Rhyming book teaches youngsters about voting rights

Equality’s Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America

Written by Deborah Diesen and illustrated by Magdalena Mora

Beach Lane Books, Simon & Schuster, 2020

“Equality’s Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America” teaches children about how different groups of people have fought for and gained the right to vote in America.

Our nation’s founders believed it was vital that the people have a voice in their government, the book says. This would happen through voting, elections, and representation.

But for many years, only a few people were given these rights. This led to many people speaking up because “they heard equality’s call,” the book says.

“A right isn’t a right till it’s granted to all,” is a refrain repeated many times in the book.

The states set the rules about who could vote, and it depended on one’s gender, race, and wealth. At our nation’s founding, only white men with property could vote.

First, white men who didn’t own property gained the right to vote. Then people spoke out against slavery, there was a war, and slavery ended. An amendment was passed.

Then all men could vote, according to the law. Yet, taxes and tests denied some the right to vote.

Next, suffragists fought for women’s right to vote. The Nineteenth Amendment gave them the vote.

Still voters of color were oppressed and denied the vote. Legislation was passed to extend voting rights to them.

The mission of protecting the right to vote isn’t over, the book says. “Democracy’s dream must be constantly tended.”

When we vote, we acknowledge all those who have fought for voting rights. We honor those rights and answer equality’s call, the book says.

Author Deborah Diesen tells the story in a regular anapestic dimeter rhyming every other line. The word choice is usually pretty good, but occasionally a little forced or unnatural sounding.  

  

Magdalena Mora’s colorful illustrations bring the book to life.

After the story, Diesen gives more detailed information. She explains amendments and legislation pertaining to voting rights. Then she lists voting rights activists.

It’s interesting how she includes small pictures of many of the activists, pictures that have appeared in the book. Children will enjoy going back and finding these pictures.

About the Author

Deborah Diesen is the author of many picture books for children, including the “New York Times” bestseller “The Pout-Pout Fish.” She loves words and rhymes and rhythms. “Equality’s Call” is her first nonfiction picture book. She and her family live in Michigan.

About the Illustrator

Magdalena Mora is an illustrator who is passionate about visual storytelling and graphic design as a tool for social change. “Equality’s Call” is her first picture book. She lives in Minneapolis, MN.