Election Books—Perfect For Children Of All Ages!
By Lisa K. Winkler
Electoral college, political action committees, quirks of presidents and the influence of media—explaining these concepts to children can be overwhelming. Many books written for children cover these issues. Among them, are Martin Sandler's Lincoln Through the Lens, (Walker, 2008), and Susan E. Goodman's See How they Run, (Bloomsbury, 2008). Both authors talked with Education Update.
Martin Sandler
How did your interest in photography develop?
When I was writing my first American history textbook, I fell in love with the history of photography. In the past 35 years I've written five histories of photography, each with a different approach.
Did photography do for Lincoln what television did for Kennedy? That the Internet is doing for candidates today?
A resounding “yes”. That's the whole concept of Lincoln Through the Lens: How Photography Revealed and Shaped An Extraordinary Life. I've shown how Lincoln, who was among the first generation of people ever to be photographed, discovered how he could use this new medium for his purposes. As a frontier candidate, he tousled his hair before having his picture taken so that he would look like a man of the people.
What was the most fun part of doing the book?
I loved searching for photographs that few people have ever seen—like the extraordinary picture of his second inaugural that, closely viewed, reveals John Wilkes Booth standing a few rows behind Lincoln and Booth's co-conspirators standing directly beneath him.
What was the most difficult part of doing the book?
Knowing that there would be a host of Lincoln books surrounding his 200th birthday, the publisher wanted “a different approach.” I showed how photography (in many ways more than words) revealed and shaped Lincoln's life and career.
How do you think elections should be taught?
Present history as much as possible through the words and accounts of those who lived it. Kids (particularly this generation) are much more perceptive than they are often given credit for. I have found that, rather than be inundated with bare facts, they learn much more when history comes alive through the participants' own words.
Susan Goodman
What was the most fun part of doing the book?
I love research—finding the fun, funny fact that makes even the dustiest topic interesting. I found plenty while researching the foibles of politics; from astronauts being able to cast absentee ballots from space, to members of party machines slipping laxatives into election officials’ coffee, timed to make them run to the bathroom so others would have to “count” votes for them.
The three branches of government can be deadly stuff. Humor is the spoonful of sugar to help with this medicine. Let’s face it; our political system is funny—and fascinating.
What was the most difficult part of doing the book?
Making the Electoral College understandable to anyone, let alone an elementary school student. At points, I wanted to tear my hair out (or murder the Founding Fathers).
How do you think elections should be taught?
Truthfully. If you present complicated issues (even PAC groups and campaign finance reform and media spin) in a balanced way, kids can understand them and decide where they stand.
My other goal is to encourage kids to get involved. Very real, very imperfect people designed our government and very real, very imperfect people have led it ever since. As a result, very wonderful and not-so-wonderful things have happened. It’s our job to keep the government on track, in part, by voting.#
