Vote Here: Books for Tweens About Elections and Voting
by Denise Schipani
This morning, as my middle schooler was halfway out the door, he asked, “So, what happens if someone gets the nomination, but then changes her mind? Or his? What if they die? Do they just pick someone else?” The bus was coming in less than two minutes, so my answer was something along the lines of, “Uh … Not sure that’s happened before, but I’d guess the party would have to find someone else. See you later!”
Both of my sons — ages 13 and 11 — are highly election-curious during what I tell them is a very unique year. We talk about it all the time. What’s a caucus? Why Iowa first? Has there ever been a tie? (They mean an actual, popular-vote tie; I haven’t even tried to explain Florida in 2000 to them yet.) My husband and I know a fair amount about U.S. civics and government, but darned if our boys — and they’re hardly unique in this respect — don’t come up with questions that leave us either stammering or frantically Googling.
If your family’s in the same boat, check out this list of book picks for election-obsessed tweens.
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Presidential Mad Libs
Buy from:This offering from Mad Libs provides tweens with the opportunity to create 21 unique stories about presidents of the past (and present!).
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The Smithsonian Book of Presidential Trivia
Buy from:Kids can test their presidential knowledge with this fun book of trivia! From questions like "Which president holds the record for the most vetoes?" to "Which president had the largest shoe size?" they're in for hours of fun and learning.
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History Smashers: Women's Right to Vote
Buy from:Learn the truth behind women's right to vote with this installment of History Smashers! It took a lot more than just Susan B. Anthony to get the 19th Amendment ratified. Kids can learn the truth behind this powerful movement in this engaging book, which includes illustrations, graphic panels, photographs, sidebars, and more.
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What Is a Presidential Election?
Buy from:Who HQ makes learning fun! Tweens can learn all about presidential elections in anticipation of this upcoming moment in history. They'll learn about who can run for an election, how they do it, and more in this book that's complete with stickers, activities, and a color-your-own Electoral Map poster!
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Give Us the Vote!
Buy from:For middle grade readers looking for a more in-depth guide on the right to vote, Rubin's nonfiction book provides readers with a history of voting rights from the time of our Founding Fathers to today. Along the way, she examines the lengths people have gone to both secure the vote and prevent others from getting it, as well as the barriers people of color, Indigenous people, and immigrants face.
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Evicted!
Buy from:This civil rights book delves into Tennessee's Fayette County Tent City Movement of the 1950s, highlighting African American's fight for voting rights through interconnected stories. Combining poetry, prose, and illustrations, the book sheds light on how Black sharecroppers were violently evicted off their land as they fought for the right to vote.
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Vote
Buy from:Kevin Spencer is head-over-heels in love with his new girlfriend, Tina. But with the charming new boy, Cash, running for class president, Kevin is worried about keeping Tina’s attention on himself. Desperate to stay relevant and interesting to his girlfriend, Kevin decides to join the student government race — with hilarious results.
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Maple for the People
Buy from:Maple decides to run for president of her sixth-grade class. At first, Maple is excited about making a difference at her school, but when her ambitions expand to include the community, she finds herself losing ground in the political race. Middle school drama, friendship, and a mystery will keep tweens turning pages throughout this novel.
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The Election Day Dilemma
Buy from:Kids who love The Boxcar Children series will enjoy this election-themed installment. The Aldens sign up to help Cousin Alice with her campaign for mayor. But when someone paints over Alice’s and her competitor’s signs, the siblings must figure out who is trying to sabotage the election.
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Capital Mysteries #10: The Election Day Disaster
Buy from:KC and her friend Marshall are horrified to discover someone has plastered the Internet with fake, reputation-destroying photos of the president. With time running out before election day, KC and Marshall must find out who is behind the photos and stop them from ruining the president’s chances of reelection.
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Weird But True! Know-It-All U.S. Presidents, Updated & Expanded
Buy from:Kids who enjoy learning odd and interesting facts will love this installment in the Weird But True series. In addition to learning historical information about American presidents, readers will also discover bizarre and unusual facts about them. From hobbies and beloved pets to biggest fears, this book gives kids the inside scoop on the most influential people in our nation’s history.
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Eyewitness Presidents
Buy from:Discover the need-to-know facts about every American president. Each two-page spread features a different president, along with information about their life, time in the White House, and memorable achievements. This visual guide is a must-have for kids who want to learn more about the presidents.
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Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2026.