Written by Daniel Bernstrom and Margaret McNamara
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
New York: Random House, 2025. Picture Book.
There is no sweeter way to learn about the legislative process than with cookies! Daniel Bernstrom and Margaret McNamara capture our attention with sugar and spice, all while exploring themes of democracy, leadership, and decision-making. The story follows a group of elementary school students who are tasked with presenting a bill to their state representative on their visit to the state capital. They choose to present a bill for a state cookie. But which one? As the children work to figure it out, their experience cleverly mirrors real-world political processes.
Another engaging aspect of this book is the illustrations by G. Brian Karas. He uses a soft hand-drawn technique that radiates a feeling of safety and support. In fact, the children remind me quite a bit of the Peanuts gang. I was also excited to see a recipe for the winning cookie at the end of the book. They chose a good one I had never heard of! The Cookie Vote is a treat that will help young readers understand the basics of voting, campaigning, and compromise with the delightful bonus of thinking about, imagining, and remembering the sweet smell of fresh-baked cookies.
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