Non-Fiction Books About Voting

Featured here is a picture book biography about a voting rights activist, beginning chapter book about a classroom vote, a non-fiction primer on all things American government, and a picture book that illustrates that voting is as much about community as it is about the individual votes we cast.

“Stacey Abrams and the Fight to Vote” written by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Laura Freeman
This is a picture book biography about Stacey Abrams who is a “politician, activist, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee”. Todd features the voices of other historical voting rights activists (Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells, Septima Poinsette Clark, and Fannie Lou Hamer) to guide the narrative from Abrams’ parents meeting, her as a child going to the voting booth with her parents, coming of age, and carving a path as an adult as she continues the fight for voting rights. For those looking to learn more about each of these activists or bolster a biography report, there is detailed background, timeline, and bibliography in the back. 

“Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote” written by Andrea Beaty, illustrations by David Roberts
This entry in The Questioneers series is a beginning chapter book that makes voting relatable by following Sofia Valdez and her classmates as they vote to choose their class pet - bird or turtle. However when there’s a tie and one missing vote they must solve the mystery! Along the way the characters learn about voting and about community. The sepia and blue toned illustrations balance the large text for newly independent readers or for reading aloud together.

“For Which We Stand: How Our Government Works and Why It Matters” written by Jeff Foster
This non-fiction handbook is a great primer for all things American government including a whole section on “How Does Voting Work?”. The great thing about compendiums such as this is that you don’t have to read it cover to cover. Taking a glance at the table of contents you can browse in short order what you’ll find in the book (i.e. “How Does the Government Work in My Community?”) and choose what interests you. Then you can always return to the book to read more, in whatever order you choose. There are a mixture of illustrations, tables, infographics, and photographs to keep readers engaged and help them parse the information. Recommended for elementary and middle school aged students - in and outside of the classroom.

“The Walk” written by Winsome Bingham, illustrated by E.B. Lewis
This picture book follows granny and her granddaughter as they go on THE WALK. A walk that echoes Stacey Abrams’ experience as a child when she accompanied her parents as they voted. But the reader doesn’t just follow granny and granddaughter. As the narrative continues neighbors join them to walk together to their polling location - “The walk wasn’t always this long” granny says - to cast their votes. This story emphasizes the importance of voting and community as well as the importance of leading by example. Recommended for all ages.