I Voted: Making a Choice Makes a Difference by Mark Shulman (review)

In this sleekly organized picture book, Shulman leads pre- and primary schoolers through the voting process, from the concept of making a choice through to the sticker hopefully presented to the youngster who tags along with a voting adult. Shulman starts with preferences and decisions, pointing out that when you opt for ice cream over onions, you are casting a vote. Then comes the idea of choices made in a group (such as choosing a classroom pet), and the very real possibility that your choice won’t be the winner. Then there’s exploration of how to maximize the possibility of getting your way (through engaging with other voters: “Maybe you will change their mind. Maybe they will change yours”). The process of voting then leads from the classroom analogy to its civic counterpart, with candidates making promises and voters going through the decision-making process: “You listen. You read. You talk to the people you trust. Sometimes you can even ask the candidates themselves.” And how can kids take part right now? Bring an adult to the polls. Bloch’s cast of diverse citizens are rendered in roughly sketched black line and splashes of color that happily overrun their outlines, adding a touch of sophistication that gives the title the flexibility to span grade levels. Back matter includes paragraphs describing national, state, and local governments and a list of kid-friendly print and online resources.