The general election is in a little over a month from today, and things are busy! On Tuesday, November 5, people all across the United States will vote on the issues that affect them, including who will be our next president. 

Children, of course, are not unaware that something big is afoot. Our children are always watching, after all. And they may have questions. What is voting about? What is an election? What does being a good citizen mean? And even if kids can't yet vote, how can they nevertheless participate in our democracy?

If you are looking for ways to start a conversation at home or in the classroom, the library is here to help. There are plenty of picture books one can read aloud or use to jump start a lesson or activity. We've gathered some up for you!

What is an election? And what is voting? 

Children may be wondering what is an election in the first place. And if we vote in an election, what is voting about? There's other vocabulary too, like candidate, campaign, canvassing, and more. There's a lot to learn! The President of the Jungle is a fun and approachable introduction to the election process. Important vocabulary words in boldface type aid in getting a handle around election lingo. 

What is running for U.S. President about? 

So if in an election (and specifically in a general election, which takes place every four years) we choose a person to be the President of the United States, what does someone need to do to be considered? In Grace for President, a plucky young girl decides to run for school president, but her opponent seems to be the more immediately popular choice. Who will their classmates choose? This book includes a kid friendly explanation of the electoral college process in U.S. presidential elections. 

To the Polls! 

An election is made up of many moving parts, but none more crucial than the actual act of going to the polls and making one's choices at the voting booth. In The Walk, a young girl and her granny take a walk, but not just any walk. This is  THE WALK—the walk to the polls. Others from the community join them on the way to band together and make their voices known. This uplifting and beautiful book is appropriate for preschool and beyond. 

Securing Voting Rights for All 

But not everyone could always walk to the polls. People of all kinds have worked hard to make sure that the right to vote belongs to everyone. Using rhyme and repetition, Equality's Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America is a comprehensive yet concise survey of the struggle for voting rights in the United States. It's also truthful and tenderly age appropriate to boot. 

Get Involved in Your Democracy! 

But wait! One has to be 18 years old to vote in an election in the United States. What's a kid to do, then? Well, participating in our democracy is more than voting. It's about getting involved in one's community. It's about being a good citizen—something that any kid can do! What Can a Citizen Do? shows readers that there are many ways to make change and work together, even if you can't yet vote. 

Election Trailblazers 

Even if some people argued that they shouldn't have a say, election trailblazers have shown us how to be good citizens. A Vote for Susanna: The First Woman Mayor tells the true story of the first woman ever elected as mayor of a town in the United States. That was in 1887, over thirty years before the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote! 

Further Resources and Information About Voting 

For more picture books about democracy, civics, and voting, check out the widget below. We've put together an entire list for you! Elsewhere on the web, PBS Kids has information about talking to kids about voting, including videos, printables, crafts, and more. 

If you are looking for a field trip opportunity, consider the Civil Rights Room and the Votes for Women Room, both at the Main Library. We are currently closed to the public and will reopen at the end of this month, but in the meantime you can plan ahead and reach out to our Special Collections team for information about educational programming for all ages.

Finally, if you are eligible to vote, you must register if you plan to vote in the general election next month. You can pick up a voter registration form at your local library branch and mail it in. Please note that availability of forms may vary by branch. Or you can register online at https://ovr.govote.tn.gov/. 

Whatever method you choose to register, you have until Monday, October 7, one week from today. For more information about how to vote in Nashville, contact the Davidson County Election Commission. It takes all of us doing our part to make democracy work.