A list of books that introduce the US Constitution to students, kids, and families.
The Children’s Book Review
Three Kids Books That Explain the United States Constitution To Kids (and Their Grown-Ups)
Are you looking for a way to empower the kiddos in your life to take action and stand up for the things in which they believe? Understanding the United States Constitution—and the amendments—will provide them with fuel for getting involved and making a difference. The following books offer digestible information on fundamental laws, the principles of government, and the philosophy upon which the United States government was founded. Learning how to preserve freedoms and deliver equality for all starts here and now.
Written and Illustrated by Aura Lewis
Written by Evan Sargent
Ages 10+ | Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions | ISBN-13: 9780711254046
Publisher’s Book Summary: See the U.S. Constitution in a new light with this bold, modern and accessible illustrated guide to the document that helped define democracy.
With the 2020 Presidential election around the corner, there has never been a better time to take a closer look at the Constitution, the bedrock of U.S. politics. Inquisitive minds will have their questions vividly answered – and new ones raised – by a mix of striking illustrations and clear, engaging text, including passages from the Constitution given in plain English.
As well as a detailed history covering the original Constitution, the Bill of Rights and all Amendments, discover how this milestone in American democracy shapes and is shaped by the world at large. We The People shows that, far from a fusty old piece of paper, the U.S. Constitution is a living, evolving rulebook that is as relevant today as it has ever been.
- A fresh take on a monumental document, navigating in style its history and its life today.
- Excerpts from the Constitution are presented here in plain English to help young thinkers better understand the role it plays in everyday life.
- Accessible, energetic text accompanied by contemporary, powerful illustrations allows children aged 10 and older to re-think the Constitution in a totally new way.
- A balanced examination that does not shy away from addressing the difficulties of interpreting and adapting the Constitution for the modern world.
We The People takes the Constitution out of its display case, blows off the dust and re-imagines this piece of history for the next generation.
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Written by Katie Kennedy
Contributor: K
Ages 10+ | Publisher: Workman Publishing Company | ISBN-13: 9781523510443
Publisher’s Summary: Be an active citizen. Know your Constitution!
Ever wonder why the president has a Cabinet? Why there’s such thing as trial by jury? Why someday you’ll have to pay income tax, or why there are no Dukes, Duchesses, Counts, or Countesses in the United States? Because the Constitution says so––and so much more. And now, in The Constitution Decoded, the ideas, concepts, and rules that make America are unpacked and explained in detail to help all of us, kids and parents too, become more informed citizens.
Written with impeccable clarity and illustrated in a style that brings America’s early days to life, this fascinating guide goes through the Constitution literally word by word, sentence by sentence, and idea by idea to give readers a true understanding of not only how the Framers envisioned the United States, but also why they made the choices they did. Here’s why, for example, the United States has three branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial. It explains how bills become laws, why we have the right to free speech, how we can change the Constitution as our country evolves, and so much more.
Packed with historical context and figures, vocabulary, anecdotes, and trivia, this book is an accessible yet richly layered work that belongs in every family library.
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Written by Patricia Brennan Demuth
Illustrated by
Ages 7+ | Publisher: Penguin Workshop | ISBN-13: 9781524786090
Publisher’s Book Summary: We the people at Who HQ bring readers the full story–arguments and all–of how the US Constitution came into being.
Signed on September 17, 1787–four years after the American War for Independence–the Constitution laid out the supreme law of the United States of America. Today it’s easy for us to take this blueprint of our government for granted. But the Framers–fifty-five men from almost all of the original 13 states–argued fiercely for many months over what ended up being only a four-page document. Here is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the hotly fought issues–those between Northern and Southern States; big states and little ones–and the key players such as James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and George Washington who suffered through countless revisions to make the Constitution happen.
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The United States Constitution Explained for Kids was curated by Bianca Schulze. Discover more books like these titles by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Bilingual Picture Books, Board Books, and Spanish Books.