See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House - Softcover

SUSAN E. GOODMAN is the author of more than thirty nonfiction books for children, including How Do You Burp in Space?; See How They Run: Campaign Dreams, Election Schemes, and the Race to the White House;All in Just One Cookie, an ALA Notable Book; and On This Spot, a Washington Post Top Picture Book of the Year. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.
www.susangoodmanbooks.com

ELWOOD H. SMITH is an illustrator and animator whose books include The Truth About Poop, GeeWhiz, Raise the Roof, and others. His work can be seen inside the Eco-bathroom at the Bronx Zoo, as well as in packages of shrinky dinks. This is his third book with Susan Goodman. He lives in upstate New York.www.elwoodsmith.com

“Anyone who needs a clear explanation of how a candidate can get the most popular votes and still lose the election should read See How They Run. (Did you know that Thomas Jefferson thought that the electoral college was "the most dangerous blot on our Constitution"?) Susan Goodman examines American democracy and political campaigns from 1789 to the groundbreaking Democratic primaries between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Goodman includes the formation of political parties and contemporary voting issues, touching on difficult subjects such as election shenanigans, negative campaigning and voter fraud. The book's archival photos from the Library of Congress, humorous cartoons and informative sidebars hold the reader's attention. In one sidebar called "Getting Better All the Time," the author observes that our democracy isn't perfect, but progressive: "Good News: The United States was the first modern democracy with an elected government protecting the freedom and rights of its citizens. The Bad News: In the beginning, only white men who owned land could vote.” ―Washington Post

“This witty "Schoolhouse Rock"-style book uses easy-to-understand examples to explain nearly every aspect of the voting process. Starting with a "short history of democracy," as the ancient Greeks saw it back in 510 BC, it features a wealth of trivia to intrigue kids and adults alike. Did you know you could be president after winning only 11 states (the most populated ones, natch) or that outgoing prez John Quincy Adams (No. 6), was so angry about losing to Andrew Jackson that he boycotted his inauguration? Thought so.” ―New York Post

“Clearly written in terms that students will identify with, See How They Run makes it clear how important civic engagement is to the future of our nation.” ―Meg Heubeck, Director of Instruction, University of Virginia Center for Politics

“Makes learning about elections enlightening, enriching and never boring! A charming and funny book for every future voter.” ―nonprofitvotes.org

“A lighthearted, fact-filled look at elections in the United States. The engaging conversational narrative and funny cartoons lend appealing irreverence to a topic that can sometimes seem too dry and serious. At the same time, the book covers a lot of ground and introduces concepts and personalities in ways that readers will understand and remember. Coverage includes the electoral college, campaigning, and many other aspects of elections, noting the flaws and absurdities in our system along with the many positive aspects. The text moves deftly back and forth through time within each subject, offering useful and varied historical examples. A section on inaugurations, for example, makes reference to William Henry Harrison's two-hour speech, Bill Clinton's night of dancing, and Andrew Jackson's rowdy White House party. "The Campaign Road" features several amusing instances of varied practices while also providing a cohesive summary of the topic's relevance. Plentiful illustrations utilize humor to demonstrate content, as in the depiction of a man with elongated arms straddling a state line and voting in two states at once. Even the photographs of presidents feature an amusing caption or word balloon. The final chapter addresses the role of kids, offering suggestions for involvement that range from writing letters to "bugging your parents." Informative, entertaining, and timely, this is a fine example of how well-conceived humor can make a potentially complicated topic not only more appealing, but also more comprehensible and even inspiring.” ―School Library Journal