Vote! by Eileen Christelow Grades 2-5 48 pages Sandpiper February 2008 Paperback     Two dogs, Elmer and Sparky, attend a rally for their owner, Chris Smith, who is running for Mayor. Sparky is filled with questions, and his pal Elmer has all the answers. The two canine companions discuss every aspect of the voting process, including why it is important to vote, the different political parties, the polls, campaigning, fundraising, absentee ballots, voting machines, voting booths, and recounts with their own wry doggy humor. At the end, Elmer explains how the winner represents all voters, even those who didn’t vote for him or her. The dog’s silly antics are shown in comic book form as the informative text follows along. A glossary of important words, a timeline of voting rights, and other great facts and resources are also included. The voting process can be a complicated issue, and Eileen Christelow has simplified it into a comprehensive story form thate even the youngest demographic can understand. There is no better way to teach how our democracy works than with this fine example. A must-have for every teacher; especially during an election year.     web reviews   Niki Schoenfeldt/2009 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)