What have our kids learned about politics? Are we happy with all the negativity surrounding this election and what our children are hearing from elected officials about what constitutes fairness? Should one party be able to change the rules whenever it suits them? What exactly are the rules? We have selected some books to help kids understand how the government is supposed to work. We also have fun books for Halloween and some books about Indigenous peoples.

ABC What an Informed Voter You'll Be! (For Kids Grades K - 5th): An A to Z Overview of US Government, American Politics and Elections for Children (September 24, 2020) by Modern Kid Press -  children learn about the structures of government, influential leaders in US history, and individual freedoms afforded to all people. For grades K-5

The Constitution Decoded: A Guide to the Document That Shapes Our Nation (September 1, 2020) by Katie Kennedy – Teaching kids about the ideas, concepts, and rules that make America will help them become more informed citizens. For grades 5-8

Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You (September 3, 2019) by Justice Sonia Sotomayor – Justice Sotomayor draws on her experiences as a child diagnosed with diabetes to talk about all the ways we can be different and why being different is okay. How do you get to know someone who might be differently-abled than you? Just ask. Sotomayor explains our differences by comparing them to the different types of plants and flowers that make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable - different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful. For ages preschool to age 3

No Truth Without Ruth: The Life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (February 27, 2018) by Kathleen Krull – Learn about the obstacles Ruth Bader Ginsberg faced growing up as a woman and how she helped shape the future for all women. For ages preschool to grade 3

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom - Inspired by the many Indigenous-led movements across North America, Lindstrom creates the story of a black snake that threatens to destroy the Earth by poisoning the water. A young water protector takes a stand to defend Earth’s most important resource. For ages 3-6

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People (Re-Visioning History for Young People Book 2) by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz – Dunbar-Ortiz beyond the story of America as a country “discovered” by a few brave men in the “New World,” to discuss how settler colonialism and policies of American Indian genocide played a part in forming our national identity. Ortiz’s original academic text is fully adapted by curriculum experts Debbie Reese and Jean Mendoza for middle-grade and young adult readers. For ages 10 and up

Turtle Island: The Story of North America's First People by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger – Learn the history of America’s Indigenous peoples before the European discovery of the New World. Turtle Island is based on a Native myth that explains how North and Central America were formed on the back of a turtle. Archeological finds and scientific research provide a clearer picture of how the Indigenous people lived and the authors use this information to take their readers back 14,000 years to recreate Native American culture stressing the importance of storytelling.  For ages 11 and up

Room on the Broom (August 25, 2003) by Julia Donaldson – Witch and Cat are going for a Halloween broom ride when the wind blows away her hat, hair bow, and wand. Who will help her find them? Three animals volunteer to help, and all they want is a ride on her broom. Can Witch and Cat make room? Will the new friends help Witch again when she needs it most? For children in Preschool to grade 2

That Monster on the Block by Sue Ganz-Schmitt – Monster is excited to see who will move into Vampire’s old house, but when the moving van arrives will he be ready to accept his new neighbor who isn’t a monster, an ogre, or a ghoul? Why is Monster trying to unite his neighbors against their scary new neighbor instead of getting to know him? for ages 4-8

The Happy and Heinous Halloween of Classroom 13 (July 3, 2018) by Honest Lee and Matthew J. Gilbert – What’s the worst that could happen when the students of unlucky classroom 13 turn into their costumes? Find out in this funny and entertaining 5th book in the series about Classroom 13. For grades 1-5

Diary of a Middle School Zombie by Zack Zombie and Pixel Kid – What happens when a 12-year-old Zombie goes to live with a human family? For ages 9-12