Have you ever tried explaining the election process to your kids? Were you able to explain the difference between the electoral college and the popular vote? As this year’s election heats up, a great way to help kids understand how the election process works is to read If I Ran for President by local author and mom Catherine Stier.

From the beginning of the process, where multicultural children in the book wonder "Am I the best person for the job? Am I ready to work VERY, VERY, VERY hard for my country?," Stiers takes children through the election process in a clear, easy-to-understand way.

The book, published in October 2007, is actually a prequel to Stiers’ earlier book If I Were President. "Kids don’t sit down for long stories about Washington or Lincoln, so I thought there needed to be a book about what the president does," Stiers says. "So we talked about how the president had to learn a new address when he or she moved into the White House."

If I Ran for President seemed a natural addition because there’s so much that goes on in the election process, Stiers says. "The approach of showing kids from multicultural backgrounds seemed right. I wanted the kids who pick up this book to imagine themselves running for president." The book follows the children from announcing their candidacy to traveling the country to meet people and ultimately to their concession speech if they lose or their celebration if they win.

The illustrations on each page make even some of the most complex aspects of elections understandable to children. This is a great way for kids to feel like they’re a part of the election fever overtaking our country.

If I Ran for President is available through Amazon.com and retails for $15.95. It’s recommended for kids in grades 1-4, although kids in grades 5 and 6 may also find this book useful.

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