A Vote Is a Powerful Thing

July 6, 2020
Callie, a freckled, pigtailed girl, voices this first-person, present-tense picture book narrative about the significance of voting. Callie’s teacher, Ms. Trask, makes the upcoming U.S. presidential election digestible for her students by staging a class election to select the location of their next field trip: a wilderness park that Callie loves and campaigns for (her grandmother is working to preserve it), or the cookie factory, represented by classmate Lynn. The class learns how paramount a single vote can be when the decision comes down to a tiebreaker. Textural digital illustrations by Dawson present a diverse portrait of contemporary America. Though the book doesn’t explain how the indirect U.S. presidential election differs from Callie’s classroom process, it’s a galvanizing read for children interested in politics or parents who hope to instill such interests. Back matter includes more information on voting procedures, a timeline highlighting crucial voting rights events, an explanation of the proposition depicted in the book, and resources for further reading. Ages 4–8.