Equality's Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America by Deborah Diesen, Magdalena Mora
on February 18, 2020
ISBN: 1534439587
Genres: Non-Fiction
Format: Picture Book Nonfiction
Goodreads

Rhyming text briefly introduces the history of America’s legislative changes to voting rights since its founding. It recognizes the Founding Father’s intentions, and briefly explains why they need updating and revisiting.  Repetition of the phrase “a right isn’t right till it’s granted to all” invites readers to investigate other civil rights laws.

The clever illustrations (Madgalena Mora) show a classroom of students being taught this history. As time marches on, so do those seeking more privileges, and the number of marchers increases. Backmatter describes a few citizenship and voting legislative acts, and a list of voting rights activists, which includes abolitionists, social reformers, politicians, and even George Washington. There is a difference from various sources concerning the year Native Americans got the vote; the year Diesel listed does not match my other sources.

Recommended for middle-upper elementary to introduce voting rights but would need considerable discussion of concepts like ‘franchise’, the importance of various Constitutional amendments, and the connection between citizenship and voting rights. The children shown in the illustrations who are studying this issue seem a bit young for the audience who would understand or be studying this topic.

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town