30 minutes of reading a day can introduce us to new stories, new ideas, and sometimes even memories were making with our own families. Today’s book for our reading challenge is Amelia Bedelia’s First Vote: A Delightful Picture Book about Election Day and Being Principal at School, and I chose this one for a very personal reason.
This is the first year Charlie & Bradley will be old enough to vote. A milestone Suzzane never had the opportunity to participate in. That makes books about voting and having a voice feel a little different in our house this year. Also it wasn’t a subject I thought Amelia Bedlia would dive into but it was fun learning about her experience with voting.
I remember when Charlie was little and we were reading children’s books together. Now we’re at the point where he’s growing into adulthood and getting ready to make some of his own decisions. Voting is one of those milestones that reminds you just how quickly our children grow up. So for today’s reading challenge, I wanted to highlight a book that introduces younger children to the idea that your voice matters.
In Amelia Bedelia’s First Vote, Amelia Bedelia gets the exciting opportunity to be “principal for the day.” Naturally, her first order of business is to organize a vote. Amelia Bedelia and her classmates cast their ballots to decide what they should do during their special day. Should they have cupcakes for lunch? Maybe they should have a visit from a real fire truck?
Of course, when Amelia Bedelia is involved, there are plenty of silly mix-ups along the way. But underneath all the humor is a simple lesson children can understand: voting gives everyone a chance to have a voice. I love that this book takes something that can seem complicated to children and turns it into something they can understand through their own world of school, friends, choices, and fun.
And that’s one of the things I love about reading with children. Sometimes a picture book isn’t just a story. Sometimes it gives parents and grandparents an opportunity to start a conversation. For a younger child, this could be a simple conversation about making choices and letting everyone have a turn.
For our family, it gives me a chance to talk with Charlie about something much bigger because this year he gets to experience something he couldn’t do when he was little. He gets to vote. Bradley does to. And that’s why this particular Amelia Bedelia book caught my attention and its something I want to share with David, Charlie and Bradley.
The original Amelia Bedelia has been making readers laugh since 1963, and now young readers can meet Amelia Bedelia as a child and enjoy her funny adventures too. If you have a young reader between about 4 and 8 years old, Amelia Bedelia’s First Vote is a fun way to introduce the idea of Election Day, voting, and having a voice while still giving children the silly humor they expect from Amelia Bedelia.
So grab a book, find a comfortable chair, and spend 30 minutes reading today. And if you’re reading with a child, ask them a simple question when you’re finished: “If you could vote for one thing to happen at school today, what would you choose?” You might be surprised by their answer.
And who knows? Maybe someday you’ll be sitting beside that same child as they cast their very first real ballot. For me, that’s what makes this year’s reading challenge a little more special. As Charlie turns 19 this years and begins to decide what his future will look like and where he will live and why.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates