12 Things to Know about Political Parties - by Vicki Hayes (Paperback)

About the Book

"Middle-grade readers will gain an understanding about the news surrounding political parties in this accessible reader. Stat boxes and "Think About It" features support critical thinking skills and encourage awareness about American politics"--

Book Synopsis

Help make complex current events approachable with a timely series for middle grade students. Students get the facts on relevant topics that come straight from news headlines. Each book breaks the topic into 12 short chapters that provide a balanced understanding accessible to grades 4 and up. Loaded with stat boxes, sidebars, and "Think About It" features, these nonfiction books support critical thinking skills and will encourage awareness of world issues. Politics are some of today's biggest headlines and political parties can be a hot-button issue. From conservatives to liberals, and from debates to the elections, there are a lot of facts to keep straight. Help middle-grade students get the essential information about this broad issue that affects current events. Twelve short chapters provide a balanced understanding accessible to grades 4 and up with approachable text offering insights into the history of political parties, how they play a role in the government and the electoral college, and how each party can cooperate for the greater good. Loaded with stat boxes, sidebars, and "Think About It" features, this nonfiction book supports critical thinking skills and encourages awareness about global issues.

Review Quotes

If the Today's Headlines series feels familiar, that's because it's a refreshed and updated version of 12-Story Library's 2016 series, Turning Points in US History. Though it follows the same general structure of highlighting 12 main points about a given topic, the text has been edited to a lower reading level (fourth grade) and updated with new stats and facts. The crisp design features large, eye-catching photos and diagrams, sidebars, and critical-thinking prompts. The topics are timely, and readers will get a good sense of the subjects' breadth if not their depth, making them good first-stops on a student's learning or research journey. Climate Change presents many facets of this phenomenon, from contributing factors (deforestation, increases in greenhouse gases) to scientific evidence (rising temperatures and sea levels, more extreme weather) to steps people can take to slow its progression. Global Immigration considers push (war, natural disasters) and pull (job opportunities, better education) factors that lead to human migration, as well as challenges migrants face. Political Parties leads with history, filling in readers on the origins of political parties in the U.S., the general ideals major (and some third) parties encompass today, and the roles they play in elections. Water Access dives into difficulties people face in procuring clean, safe water, highlighting such causes as population increase and climate change.