“Why is that man yelling? “ my daughter asked recently when she heard a protester on the radio. This and other government-related questions have been frequent topics in our home lately. Whether it’s questions about voting, the president (past and current), or why mom and dad talk endlessly about something she has no clue about, the U.S. government has been at the center of many conversations.

My husband and I both do our best and try to explain Why this and Why that to our daughter, but it can be a challenge so I decided to bring in the big guns: BOOKS! There are a lot of books out there to help kids learn about our government, politics and U.S. history. You can find lists like this on Amazon, ParentMap and even the U.S. Senate! I’m going to introduce three books that are great for younger kids, like our daughter, who is 5.

Bad Kitty for President

Bad Kitty for President, by Nick Bruel, is one book in the beloved his ‘Bad Kitty’ series. In this story, the Neighborhood Cat Coalition must elect a new president. Of course no one knows who will win (wink, wink). Will it be the candidate picked by kitties on the right side of the street or the one chosen by the kitties on the left side of the street? There will be suspense because one candidate never registers to vote! There will be surprise in the form of a last minute absentee ballot sent by Old Kitty. But mostly there will be an entertaining and very informative book about the election process and democracy. It’s no secret that kitties are #1 in our house, so this book is a huge hit. This is a great choice for the age 5 and up club.

Duck for President

“Ha-ha-ha,” my daughter laughed. “Guess who Peter (her BBFF) and I voted for? DUCK!” Snort. Duck for President by Doreen Cronin tells the tale of a humble duck who lives on a farm and describes how he works his way to farmer, then governor, and then possibly the highest office in the land. We love Click Clack Moo, and this is another hilarious book by Cronin. There’s a little math and a lot about the electoral process. The illustrations are a hoot and Cronin’s books always share a lesson (like working hard but having fun in the process). This book works for ages 4-8.

This Little President

This Little President: A Presidential Primer by Joan Holub is a board book that kids age 2-5 will enjoy. The Little President is a rhyming book and covers 10 Presidents: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, Grant, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Kennedy, Reagan, and Obama. This book is really cute and colorful, and the rhymes help kids learn names as well as a little bit about the presidents Holub includes.

I have always been a book lover and I must say that when you’re a mom (or dad) trying to explain life to your kid, there is nothing like a good book to ease the way. Happy reading!

It’s all about the journey,

Beth