What are your favorite Presidents’ Day books for kids? These Presidents’ Day books for kids may just inspire one of your students to run for POTUS in the future!
You can click on any of the titles below to learn more about each book or find all of these books about Presidents’ Day on my Amazon page.
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Presidents’ Day Books for Kids
Presidents’ Day
Written by: Anne Rockwell
Illustrated by: Lizzy Rockwell
Today at school we celebrated Presidents’ Day by putting on a play. Mrs. Madoff said I could be George Washington because his birthday is the same as mine. Charlie was Abraham Lincoln because he’s the tallest kid in our class. Everyone else had very important parts to play, too. At the end of the day we voted for class president, and you’ll never guess who won!
P is for President
Written by: Wendy Cheyette Lewison
Illustrated by: Valerio Fabbretti
Being President of the United States is a big job —he biggest job in all of America! Follow the president as he or she campaigns, runs, moves into the White House, and works to fix problems. Learn about historically significant presidents along the way, and see what it takes to be president. Do you have what it takes to run the U.S.?
Grace for President
Written by: Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrated by: LeUyen Pham
“Where are the girls?” When Grace’s teacher reveals that the United States has never had a female president, Grace decides to be the first. And she immediately starts off her political career as a candidate the school’s mock election. But soon, she realizes that she has entered a tough race. Her popular opponent claims to be the “best man for the job”–and seems to have captured all the male votes–while Grace concentrates on being the best person.
Grace Goes to Washington
Written by: Kelly DiPucchio
Illustrated by: LeUyen Pham
When Grace learns about the three branches of the United States government, she and the rest of the student council put the lesson into practice as they debate how to spend the money from a school fund-raiser. Should they buy new sports equipment? Books for the library? Instruments for the music room? The arguments continue as they travel to Washington, DC, for a field trip. Exploring government buildings and national monuments, Grace feels closer than ever to her dream of becoming president someday. But she and her classmates have a lot to learn about what it means to serve the needs of the people, especially when the people want such different things!
When Penny Met POTUS
Written by: Rachel Ruiz
Illustrated by: Melissa Manwill
When Penny Met POTUS is a unique and clever picture book about a young girl whose mother works for the president of the United States. Penny has heard the term POTUS over and over but doesn’t know what it means―and her imagination runs wild! 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.
My Teacher for President
Written by: Kay Winters
Illustrated by: Denise Brunkus
Oliver has been learning about the president’s job, and his teacher would be the perfect candidate. She loves white houses, she?s used to being followed everywhere, she attends lots of meetings, she finds jobs for people, and she believes in peace. Images of Oliver’s teacher depicted during a typical school day are contrasted with scenes of his heroine carrying out presidential duties.
Ellie May on Presidents’ Day
Written by: Hillary Homzie
Illustrated by: Jeffrey Ebbeler
Quirky and funny, second-grader Ellie May enjoys learning about US presidents. But she absolutely loves the idea of being class flag leader during the week before Presidents’ Day. Tired of not being chosen to hold the flag, she makes it her mission to finally get picked. Along the way, Ellie May ends up karate chopping the class plant when she tries to determine whether George Washington actually chopped down that cherry tree. Next she takes apart the class pencil sharpener when she learns that Abraham Lincoln liked learning how gadgets work. Ellie May may not be perfect like Miss-Know-it-All Ava or calm like her best friend Lizzy, but she’s good-hearted and eventually realizes that honesty and patience go a long way.
If I Were President
Written by: Catherine Stier
Illustrated by: DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan
A multicultural cast of children imagines what it would be like to be president. Readers will be so caught up in the fun they won’t realize that the book is also an ingenious teaching device and discussion starter. A note about the presidency accompanies the story.
If I Ran for President
Written by: Catherin Steier
Illustrated by: Lynne Avril
If you ran for president, you would have to do a lot of hard work. You would study the nation’s problems, tell the American people about your platform, select a running mate, and debate your opponents on live television.
Lincoln and Grace: Why Abraham Lincoln Grew a Beard
Written by: Steve Metzger
Illustrated by: Ann Kronheimer
Abraham Lincoln is one of the most recognizable people, let alone presidents, in the history of the United States. Perhaps it’s because his face can be seen everywhere from the $5 bill in your wallet and the penny in your pocket to national monuments across the country. Or maybe it’s simply because of his signature beard. Could you ever picture Lincoln without it? I bet you would never guess that there is one little girl in particular to thank for Lincoln’s beard.
Looking at Lincoln
Written & Illustrated by: Maira Kalman
Who was Lincoln really? This little girl wants to find out. She discovers, among other things, that our sixteenth president was a man who believed in freedom for all, had a dog named Fido, loved Mozart, apples, and his wife’s vanilla cake, and kept his notes in his hat. From his boyhood in a log cabin to his famous presidency and untimely death, Maira Kalman shares Lincoln’s remarkable life with young readers in a fresh and exciting way.
Duck for President
Written by: Doreen Cronin
Illustrated by: Betsy Lewin
My fellow Americans: It is our pleasure, our honor, our duty as citizens to present to you Duck for President. Here is a duck who began in a humble pond. Who worked his way to farmer. To governor. And now, perhaps, to the highest office in the land. Some say, if he walks like a duck and talks like a duck, he is a duck. We say, if he walks like a duck and talks like a duck, he will be the next president of the United States of America. Thank you for your vote.
Splat the Cat for President
Written & Illustrated by: Rob Scotton
Splat is thrilled to be elected student-body president, until he discovers not everyone likes his plans. So he thinks big. Real big. So big that pretty soon he’s making promises he cannot keep. Can Splat please everyone and also make a difference?
Arthur Meets the President
Written & Illustrated by: Marc Brown
Follow Arthur on the adventure of a lifetime, during a trip to Washington, D.C. to meet the President of the United States! When Arthur is invited to meet the President after winning an essay contest, he can’t wait explore the nation’s capitol with his family and friends. There’s just one problem: he’s got stage fright! Will he be able to overcome his fear and deliver the perfect speech in front of everyone?
Bad Kitty for President
Written & Illustrated by: Nick Bruel
It’s time to elect a new president of the Neighborhood Cat Coalition! Who will win the election? The candidate chosen by the kitties on the right side of the street or the candidate chosen by the kitties on the left side of the street? When election time rolls around, one candidate (guess who?) will discover that she never bothered to register to vote and the entire election will be decided by a surprise, last minute absentee ballot sent by Old Kitty.
Be sure to check out this post for some great nonfiction Presidents’ Day books for kids along with some resources to pair with them.
If you have a favorite Presidents’ Day book that didn’t make the list, leave a comment so I can check it out!
You can find more of my favorite books to share with kids here.
Happy Reading!
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