Politics & Government

Kids Are Americans Too

Four-time #1 bestselling author and veteran television news journalist Bill O'Reilly has more than 5 million copies of his books in print to date! His first book for younger fans, The O'Reilly Factor for Kids, held the honorable distinction of being the #1 bestselling nonfiction title for kids in 2005 according to Nielsen's The Book Standard.

Back again with a dialogue on rights that will have everyone talking, O'Reilly and his coauthor Charles Flowers dole out the kind of blunt, cogent, commonsense commentary you count on them for. Together they explore timely questions being debated in and out of courts today including:

• Can a kid wear an antigay T-shirt on campus?
• Does a school newspaper have the right to bad-mouth a principal?
• Does a mother have the right to eavesdrop on her daughter's telephone conversations?

Some of the answers will surprise you. Some will empower you. All of them will make you think.

Barack Obama: An American Story: An American Story (All Aboard Reading)

Of mixed race and cultures, Barack Obama struggled for years with his identity and place in society. Having found his niche in public service, he has made history as the fifth African American U.S. senator ever to be elected. Now “the skinny kid” continues his political journey and strives to become the nation’s first black president. From Hawaii to Chicago to Washington, D.C., Senator Obama’s life has been interesting and inspiring.

Presidential Elections: And Other Cool Facts

Which three pairs of relatives have been U.S. presidents? What is the electoral college? What's a caucus? How often has the vice president become president? The answers to these and many other questions about the presidential elections are revealed in this quick, friendly read by the author of How the U.S. Government Works. Guiding young readers through the complicated process of determining the leader of the country, the book includes chapters on the rules for electing the president, the electoral college, the presidential campaign, and the procedure and order of succession if something happens to the president. A glossary and selected bibliography provide useful fodder for future student research. Sprinkled throughout are fascinating tidbits on past presidents and their wives. In the 1948 election, for example, the Chicago Tribune was so sure Thomas Dewey had won the close race against Harry S. Truman, they printed a front-page story with the headline, "Dewey Defeats Truman." Imagine their chagrin when all the votes were counted and Truman had won!

Sobel does a fine job of extracting the relevant information from the elaborate electoral process, and making it manageable for elementary school-aged children (but watch out for typos!). Jill Wood's blue line drawings add interest to the well-balanced text. (Ages 8 to 11) --Emilie Coulter

Much that we all thought we knew about U.S. presidential elections went out the window with the historic Bush-Gore campaign of 2000. But that wasn't the only unusual election in United States history—merely the most recent and most surprising. The previous edition of Syl Sobel's Presidential Elections was a great introduction to past presidential campaigns for kids. The updated new edition is even better! Young readers will find all kinds of interesting facts for their history and social studies classes as they learn—Who can run for president? ... Who can vote? ... What is the Electoral College? ... What is a third-party candidate? ... What if something happens to the president? Some of the unusual facts they'll discover include—Which Republican president had a Democrat for his vice president? ... How many candidates have won the popular vote but lost the election? ... Why was President Truman so happy in 1948, when he read the Chicago Tribune headline that declared: "Dewey Defeats Truman"? Most interesting of all, and with Syl Sobel's guidance, boys and girls will explore the dramatic presidential election of 2000, a marathon contest that wasn't decided until five weeks after Election Day.

American Government: A Complete Coursebook

MAGRUDER' S 2007 AMERICAN GOVERNMENT (Magruder's American Government)

America Votes: How Our President Is Elected

Kids shouldnÂ’t have to wait until theyÂ’re old enough to vote to get caught up in the excitement of presidential elections! From the first primaries, through the party conventions, to the final count at the polls, the race for the presidency is a whirlwind of passionate speeches, sensational campaigns and new beginnings that every American can be a part of!

A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution

This easy-to-understand book tells why and how the Constitution of the United States was created. "Simple, attractive, informative....The most accessible history of the Constitution to date."--School Library Journal.

We the Kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States

Sooner or later, just about every American kid is required to memorize the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States. And until now, it was one of the more boring, meaningless assignments. But artist and political cartoonist David Catrow (Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon) has changed all that with his witty, clear-as-a-Liberty-Bell picture book. For him, the Constitution is "a kind of how-to book, showing us ways to have happiness, safety, and comfort." With laugh-out-loud cartoony illustrations, and the actual words of the Preamble as the only text, Catrow depicts a camping trip taken by a diverse, bumbling group of friends, demonstrating the rights and responsibilities the Constitution places on all Americans, young and old. In one especially winning picture, the kids' long-nosed, long-eared pooch provides "for the common defense," keeping lackadaisical guard over the camp as the three human friends yuk it up in silhouette inside the tent. Readers will never yawn at mention of the Constitution again! (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

A long time ago some smart guys wrote the Preamble to the Constitution. You have probably read it before, but do you know what it means? And did it ever make you laugh? Now it will! Perfect for inspiring discussion in classrooms and around kitchen tables, this fun-filled and cheerfully illustrated look at the Preamble provides an accessible introduction to America's founding ideals for citizens of all ages.
Includes a glossary of terms and a foreword by the artist.

Time for Kids: Presidents of the United States (Time For Kids)

Did you know that James Monroe was the first President to appear without a wig in formal public settings? Or that George W. Bush named the first African Americans as secretaries of state? In this informative reference book by the editors of the award-winning TIME For Kids^® magazine, you'll learn about the Presidents' childhoods, careers, accomplishments in office, and life after the White House. As a great plus for school reports, you'll find hundreds of fascinating facts—and the history of our nation is woven into each presidential portrait.

The United States Constitution: What It Says, What It Means: A Hip Pocket Guide

Affordable, readable, and indispensable,The United States Constitution: What it Says, What it Means allows you to put the most important document in American history in your back pocket. In conjunction with Justice Learning and The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands and with an introduction written by Caroline Kennedy and an afterword written by David Eisenhower, this pocket guide appeals to the broadest possible audience. Each Article and each Amendment is followed by a clear and concise explanation, in plain English, that is suitable for both middle and high school students.
On December 8, 2004 President Bush officially signed Constitution Day into law. The law mandates that each year, on September 17th, schools and colleges that receive federal money are required to teach the Constitution. The new law was championed in Congress by Sen. Robert Byrd who famously carries around a copy of the document in his pocket. Sen. Byrd became increasingly alarmed at the lack of civics education-specifically relating to the Constitution-in our public schools and he wanted to take action.
Lightweight, easy to use and easy for everyone to understand The United States Constitution: What it Says, What it Means is an excellent way for students and citizens of all ages to read and completely comprehend the building block of American democracy.
Justice Learning (www.justicelearning.org), is a comprehensive on-line resource that offers wide-ranging non-partisan materials relating to civics education.