Meet a spunky and determined African American schoolkid, Grace Campbell, who, upon inspecting her teacher's big poster of the presidents, exclaims in outrage, “Where are the GIRLS?” Mrs. Barrington explains, “The truth is, our country has never had a woman president.” Grace announces, “I've been thinking it over, and I'd like to be president.” Embracing what teacher will recognize as an irresistible “teachable moment,” Mrs. Barrington sets up a school election with Mr. Waller's class: Grace versus popular Thomas Cobb, school soccer star. The students pick cards from a hat, each one bearing the name of a state and the number of its electoral votes. Just like in national election, the candidate amassing 270 or more votes will win.

Grace and Thomas come up with slogans, make posters and lists of campaign promises, meet with their constituents, give speeches, and hold rallies. At Woodrow Wilson Elementary's special Election Day assembly, after every child but one has cast the electoral vote for his or her state, the score stands at 268 to 267. The outcome will depend on Sam, representing Wyoming, the Equality State, with a mere three electoral votes. Which candidate will he choose? LeUyen Pham's enormously appealing kinetic illustrations—shaded ink drawings combined digitally with collaged fabrics and papers—are packed with an exuberant cast of multicultural kids.

Before finishing the story, stop and have children predict Sam’s vote, or have them give Sam advice on whom they think he should vote for and why. Children can design their own presidential posters, including their self-portraits, a slogan, and their platform or list of campaign promises. What would a typical day be like if you were president? The girl in Lane Smith’s witty picture book, Madam President, describes her many presidential-like duties as she breezes through a school day. And Luke, the youngest boy ever to run for president, campaigns with his dog Lilly on the “Be Fair” platform and promises to paint the White House orange if he wins (which, of course, he does) in Kate Feiffer’s cheerful picture book, President Pennybaker, with charming pen and ink and watercolors by the wonderful Diane Goode.

Teachers, if you decide to hold your own mock election, inspired by Grace and Thomas’s campaign, children can pick states to represent and research them in books, encyclopedias, or online to locate general information including the capital, nickname, population, area, and other pertinent or surprising facts. Like this one: Did you know that Wyoming is known as the Equality State because in 1869 it was the first state to grant suffrage to women, thanks in part to Esther Morris, the first woman in the country to hold public office? Take a look at two snappy picture book bios for kids: Connie Nordhielm Wooldridge's When Esther Morris Headed West: Women, Wyoming, and the Right to Vote and Linda Arms White's I Could Do That: Esther Morris Gets Women the Vote.

THEMES: AFRICAN AMERICANS. ELECTIONS. PICTURE BOOKS FOR ALL AGES. SCHOOLS & SCHOOL STORIES.