Avoiding divisive partisan rhetoric, McNamara instead addresses the many reasons people give for not voting. For instance, when one student approaches a woman about voting, the woman replies that she does not like waiting in line. The student replies that if she can wait in line for coffee or for a movie, she can wait in line to vote. It is also mentioned that voting early or by mail is a possibility. Information on how to access voting and voter registration information is prevalent throughout as the students research in the library and visit their local election office. At the end is a list of Congressional Acts that demonstrate the rights that have been awarded to Americans throughout history, offering inspiration for how voices can collectively make a difference. VERDICT This entertaining and engaging story has a powerful and timely message. The children sum it up best by stating, "Kids have to live with adults' choices," which makes voting a difficult task to ignore.—Kaitlin Malixi, Kensington Health Sciences Academy, Philadelphia

School Library Journal

★ 2019-10-27
The children of fictional Stanton Elementary School educate themselves and their community about the vote in this picture book.

With its illustrations of simple shapes in bright colors imbuing a sense of positive action and a diverse cast of characters, this picture book rocks—and that's even before the narrative takes hold. When Stanton's students learn that their school becomes a polling station every two years, they want to be part of it—but learn they can't vote until they are 18. Undeterred, they take action. The kids do their research and then engage their community to encourage those of voting age to go to the polls. They go door to door with voter-guide pamphlets, they hold a bake sale (with clever reminders like "Donut forget to vote"), and remind their families to vote. Each child-empowering scenario is paired with an adult's excuse ("I'll be away"; "I'm not even registered"; "I can't walk so far"), and with each comment, the kids have an answer that draws on their research: "You can vote by mail"; "It's not hard to register"; "A volunteer can drive you!" These kids mean business; it's their future after all. Children and adults depicted represent a range of skin colors, hair textures, and gender presentations; one girl and her aunt wear hijab. Backmatter includes a quick listing of kid-relevant federal legislation.

Essential—the energetic narrative and uplifting illustrations will inspire and empower young readers to get out the vote. (Picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews

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