Civic Literacy At The Milton Public Library: Children's Reading List

Grade Level: K-6
Eleanor Roosevelt’s book on citizenship for young people now revised and updated for today's readers.

Grade Level: K
A school pageant uses the letters of the alphabet to introduce such patriotic topics as the eagle, Mount Rushmore, and voting, and such prominent Americans as Julia Ward Howe, Thomas Jefferson, and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Grade Level: K-2
Discusses what it means to be an American, including enjoying the freedoms offered in America, respecting others rights, and taking advantage of opportunities to become better citizens and persons

Grade Level: K-2
When Duck gets tired of working for Farmer Brown, his political ambition eventually leads to his being elected President.

Grade Level: K-2
Penny knows that her mother works for somebody called the POTUS, but she does not know what that means, and the odd name seems to her to imply some kind of friendly monster. When she spends a day at the office with her mother, she asks a few questions, looks around, and tries to discover just who―or what― POTUS is.

Grade Level: K-3
In this fascinating, fun take on nonfiction, Dave Eggers and Shawn Harris investigate a seemingly small trait of America's most emblematic statue. What they find is about more than history, more than art. What they find in the Statue of Liberty's right foot is the powerful message of acceptance that is essential to an entire country's creation.

Grade Level: K-3
Rhyming text explores citizenship, showing readers how seemingly unrelated actions, such as planting a tree or joining a cause can create a community.

Grade Level: 1-2
Describes how Americans choose leaders, local and federal, and why elections should matter.

Grade Level: 1-3
Explains the concept of voting and why people participate in elections.

Grade Level: 1-3
A multicultural cast of children imagines what it would be like to run for president, in an entertaining yet informative conversation starter for discussions on the election process.

Grade Level: 1-4
As an elderly woman, Lillian recalls that her great-great-grandparents were sold as slaves in front of a courthouse where only rich white men were allowed to vote, then the long fight that led to her right--and determination--to cast her ballot since the Voting Rights Act gave every American the right to vote.

Grade Level: 2-5
Looks at what the presidents-to-be who were alive at various dates were doing at that moment, including serving in government, working in different fields, studying, or being a child, and wonders what the future presidents that are alive today are doing.

Grade Level: 3-4
The full story--arguments and all--of how the US Constitution came into being.

Grade Level: 3-4
This nonfiction, easy-to-understand guide explains every step in the presidential election process, from who is eligible to run for president to what the president does once they are sworn into office. Each page also features full-color artwork, photographs, maps, illustrations, charts and infographics aimed at making the information as accessible and kid-friendly as possible.

Grade Level: 3-5
Teaches kids about civil rights and becoming an informed and active citizen.

Grade Level: 3-5
Rhyming text and illustrations present the sights of Washington, D.C., from A to Z.

Grade Level: 3-6
Introduce young students to civic values in America and teach them the importance of upholding values like equality and responsibility. Students will be encouraged to engage in civic discourse about events in US history, and what it means to be a good citizen today.

Grade Level: 4-6
A group of Native American kids from different tribes presents twelve historical and contemporary time periods, struggles, and victories to their classmates, each ending with a powerful refrain: we are still here.

Grade Level: 4-6
When Aidan, an ordinary Ohio twelve-year-old, saves a presidential candidate from injury during a campaign appearance and his heroic deed is broadcast everywhere, he and his family discover the seamy side of being in the media spotlight.

Grade Level: 4-7
This book is a comprehensive and entertaining guide that answers questions like: What is the Constitution? What are the branches of the government? What is the Electoral College? What are the political parties? What are the different responsibilities of the city, state, and federal governments? Plus, discover the complete backstory on some of our government's most important moments, like why we wrote the Declaration of Independence, and how people since then have worked with -- and protested against -- the government to improve the lives of all Americans.

Grade Level: 4-7
A collection of art, essays, letters, poems, and stories celebrates standing up against prejudice and racism, and includes entries by such authors as Kwame Alexander, Kat Williams-Garcia, Jacqueline Woodson, and Jason Reynolds.

Grade Level: 5-7
A chronicle of civil rights movements through the song's changing lyrics reveals how its words have been transformed by generations of protestors and civil rights pioneers throughout landmark historical movements.

Grade Level: 5-8
A modern and accessible guide to the document that helped define American democracy shares plain-language explanations of such topics as the history behind the original Constitution’s establishment, its evolving nature and the role it plays in everyday life.

Grade Level: 5-8
The ultimate guide to the US Constitution--and the history of the US through the law of the land--for middle grade readers ages 10+. The book decodes the original document with a direct translation of the text, dissecting every word, phrase and idea. Then it connects the document to major historical figures and events using full-color illustrations and examples of how the document works in practice.

Grade Level: 6-8
Many of the political issues we struggle with today have their roots in the US Constitution. Husband-and-wife team Cynthia and Sanford Levinson take readers back to the creation of this historic document and discuss how contemporary problems were first introduced--then they offer possible solutions.

Grade Level: 5-12
Who are you? What is racism? Where does it come from? Why does it exist? What can you do to disrupt it? Learn about social identities, the history of racism and resistance against it, and how you can use your anti-racist lens and voice to move the world toward equity and liberation.

Grade Level: 6-12
The popular DNC speaker presents an accessible introduction to the Constitution that explains how it represents America's deepest democratic values, tracing the story of his own family's immigration to the U.S. and his views on the Constitution's history, the Bill of Rights and why they are important to today's young people.

Grade Level: 6-12
A reference for teen students provides information about the past, present, and future of American elections

Grade Level: 6-12
Shares tips and inspiration for aspiring activists, offering anecdotes about young activists from different world regions and historical periods while outlining a range of legal activist tactics.

Grade Level: 6-12
America is the greatest democracy in the world...isn't it? Author Elizabeth Rusch examines some of the more problematic aspects of our government but, more importantly, offers ways for young people to fix them.

Grade Level: 7-12
Presents an account of the 1965 civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, an event that sparked the signing of the Voting Rights Act.