The Kid Who Ran for President

Twelve-year-old Judson Moon decides to run for President of the United States, starting as a joke but gaining real momentum. His best friend Lane serves as campaign manager while his former babysitter June runs as his Vice Presidential candidate. The campaign faces challenges regarding Judson's age, experience, and qualifications as he proceeds through primaries and debates. His unconventional approach and direct communication style attract attention from voters and media across the country. The narrative tracks Judson's transformation from a prankster to a serious contender in the presidential race. Through speeches, interviews, and campaign events, he must confront the realities of American politics and leadership. This middle-grade novel explores themes of power, responsibility, and the nature of democracy through a child's perspective. The story raises questions about qualification requirements for leadership and the role of authenticity in politics.

Readers describe this book as a humorous look at American politics through a kid's perspective. Parents and teachers report using it to teach children about elections and government. Readers appreciate: - Makes politics accessible and entertaining for middle-grade students - Strong message about taking voting seriously - Funny dialogue and campaign slogans - Works well as a classroom read-aloud Common criticisms: - Some found the ending unrealistic - A few parents felt it made light of the electoral process - Dated references that current kids might not understand Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (280+ ratings) "Perfect timing to read during an election year" - Teacher reviewer on Amazon "My 5th graders were completely engaged and it led to great discussions about democracy" - Goodreads review "Silly but teaches important lessons about responsibility" - Parent reviewer on Scholastic

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🗳️ Author Dan Gutman got the idea for this book after observing his own children's interest in politics during the 1992 presidential election. 📚 The book's sequel, "The Kid Who Became President," follows Judson Moon as he actually serves as President at age 13. 🇺🇸 While the book is fiction, the minimum age requirement of 35 years to become U.S. President (which the main character challenges) is real and comes from Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution. ✍️ Dan Gutman has written over 130 books for children, including the popular "My Weird School" series and "The Genius Files." 📖 The book uses humor to teach readers about the American electoral process, including primary elections, campaigns, and the Electoral College.