Monster Needs Your Vote
Author: Paul Czajak
Illustrator: Wendy Grieb
Expected Publication September 4th, 2015 by Mighty Media Kids
Goodreads Summary: Election season is here and Monster is ready to vote! But why cast your ballot when you can run for president instead? With speeches, debates, and a soapbox or two, Monster’s newest tale is a campaign encouraging kids to take a stand and fight for what they believe in.
Kellee’s Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: Monster wants to make a difference, but he has to go about it a little bit differently than he had planned. Monster Needs Your Vote is a great look at politics and making a difference in your community within a fun story with enjoyable characters. Monster is a little bit like Elephant in the Elephant and Piggie books. He gets so excited and wants to just go, go, go. The Boy is a bit more like Piggie. He reins Monster in. It is a great relationship! Then you add the fun story and the movie-like, colorful illustrations, and you have a book that kids, parents, and teachers are going to enjoy. Since there is such an underlying political charge to the book (who can be president, voting, education advocacy, etc.) teachers can use it in conjunction with introduction voting and democracy to students.
Ricki’s Review and Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: What a wonderful text to introduce kids to politics! Teachers might consider asking the class to look at different platforms that politicians might select. Then, they could consider different political platforms that interest them. Depending on the age of the students, these platforms could be silly or serious. Teachers might use this text to introduce the basic concepts of the election process or the requirements to run for presidency. As a child, I loved when we had mock votes in elementary school. This book is just in time for the election season and would be a fantastic way for teachers to connect literature to current events!
Campaign Kit: http://
The kit contains presidential timelines, infographics, and activity sheets—even a ballot so kids can practice voting!
Info about the purpose and vocabulary in the Monster and Me series: http://www.bigredpaint.com/words_edit.mp4
Mini Monster and Me story: http://monsterwants.com/
Discussion Questions: Why wasn’t Monster able to run for President? What other laws are there for who can run for President?; Monster advocates for libraries and education. What would be your platform if you ran for President right now?; Why wasn’t summer and food something that drew attention from the masses? What did the people want instead?; How are Monster and the Boy different? How do they help each other?; What is the author’s purpose for writing this book?
We Flagged:
Read This If You Loved: Other Monster and Me books, Books about politics, the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems, the Mal and Chad series by Stephen McCranie
and 
**Thank you to Sammy at Mighty Media Press for providing copies for review!!**