See how they run Campaign dreams, election schemes, and the race to the White House

Gr 4–7— 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.—Steven Engelfried, Multnomah County Library, OR [Page 160]. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

A guide to the presidential election process shows how the electoral college works and how the United States got to where it is today, as well as highlighting some funny stories about the founding fathers.

Shows future voters (and politicians) how the electoral college works, how to recognize cockamamie campaign promises, and how we got where we are today, as well as highlighting some funny stories about the founding fathers. Teacher's Guide available. Simultaneous. 40,000 first printing.

The presidential elections are everywhere—in the media, in classrooms, in Iowa and New Hampshire! But when was the last time anyone had a chance to learn something good and juicy about how the whole confusing process really works? Here is an opportunity not only to learn about the ever-elusive electoral college and how to recognize cockamamie campaign promises, but also to enjoy some of the funniest stories ever told about the birth of our great democracy (in other words, our fumbling founding fathers) and begin to understand how we got where we are now!See How They Run makes learning about the election process enlightening, enriching, and never boring! For the home, for the classroom, for kids and adults, this is the book every reader (and future voter) must have to understand our country's most important decision-making process.