When You Grow Up to Vote: How Our Government Works for You
by Eleanor Roosevelt (Author) Grace Lin (Illustrator)
Eleanor Roosevelt's book on citizenship for young people now revised and updated for a contemporary audience.
In the voice of one of the most iconic and beloved political figures of the twentieth century comes a book on citizenship for the future voters of the twenty-first century. Eleanor Roosevelt published the original edition of When You Grow Up to Vote in 1932, the same year her husband was elected president. The new edition has updated information and back matter as well as fresh, bold art from award-winning artist Grace Lin. Beginning with government workers like firefighters and garbage collectors, and moving up through local government to the national stage, this book explains that the people in government work the voter.
Fresh, contemporary, and even fun, When You Grow Up to Vote is the book parents and teachers need to talk to children about how our government is designed to work.
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Kirkus Reviews
Updated for a modern audience, the pre-eminent first lady’s views on what government is and does and why having a voice in it all matters.
The female and nonwhite firefighters, garbage collectors, public officials, and jurors in Lin’s bright, racially and gender-diverse illustrations—not to mention references in the narrative to calling 911, to “alderpersons,” and “select people”—were likely not in the original 1932 edition. It’s easy, though, to hear Roosevelt, or at least her voice, in the pellucid descriptions of how local, state, and national governments are organized and the kinds of services they are charged with providing, both in the common-sense tone (“What seems good to you might not be good for the rest of the nation”) and in the inspirational message: “Marking your ballot is one of the most important—and exciting—things you’ll ever do.” Also at least partly new are descriptive notes about each amendment to the Constitution and each position in contemporary presidents’ cabinets, plus an eye-opening explanation of how electoral results can be manipulated through gerrymandering (using “blue” and “purple” voters as examples). Further comments by Roosevelt on citizenship and a brief biography focusing on her causes and character lead in to a short but choice set of more detailed sources of information about her life and work.
Lively, lucid, and timely. (Nonfiction. 8-10)Publishers Weekly
A fresh reworking of Roosevelt's 1932 book explains the roles of government workers and elected officials, election processes, and the civic responsibilities of U.S. citizens. The pyramid-structured narrative begins at the local level, describing the crucial services that firefighters, police, and garbage collectors provide. Roosevelt next tidily distills the jobs performed by town, city, and state officials before moving on to U.S. senators and congresspeople, the president and cabinet members, and those involved in the judicial system. Her keen humor surfaces: the county clerk "keeps a record of your birthday--in case you've forgotten when it comes." Updates by Markel (Brave Girl) include such post-1930s phenomena as cell phones, email, and electronic voting. Thumbnail pictures and charts by Lin (When the Sea Turned to Silver) will help kids on the younger end of the targeted audience grasp layered concepts. This reissue is especially apropos in an era of increasing awareness and activism on the part of American youth. Ages 6-12. (Sept.)
Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"Lively, lucid, and timely." - Kirkus, Starred Review
"A solid, informative choice for nonfiction collections that incorporates detailed information in a child-friendly style." - School Library Journal
Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She also served as First Lady of New York, on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and on the Presidential Commission on the Status of Women. She died in 1962.
Grace Lin is a New York Times-bestselling author and illustrator whose books include the Newbery Honor-winning Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Dumpling Days. She was recognized at the White House as a Champion of Change for Asian American and Pacific Islander Art and Storytelling. She lives in Florence, Massachusetts. Michelle Markel has written many picture books for children including Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909 and Hillary Rodham Clinton: Some Girls Are Born to Lead. She lives in West Hills, California.JNF043000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Social Science | Politics & Government
Politics and government
State governments
