Election-Focused Books for Young Readers: Ballots for Belva, Sofia Valdez, Future Prez AND The Walk

 

Happy back to school and back to picture book reviews!

With the upcoming elections, I’m recommending three Abrams Books for Young Readers titles to whet young readers’ interest. They each address a different angle related to our electoral process and work terrifically together!

1. The first is an affordable paperback reprint of a picture book biography that debuted in 2015.

Title: Ballots for Belva – The True Story of a Woman’s Race for the Presidency

Author: Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

Illustrator: Courtney A. Martin

Themes: Voting, Politics, Persistence, Equality

Intended Ages: Publisher says K-2d grade. The text is dense (as many biographies are!) so I’d say 1^st-4th grade.

First line: “When Belva Lockwood was ten years old, she read that, with a little bit of faith, anyone could move a mountain.”

What I like about it: As a lawyer myself, I had heard about Belva, but I’m betting a lot of kids haven’t. In 1884, women didn’t have the right to vote—but Belva realized they could RUN for President. Talk about thinking outside the box! The way others around her interpreted her gumption and goal is a fascinating read. I’m also a fan of the unspoken message that you don’t necessarily have to succeed as you intended to be a success. The chicanery of the "political machine" is eerily reminiscent of present day. The illustrations capture the historical flavor and Belva's earnestness despite what others said.

Activities: The author has a nine page activity pack on her website!

• Host an "election" and make slogans, posters- suggestions - best meal, favorite book, best singer etc.

 

2. The second recommendation with another problem-solving angle will appeal to the younger readers. This is also an "older" title, published in 2019, still in hardcover.

Title: Sofia Valdez, Future Prez

Author: Andrea Beaty

Illustrator: David Roberts

Themes: Activism, Community, Problem-Solving

Intended Ages: K-2

First line: "Sofia was a baby who got things done, 

                   helping her family before she turned one."

What I like about it: Kids are little, but they do have power, and I like how this book reinforces that idea. Standing up for what we believe in can be hard. Scary! But that's the only way new voices get heard. I had to suspend disbelief a little bit in the scenes where everyone jumps on Sofia's bandwagon. If only life were so simple! But the overall message of empowerment is an important one. Bright illustrations accompany the couplets drawing the eye left to right with action. I especially like skewed orientation of the spread where Abuelo slips.

Activities:

The title from a NYT best-selling author attracts a lot of resource generation. You have to pay for some of these.

Picture Book Brain has a list of resources for Sofia. 

Teachers pay Teachers resources for Sofia.

Jodi Durgin's resources for Sofia

The author as FREE downloadables on her web page.

My suggestions? 

Ask young readers if they can think of a "community problem" (school or home) that they'd like to solve. Brainstorm possible steps! Then try one (or more)!

Ask young readers to ask the adults at home what they think a problem is in their community. Is it different than the problem the kids came up with? What do kids think about the problems adults see?

Ask young readers if Abuelo's injury was a good thing, or a bad thing.

Ask young readers to pick a favorite spread, and describe why they picked it.

Although the book is serious, there is humor. Can young readers tell you why Sofia visited the assortment of "offices" at City Hall?

3. The third book is another title for younger readers published 2023. 

            Author: Winsome Bingham

Illustrator: E. B. Lewis

Themes: Democracy, Voting, Community

Intended ages: preK-2

First Line: "My granny is taking me on THE WALK. 

'Because leaders are not born,' she says. 'They're made through molding and modeling.'"

What I like about it: The first lines are the most "telling" in the text. The rest of the story shows how a community feels the importance of adding their voice at the polls. Our country is based on the idea that each person has a voice (don't get me started on the electoral college!) and the text reinforces the weight of the simple act of showing up to vote. The text is spare and lyrical. E. B Lewis' masterful hand is evident in the illustrations and the art is breathtaking. The story focuses on girl joining her granny to walk in a Black community, but the messages of neighborliness and civic participation apply to everyone everywhere. Voting is important!

Activities: 

• The Teaching Books website includes a host of resources for The Walk including author interviews and lesson plans.
• The author's first book, Soul Food Sunday, was a Coretta Scott King Honor Book for illustrations, and a New York Times Best Book of the Year. Read both stories aloud and ask young readers to compare and contrast.
• E. B. Lewis has illustrated many picture books. Read another and compare and contrast his art style and the subject matter of the test. (The Other Side and Each Kindness are favorites of mine!)
• Share the "undie" (the cover under the dust jacket) and ask which cover the readers prefer and why.

I hope you enjoy reading up before the coming election. Every voice is important!

For more Perfect Picture Book Friday suggestions - visit Susanna Leonard Hill's blog!

A review of Cook Like Your Ancestors by Mariah-Rose Marie

 

I recently read an e-galley provided by the publisher and I’m excited to get my own copy and try the recipes in Cook Like Your Ancestors (published Nov. 2023).

This vibrantly illustrated cookbook written by Mariah-Rose Marie from Silver Sprocket focuses on plant-based recipes using the laid back historical measuring system of spoonfuls, handfuls and pinches rather than tsp, tblsp, ounce etc. My science brain may take a moment to adjust to this, but the recipes from around the world look flavorful. Fingers crossed! My family tried a broccoli French bread pizza recipe (from another source) last night and it tasted healthy, but fairly bland. We’re not a bland bunch and it's nice to get another plant-based recipe in our rotation.

If you're someone who cooks a lot, the information on basic utensils and ingredients may be basic, but it's nice for those who who are newer cooks.

I am chuckling a bit at the title because my ancestors were definitely not plant-based eaters. When my husband and I made this choice, my mom was convinced it was a passing fad, and an unhealthy one at that! Perhaps Cook Like My Ancestors for the author's enlightened family.

My gripe with the approach in the cookbook is that there is no nutrition information accompanying the recipes. I know it’s hard, since people’s “handfuls” may be different, but an expected range would be helpful.  I usually look for salt content first before I try a new recipe to see if it’s in the healthy salt range, or something that would be more of a “treat.” 

I'm not familiar with the author's other work (she's prolific in print and television media) so my reaction is based solely on the provided book. FYI - the book is fairly short as cookbooks go at approx 100 pages. You can go to a bricks and mortar store and quickly browse to see if this book is for you!