Grace for President (Grace Series, 1) by Kelly DiPucchio

Grace for President (Grace Series, 1) Reviews

• 
  Brina

  Grace for President is a charming book relevant this year about class elections which teaches kids how the electoral college works. We have gotten this many times. The story is about a girl named Grace who innocently asks her teacher why there have never been any female presidents. This spurs her teacher to have a grade-wide class election with Grace as one candidate and a boy named Thomas as the other candidate. The rest of the students each represent a state and their electoral votes and naturally the girls all want to vote for Grace while the boys back Thomas. In the end a boy is Wyoming and the deciding vote and he votes for ______. My kids have really enjoyed this book and I recommended it to my daughter's first grade teacher to read in class. I think it is a good learning tool and can generate a lot of discussion amongst the kids so I would definitely recommend it to all.
• 
  Margaret

  This is an infuriating little picture book, and let me tell you why I'm saying that instead of 'cute,' like all the other reviews.
  
  In class Grace notices all the presidents are men, so she decides she wants to be president when she grows up. Women deserve to be president too. The class laughs at her, but her teacher doesn't. Instead, her teacher decides that this is a great learning opportunity, and she'll set up a mock election with another class. But who should she run up against? A white boy is chosen. Because these teachers just don't get it, apparently.
  
  So Grace is running against this white boy--the exact type of candidate every president ever has been. She works extra hard on her campaign, and does lots of volunteering so everyone sees she truly cares. Meanwhile, the white boy does a little campaigning, and then does his normal stuff. He notices that if all the boys vote for him, he'll have enough electoral college votes to win, so why work very hard on winning the election, when he can be doing other stuff?
  
  It comes time to vote. Despite all her hard work while white boy has done almost nothing, he's winning by a small amount. It comes to the student representing Wyoming to decide whether Grace or the boy wins. And yep, he's another white boy. But in a big upset, he votes for Grace! Yay, a white boy makes a good decision. (Note, Wyoming was either the first state or one of the first states to grant women the right to vote, so this was a pretty cool easter egg for those who know).
  
  Okay, doesn't this sound infuriating!?!? Grace literally does EVERYTHING she possibly can, and it's still only barely good enough to win her the election, and it still came down to a white boy's decision. This is a pretty good example of how privilege works. Girls have to work twice as hard as boys to get ahead, is the moral I got from this. If I were reading this book to my child, we'd have a discussion about privilege and how it shows up in this book. Well, I actually did read this to my child, but at 9-months she didn't quite understand my perspective.
  
  It's a great book to explain how the electoral college works. I like the diversity, the illustrations are cute. It's still an upsetting book for this mommy to read.
• 
  Kathryn

  I'm finding it surprisingly challenging to find good picture books about the election process for my children, ages 7 and 4 (if you know any, please shout out in the comments!) This book has a lot going for it, though I do have a few quibbles.
  
  Pros:
  
  Grace is an outgoing, strong, intelligent kid who also happens to be a person of color and a female. Love her initiative in wanting to become president of her class -- and, eventually, President of the United States.
  
  Story does a decent job of explaining the electoral college and the processes involved in campaigning (including making good on your campaign promises!)
  
  Loved the ending!
  
  Cons:
  
  A little annoying that the boy competing against Grace is so stereotypically full of himself. I mean, kid has something on the ball if he is the spelling bee champ, blue-ribbon winner at the science fair, and captain of the soccer team. It's kind of disappointing that this all makes him stuck-up instead of just a good person who happens to be talented.
  
  Also I didn't super love that this became a boys vs. girls election. Boys won't support girls or that girls won't support boys. I wish we had more books showing boys and girls getting along and supporting one another--this one felt a little too stereotypical, like it was only boys crowding around the boy candidate when he was doing his science experiments. I do love the character of Sam and I feel that this is an attempt to show thinking beyond the crowd mentality and I really applaud that.
  
  I think this will be beyond the preschool crowd but I do recommend it to first or second graders looking to understand more about the election process in the USA.
• 
  Elizabeth S

  The book starts with the question, "Where are the girls?" In other words, why are there no girls as president in the history of the USA? When the other kid running for president turned out to be a white boy, I was worried that the book would end up being about voting for someone because he or she is the "right" race or gender. But race wasn't even mentioned.
  
  What is mentioned are the electoral votes and how the electoral college works. Some of the kids vote based on staying true to their own gender, but some vote based on who they think will do a good job. In fact, the deciding vote was cast by a boy who voted for Grace because he thought she would be the best president.
  
  This book is well written and well illustrated. It is a simple way for kids to learn about the electoral college. (There is a page of explanation with more details about the system at the end of the book.) The story is fun on its own. (Meaning that my preschooler enjoyed it.) But it would be a good vehicle for discussing all sorts of issues about politics, elections, tortoise and the hare, making a difference, etc.
• 
  Heather

  This is a really cute and inspiring book for children, but I feel it may go over their heads once the electoral college is brought in.
  
  I think Grace was a cute character and she really showed how putting in the effort to get to know the voters was more important than just assuming people will vote for you. I also really liked how the book started off with a simple question: "Where are the girls?" The illustrations were beautiful and I really liked how you could almost imagine yourself as Grace as she was very expressive, which was cute.
  
  I didn't like that even though this book is meant for young kids, her opponent is seen as almost a villain, along with the other classmates who "vote" for him. And I think at such a young age, it's important that at the end, we could have showed them shaking hands, or something to that effect.
• 
  Carolyn Hembree

  Rating this based sheerly on my child's response. Kid's books except for one or two make me want to dig a grave in the backyard and climb in. Anyhow, this one my kid sleeps with. Nice dramatic tension at the end (no spoilers), and there's some teaching on electoral college and that. Plus, it's a book on a girl noticing that, you know, the world is a boy's playground and that shit should change. Grace pretty much rules. So, it's a go for the kid.
• 
  Shrilaxmi

  I still remember the day I got this book. I was in the third grade and I was moving away. The librarian at school gave me this as I was leaving the library on my last day. I loved the gesture and although I didn't really care much for the book then, I've grown to love it. It makes me smile every time I open the cover. Thank you, Mr. Segovia, both for the book and for helping make the library one of my favorite places.
• 
  Darcy

  Superb and inspirational! This book taught me that, although we have never had a woman president, if you are a girl who just tries really hard and is very qualified you can win and that will all be fixed! Huzzah! Don't know why it made my mom do her nose-wrinkle frowny face. -M
• 
  Lacy | literary_lacy

  I really enjoyed this book. Probably more than my toddler. This book definitely seems to be aimed towards older kids.
  
  This book is educational, and even explains voting, plus the electoral college. It doesn’t go into too much detail, but just scratches the surface for kids to start learning these things.
  
  I also, love that Grace is a girl and person of color. I love the representation in this book, and try to read plenty of books with kids of different races and backgrounds, so that my daughter sees that everyone looks different.
  
  Overall, the illustrations were good and the book was educational. The sentences are a little lengthy at times, so my daughter got bored quickly on some pages, but this is definitely a book I’d like to revisit when she gets older.
• 
  Donald Trump (Parody)

  In your dreams, kid!
• 
  Desiree

  Grace for President explains the election process in easy to understand terms. This book would be a great title to add to a president, or election book bundle.
• 
  Christina Finn

  My niece asked me to read this. Very informative for children learning about elections.
• 
  Julie Hafner

  Cast my vote for Grace for president! "Where are the girls?" Grace asked after seeing all of the men presidents. This inspires Grace to become the first Female president. Her first step is to win the election at Woodrow Wilson Elementary. This book teaches about campaigns, elections and the electoral college, a confusing topic even for adults. Through Grace, DiPucchio provides lessons in dedication, hard work and leadership.
• 
  Sarah

  This is always a favorite with my daughter.
• 
  Ashley

  So glad I have this book in my classroom for my students to read!
• 
  extraordinary ordinary whimsy

  Engaging and covers the electoral college. By far the best children's book regarding election we've read.
• 
  Jenny

  Grace's teacher hangs up a poster of all the US Presidents. Grace is shocked and dismayed that there are NO women. She decides to be president. Her teacher decides the school will hold an election. Grace is up against Thomas Cobb. She finds out what the students want. Both candidates make posters. Grace gives speeches. Grace begins working to improve the school. On election day, each student represents a state and gets to cast their electoral college votes. With only one state left to cast its votes, Thomas is ahead by 3. Who will win?
  
  **Use this in November when talking about the election process. It's a nice look at the electoral college and what the election process is like here in the United States.
• 
  Leslie

  We talk a lot about publishing books and films with strong female protagonists (and feminist themes) for the sake of our daughters. But how about publishing these works for the sake of our sons as well? Often portrayals of female heroes create a more masculine-than-thou figure, with the woman and/or girl out performing their male cast members in exhibiting “masculine traits” more successfully than anyone else and therefore they are a most powerful and enviable figure. The situation mimics those of a man emasculating another man in our culturally observed hierarchies. This device becomes difficult in how it still favors one gender over another; and while it may be an empowering moment for the girl, it becomes inaccessible to any other. Now I am not opposed to focused libraries, or empowering young people. I just think that there must be room to portray an empowered girl (and feminist sentiment like equality) that is accessible to and not at the expense of our young males.
  
  "One Monday morning in September, Mrs. Barrington rolled out a big poster with all of the presidents’ pictures on it. Grace Campbell could not believe her eyes. Where are the GIRLS?"
  
  Wearing a tank top that makes me think Wonder Woman, Grace stews on the fact that the United States has never had a female president. She decides to run for office. And the wonderful Mrs. Barrington decides they should hold an election and invites another class to join in. Thomas Cobb is nominated as their candidate and this is worrisome to Grace. Thomas was a winner.
  
  This is where I must tell you that this book is great in an election year. Each of the non-running students drew a state and thus controlled that state’s electoral college. This is explained to the students and readers, and expanded upon in an “Author’s Note” at the end of the book. Each candidate campaigns and models the popular ways of doing so. They create slogans and posters, list campaign promises, meet with constituents, and hold polls. Grace gives speeches, hands out free treats, and holds rallies. You see her go the extra mile. And we find that Thomas doesn’t necessarily need to. “He had cleverly calculated that the boys held slightly more electoral votes than the girls.”
  
  It is a nice addition the story to see how sincere Grace is about creating change and becoming a true leader. “Even before the election, Grace made good on her promises.” She models a good civic leader.
  
  We come to the election day and each student, costumed to represent their state publicly cast their electoral votes. With Thomas at 268 and Grace at 267 there is only one more state and this 3 electoral vote will decide the election. The state is “The Equality State” of Wyoming and the student is a boy. It is a tense double-page spread wondering how Sam was going to vote. And then—-he votes for “the best person for the job” (emphasis mine).
  
  The election had transcended gender expectations and voting along strict party gender lines. The story became about our ideals: voting for the right person for the job as well as being the right person for the job.
  
  “When deciding on how Grace should look, I thought an African American girl sounded ideal, and gave her as much spunk as I could. This, of course, was before Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton decided to run for president — how timely that my candidate is both female and African American!” LeUyen Pham (interview w/ “7 Impossible Things before Breakfast.”)
  
  Grace is a bold figure who would encourage the female and minority reader to not be daunted by the way things are, envisioning a way things could be. DiPucchio creates realistic obstacles for Grace—at least in the proposed age bracket. The election process is not easy on Grace, and there is a lovely moment of her slumped in a winged-back chair exhausted. So the story isn’t a motherly pat followed by an “of course you can, sweetie.” The book is more of a “please do,” with the reassurance that even a little blonde boy from Wyoming is a probable voter.
  
  The book ends with a final image. A page depicting a grown-up Grace Campbell taking her oath of presidential office (from a more diminutive elderly white man). The opening and closing end pages? The first are framed portraits of presidents with Grace standing there holding her own frame, inserting herself into the gallery. The closing is a depiction of the Mount Rushmore with a carving of Grace’s visage beside Abe Lincoln’s.
  
  LeUyen Pham’s images go a long way toward the dramatization and impact of the story. It is vibrant with youthful energy, patterns and color. The main characters are given a lot of personality and share much of the characterization with the author. You will likely notice when Sam with his body facing Thomas during the double-page “meeting with constituents,” has his head is turned toward Grace. But did you notice in the following pages how he is at every one of Grace’s activities (minus the rally) as well as Thomas’? Grace is not the only powerful figure at work in the book. Both Grace and Sam are fighting for opportunity, for equality, and for the best person for the job.
  
  You may think Grace for President is a good book for the girls in your life reader or no, but this is an informative and inspiring picture book for the boys in your life as well!
  
  *************************
  recommendations: Grades K-4; though Natalya (at grade 7 found it enjoyable, too). Great for explaining the election process from campaigning to how votes are tallied.
  
  L (omphaloskepsis)
  
  http://contemplatrix.wordpress.com/20...
• 
  Helen | readwithneleh

  Inspiring book to show girls that they can dream big and become the POTUS one day. I also appreciated that this book covers the electoral college and how it works. I do wish that this book showed both sides either shaking hands or congratulating each other at the end. We need to show kids that integrity exists and should be at the forefront in politics.
• 
  Angie

  After seeing that all the presidents had been male, Grace decides a girl can be president too and runs for class president. She and her opponent, Thomas, hang posters, have debates, and do everything candidates do for an election. The teacher had each classmate be a state. Their vote counted for all of that state's electoral votes.
  
  A fun book, but also a great read for introducing the electoral college to young readers.
• 
  Jordan

  Grace For President is about a girl who notices that in the past we have had no female presidents. She thinks that this is a problem and wants to become the next president so, for school, the teacher lets Grace and a boy named Thomas to go against each other. The boy thinks that he is going to win because the boys have more electoral votes, but the illustrator foreshadows that one of the boys is listening to Grace more than he is listening to Thomas's speech. This boy is the deciding vote, so as a child if you are paying attention enough you know who is gonna win before the book tells you. The book teaches children about their history and the electoral college. Some children vote for the same gender because that is what they know and others vote for the person who genuinely cares about them. It is a great way to showcase politics and how it is abused for children in grades first through third.
  
  I really enjoyed the body language in the illustrations by Leuyen Pham, I could really tell what they were feeling. The pictures also showed everything the text was explaining. For example, Grace made a poster so it showed her putting up the poster. The book also showcased a lot of different races. This book is a great way to show gender equality and help students learn how unequal the system is. Some students may get lost with the electoral college part, but I think the illustrations will be able to keep their attention and help them follow along. The author, Kelly DiPucchio made grace set a good example for other students so I think it would be a great read for others. The book did stereotype men by having Thomas seem like he would be able to win so easily because he was "the man for the job". A little informal style and the genres are history, children's, and non-fiction.
• 
  Monica

  Read this in the kids' dentist office this morning. Does a great job of demonstrating (and later explaining, in an Author's Note) the electoral college.
• 
  Laura Anderson

  “Where are the GIRLS?” Grace asks after learning about the presidents in history class. Taking place at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, this story follows the life and trials of Grace Campbell, a sweet but spunky African-American girl who is determined to run for president. It's easy, she thinks, until she finds out she's running against the most popular boy at school.
  
  One word: RELATABLE! Other than the fact that this was a NY Best Seller, this multi-genre book celebrates everything you love about school and more. Whether you are a student, teacher, or administrator, you will not be able to put this book down. The realism, authenticity, and attention to detail are remarkable!
  
  Mostly, I just love how it portrays the personalities of the individual states as well as breaks down the Electoral College for young learners. In terms of lesson ideas, I would use this as a tool to pilot discussion about Election Day or the realities of the presidential race versus just what we see or hear on the news and media. I would also love to use this as a read aloud for close reading or simply as a discussion tool to discuss the importance of having a female president and/or standing up for what you believe in, no matter the cost! Regardless of the time of year, this is a definite read aloud for all students! Five stars and two thumbs up!
  
  This is a wow book for many reasons. Mostly I just love the personality of Grace. She is so realistic and will always remind me of that student, in a good way. The fairness and equality and character choices portrayed in this book also make this a wow book. I read this story for the genre of realistic fiction but it could definitely fit other genres, like informational. I would recommend this book to readers 6 years old and older.
• 
  Baby Bookworm

  
  
  This review was originally written for
  The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!
  
  Summer Reading Day 82: Hey everyone! In the spirit of Women’s Equality Day, today we read Grace For President, written by Kelly DiPucchio and illustrated by LeUyen Pham. In it, a little girl named Grace learns that there has never been a woman president, and decides that she will run for president someday. Her teacher decides to put together an election for class president, and Grace finds that her opponent is one of the most accomplished and popular boys in school. Grace decides to try her hardest, though: she campaigns, talks to students about what they want and builds a political platform, then does her best to convince everyone that she would be the best “man” for the job.
  
  This was such an awesome book, especially during election time. First, it explains the electoral college and gives a crash course in how candidates campaign for young readers. But what we really loved was the message: girls are just as capable and deserving of holding public office, including the presidency, as boys are, especially if they work hard and earn it. Grace’s opponent realizes early on that the boys in their class have more electoral votes than the girls, and coasts on the presumption that he will win based on this. The books shows that it is Grace’s tireless dedication to the school that ensures her win, and that’s a great message as well, that winning an election cannot just be about popularity, it’s about who is best for the job. Lastly, Grace is a female POC character, and a fantastic fictional representation of both.
  
  The length was great for Baby Bookworm, and she LOVED the simple and colorful animation-style illustrations. Overall, this is a fantastic book, and absolutely Baby Bookworm approved!
  
  Be sure to check out
  The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!
• 
  Jennifer

  Grace for President is a fictional book centered around an African-American girl’s dream to become president after noticing that all of our past presidents have been male. The story follows Grace as she campaigns in her school against a boy candidate, and includes details about her school’s election process, complete with electoral votes. After Grace’s victory, she dreams even bigger and sets her sights on being the president of the United States.
  Teachers can use this book in their classrooms when looking at the election process. I am currently using this book as part of a 7-day unit on the election process, and I am especially using it to introduce the concept of the electoral college. Most school elections are conducted by popular vote, and this story helps students to see the complexity that goes into the presidential election. This story is also serving as the motivation to feature the electoral college in our own classroom election, which happens to have two girl candidates, nominated by the whole class.
  Here is a link to a schoolhouse rock video explaining the electoral college further, should you choose to supplement your read-aloud:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyIFq...
  I am recommending this book because it highlights two major features that are missing in our country’s leaders: racial diversity and female presidents. By explicitly showing the reader that there have never been any female presidents and implicitly highlighting the lack of racial diversity in presidents, readers are able to challenge the course of history and begin to think of themselves as potential presidents.