de Capua, Sarah. Voting.

de Capua, Sarah.                  Voting.    Scholastic/Childrens Press  48p  $29.00  978-0-531-26043-2    2013        elem                                          VG-Bnes  series: A True Book                                          Nonfiction

Voting offers younger children a simple explanation of the mechanics of casting a ballot in an election.  It begins with a challenge to decide which of the two questions about voting posed is true and which is false.  It discusses the requirements necessary to be able to vote and changes to the Constitution through various amendments that have increased this “right” over the course of American history to allow for greater suffrage, what happens on election day, how the president is elected, and how a child can get involved in the voting process.  Each section is carefully explained, and the easy-to-read information is enhanced by colorful photographs and sidebars.   The book ends with voting statistics, resources, a glossary, and an index.                

Voting-United States                                                                                                                               --Susan Ogintz

 

de Capua, Sarah. Paying Taxes.

de Capua, Sarah.                  Paying Taxes.  Scholastic/ Childrens Press  48p  $26.10  978-0-531-26040-1  2013             elem       E-BN   series: A True Book         Nonfiction                 

With so much focus on taxes in the current political climate, this book takes a complex issue and simplifies it in such a way that young readers will gain an insight into the many taxes that are imposed and how the money collected from those taxes is used.  There is no position taken as to whether the taxes are just or not; this is strictly a factual presentation of what is taxed and what the tax is called and what benefits and services are received by the general public from the taxes.  The photographs in the text often show young people being affected by taxes, whether when using libraries supported by tax dollars, mailing a letter, buying clothing, receiving aid in disasters, or being treated as a tax deduction for their parent.  This book does an excellent job of defining personal income tax, property tax, excise tax on luxury goods, tariffs on import/export goods, highway tolls, cigarette/alcohol tax, and sales tax.  The history of the income tax is more completely presented, along with information on Form 1040 and W-2.  A page of statistics about taxes and the variations among state taxes, a list of resources for further reading, a glossary and an index complete the book.  Many words in bold-face font in the text are not included in the glossary because they are explained within the text.  This book is recommended for grades 3-8.         

Taxes                                --Lois McNicol