Children's Books About Elections Presidential Election Apparel

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Election 2008 Shopping Guide

Posted by Debbie on Oct 16, 2008 | 107 Comments

Presidential elections are a great way to teach your children about the democratic process and U.S. history. The first presidential election I remember was in 1984. I had just turned six, and my parents brought my brother and me with them to the polls. My father let me help him pull the lever to cast his vote, which I found really exciting.

Looking back, I’m impressed with the way my parents involved us in the electoral process. While I knew who my parents were voting for, there was no rancor and no badmouthing of the other candidate. What I felt from them was pride in America. We lived in Philadelphia at the time, and my parents had taken me to see Independence National Park. They’d told me about how brave Americans had fought and died to give us the right to vote and to pick our own leaders. And they told me how lucky we were to live in a democracy because so many people worldwide didn’t have the right to vote.

In that spirit, Mamanista’s 2008 Election Guide features bipartisan products that celebrate our right to vote.

Election Apparel for Mom, Dad and Baby:

I spotted the hip “Vote for Mom” tee (pictured above) by PeaceLoveMom in the October issue of Parents Magazine. It normally sells for $40, but you can get 25% off using coupon code “Vote08″ (coupon valid from now-election day). Available at www.peacelovemom.com.

Your little hipster will look stylish in this retro print “Snoopy for President” tee by JunkFood- available for $26.50 at GapKids. (Many local stores are sold-out of these designs, but they’re still available online. I also spotted a “Darth Vader for President” tee online at GapKids as well.)

If you’re looking for something more partisan, you’ll find thousands of Republican and Democrat t-shirts, baby onesies and tote bags at CafePress. Or you can design your own for a one-of-a-kind look.

Dad can show his sense of humor about the election by sporting the new “Poll Position” tie by Bird Dog Bay. Dad’s color choice (red or blue) is a subtle way to show his political leanings. Or if he wants to keep people guessing, he can pick a bipartisan gold. Republicans and Democrats may be butting heads, but they won’t debate that this tie is a stylish winner. Like all Bird Dog Bay ties, the “Poll Position” tie is 100% silk, handmade and handprinted in the USA. Available online for $75 at www.birddogbay.com.

Election-Themed Children’s Books and Movies:

You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown might not be as famous as It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, but this classic Peanuts cartoon is every bit as charming. This TV special originally premiered in 1972, and it is a reflection of a more innocent time in American politics before events like Watergate and the Clinton impeachment divided a nation. Lucy takes an opinion poll to determine that Charlie Brown is far too unpopular to win the election for student body president, so the gang persuades Linus to run instead. Lucy and Charlie manage the campaign, but Linus might ruin his chances when he starts talking about the Great Pumpkin.

Duck for President is the rare picture book that parents will enjoy as much as the kiddos. Duck gets tired of working on the farm, so he wins an election to replace the farmer. But farming isn’t as easy as he thought, so he runs for governor, then president. A funny satire of the political process that is sort-of educational (voter registration, running a campaign, voting) without being dry and boring. Keep an eye out for Duck’s election signs (“Duck, make us proud again”) and sly references to past presidents like JFK, Clinton, Nixon and more.

W oodr ow for President: A Tail of Voting, Campaigns, and Elections explains each step of the electoral process to children with rhymes and illustrations of Woodrow Washingtail the Mouse’s bid for the presidency. And if your children are curious about what exactly a President does, check out the companion book- Woodrow, the White House Mouse.

Party Pride:

Cheer on your candidate during an election night party. You can find Democrat and Republican paper plates, napkins and other party supplies at 4FunParties.com.

Support your candidate by buying delicious cookies and cupcakes! Mrs. Beasley’s Cookies and Cupcakes is pitting Obama against McCain. To “vote” for your candidate, buy cookies or cupcakes with photos of McCain, Palin, Obama or Biden. Every purchase counts as a vote in their poll.

WIN A TIE BY BIRD DOG BAY: For a chance to win a “Polling Position” tie by Bird Dog Bay ($75), cast your vote by leaving a comment on this post by 11:59pmEST on November 3, 2008 letting us know whether you want the Red (Republican), Blue (Democrat) or Gold (Undecided) tie. But please keep your comments as classy as this beautiful 100% silk tie and respect our desire to keep our election guide bipartisan and civil.

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Leave Your Response

Vickie Couturier said:

My husband would enjoy the Red tie,an be a proud american to wear it!

#1 Oct 16, 2008 at 2:58 pm

Sandy said:

this is neat- nice site links…thanks

#2 Oct 16, 2008 at 3:00 pm

Michelle said:

My husband would like the Red tie. Thanks for posting this. I love the PeaceLoveMom tee too…so cute.

#3 Oct 16, 2008 at 3:17 pm

Carol said:

My husband would love the red.

#4 Oct 16, 2008 at 3:22 pm

J.C.T. Alexander said:

Debbie,

Great website! I’ll navigate it quicker when I finally get fios.

I would like a red tie.

Best regards,

Barbara and John C.T. Alexander

#5 Oct 16, 2008 at 3:55 pm

Pattye said:

Thanks for the link. Independent who would like the ‘gold’ tie.
Thanks Debbie!

#6 Oct 16, 2008 at 4:38 pm

Debbie said:

My husband would wear the blue tie.

#7 Oct 16, 2008 at 5:32 pm

David Bertolo said:

Anyone who would wear a red tie is ignorant of the facts. Go Blue!!!

#8 Oct 16, 2008 at 6:48 pm

Shirley said:

Phillies just won the National League so my hubby would love a red one—we’re from Philadelphia

#9 Oct 16, 2008 at 8:26 pm

Roxanne said:

The red tie for my hubby.

#10 Oct 16, 2008 at 8:38 pm

Jacki said:

Please sign me up to win a blue tie for my Army veteran husband!

#11 Oct 16, 2008 at 8:45 pm

Hil'Lesha said:

I’d like to keep it cool with the blue for my boyfriend. :)

#12 Oct 16, 2008 at 9:34 pm

Jenn S. said:

My husband would prefer the Red tie. Thanks for the chance!

#13 Oct 16, 2008 at 10:04 pm

Millicent C. said:

My hubby doesnt wear ties but my dad would LOVE the blue tie! Its time for a change go blue go!! :) This is a great giveaway for a political junkie like myself :)

#14 Oct 16, 2008 at 10:55 pm

Ann Freier said:

I wear a tie every day, so Blue red green I will wear it sooner or later…

#15 Oct 16, 2008 at 11:15 pm

christopher h said:

gold for me, please

#16 Oct 16, 2008 at 11:59 pm

Cindi said:

Right at this moment, I would love to enter your drawing for the Gold, please. I would appreciate having my name in drawing. Many thanks, Cindi

#17 Oct 17, 2008 at 1:00 am

Noreen said:

I like the red tie, the color

#18 Oct 17, 2008 at 1:29 am

Steph said:

Blue (Democrat) tie.

#19 Oct 17, 2008 at 11:07 am

Christina said:

I’d like the Gold tie. Thanks.

#20 Oct 17, 2008 at 11:12 am

Monique Rizzo said:

Blue tie all the way!

#21 Oct 17, 2008 at 2:01 pm

susan varney said:

red

#22 Oct 17, 2008 at 5:08 pm

Valerie Mitchell said:

blue!

#23 Oct 17, 2008 at 5:11 pm

ellen cunningham said:

I’d like to win a red one for my husband.

#24 Oct 17, 2008 at 6:52 pm

Brian N. said:

Blue = tolerance and peace
Red = hate and violence
Give me the Blue!

#25 Oct 17, 2008 at 7:58 pm

Ginny said:

Blue please.

#26 Oct 17, 2008 at 10:19 pm

Kendra Gillilan said:

red please ! thanks for the opp!

#27 Oct 17, 2008 at 10:40 pm

Pat Connors said:

Red, please, all the way.

#28 Oct 17, 2008 at 11:31 pm

sito said:

I would like the blue tie. Now I’m going to go back and examine the rest of those ties.

#29 Oct 18, 2008 at 1:06 am

Paige C. said:

BLUE. BLUE. BLUE. BLUE. BLUE. BLUE!!!

#30 Oct 18, 2008 at 1:24 am

Karen Gonyea said:

Blue :)

#31 Oct 18, 2008 at 10:24 am

Linda said:

I am a Canadian and our elections are over.I would be proud to win the blue tie.

#32 Oct 18, 2008 at 11:13 am

Carol Mathesen said:

Nothing but BLUE!

#33 Oct 18, 2008 at 5:07 pm

M.A. said:

RED sounds best to me!

#34 Oct 18, 2008 at 5:49 pm

Robert Doscher said:

I would like the Gold Tie please

#35 Oct 18, 2008 at 8:06 pm

Cheryl said:

What a great tie! It has to be red.

#36 Oct 18, 2008 at 8:11 pm

cathi rushing said:

red red AND MORE RED

#37 Oct 18, 2008 at 9:48 pm

Mary Casper said:

RED!!!!!!!!!!!

#38 Oct 18, 2008 at 10:35 pm

DON MATHIS said:

Go Big Blue, ALL THE WAY. U of Ky and the Democrates.

#39 Oct 18, 2008 at 11:38 pm

judy brittle said:

BLUE! BLUE! BLUE! Will have to do! Thank you!

#40 Oct 19, 2008 at 4:03 am

Mama Zen said:

Love the blue!

#41 Oct 19, 2008 at 8:36 am

Mom24@4evermom said:

Hubby would like the gold…wouldn’t want to offend any customers in this economy!

#42 Oct 19, 2008 at 9:55 am

alison said:

We’d have to go with blue! Thanks!

#43 Oct 19, 2008 at 1:22 pm

tim brown said:

RED
THANK YOU GOD BLESS

#44 Oct 19, 2008 at 2:55 pm

Lauren said:

Would love the red tie for my bf. Joe the plumber would wear it so I know he would too!

#45 Oct 19, 2008 at 5:56 pm

Linda Lansford said:

Red tie

#46 Oct 19, 2008 at 7:06 pm

Michel said:

It a nice site collecting all info about Coupon.
I use to buy some of these coupon and i need this information.
Thanks for your time to post this article.

#47 Oct 20, 2008 at 4:37 am

Erin said:

I would love the red one for my husband!

#48 Oct 20, 2008 at 9:27 am

EVELYN said:

Democrat all the way

#49 Oct 20, 2008 at 11:11 am

Heather said:

Go BLUE!

#50 Oct 20, 2008 at 4:20 pm

hazel hunt said:

My husband would love the red.

#51 Oct 20, 2008 at 7:52 pm

C. Clemens said:

Blue (Democrat)!!!!!!!!!! for me

#52 Oct 21, 2008 at 2:31 am

Erica G said:

Red for us!

#53 Oct 21, 2008 at 5:14 pm

kari F said:

Blue, go Dems!!

#54 Oct 22, 2008 at 9:35 am

kari F said:

Im a subscriber

#55 Oct 22, 2008 at 9:36 am

Anna Humphrey said:

Red please. Thank you.

#56 Oct 22, 2008 at 11:29 am

jennefer sweitzer said:

Blue!!!!!!!!!!!

#57 Oct 22, 2008 at 12:31 pm

Michele said:

Blue!!

#58 Oct 22, 2008 at 7:25 pm

Viv said:

I’d like the Gold!

#59 Oct 22, 2008 at 8:16 pm

Rosanne Morrison said:

Red

#60 Oct 22, 2008 at 9:10 pm

Heather B said:

Blue for me!

#61 Oct 23, 2008 at 7:48 am

Elizabeth M. said:

I’d like the blue tie if I win.

#62 Oct 23, 2008 at 2:19 pm

Kevin Elliott said:

I’d like the gold if I win. Thanks!

#63 Oct 23, 2008 at 9:36 pm

david brumley said:

GOLD / i’m undecided

#64 Oct 25, 2008 at 6:07 pm

stupendousdan said:

Blue for me please. Thanks a lot!

#65 Oct 26, 2008 at 12:33 pm

jennifer gersch said:

blue

#66 Oct 26, 2008 at 5:42 pm

israel y said:

Gold (Undecided) tie. thanks for the chance to win this beautiful tie!

#67 Oct 27, 2008 at 2:42 pm

Lizzy said:

BLUE!

#68 Oct 28, 2008 at 2:22 pm

Vicky Boackle said:

red please.

#69 Oct 28, 2008 at 8:43 pm

Don A said:

Gold is best for me. I like to keep’em guessing

#70 Oct 29, 2008 at 2:39 pm

Christine said:

Blue please! thanks, justicecw@hotmail.com

#71 Oct 29, 2008 at 4:59 pm

ky2here said:

Bluer than the sky on a beautiful sunny day.

#72 Oct 29, 2008 at 7:20 pm

Tabby said:

Blue! Go Obama!

#73 Oct 31, 2008 at 1:47 am

Joanna said:

BLUE!!

#74 Oct 31, 2008 at 4:50 am

jennem said:

True blue!

#75 Oct 31, 2008 at 12:40 pm

Tom Mangan said:

I’d like the red tie, not because I’m partisan, but rather because I read an article this week that tells me that I should be irresistibly drawn ro it…

#76 Nov 1, 2008 at 7:00 am

Paige said:

Two party household, but let’s not be identified by red and blue anymore.The coin toss goes to red.

#77 Nov 1, 2008 at 7:05 am

Carol Foster said:

Red all the way to the White House

#78 Nov 1, 2008 at 9:34 am

Alissa Schrader said:

Blue

#79 Nov 1, 2008 at 9:16 pm

Andy said:

Blue

#80 Nov 1, 2008 at 11:15 pm

Jennifer hedden said:

Red

#81 Nov 2, 2008 at 10:42 am

Phillip Fry said:

Blue

#82 Nov 2, 2008 at 1:14 pm

Karrie said:

I’m for Team Red

#83 Nov 2, 2008 at 9:16 pm

txfilly said:

Has to be the red.

#84 Nov 3, 2008 at 12:46 am

Veronica Garrett said:

I want the Blue tie.

#85 Nov 3, 2008 at 4:29 am

H said:

GOP RED! ALL THE WAY! My husband would LOVE this. Please count me in and thanks so much!

#86 Nov 3, 2008 at 5:14 am

Peggy Gorman said:

I have read the facts and I am a independant who would love to have the BLUE,I know a wonderful man who would proudly wear

#87 Nov 3, 2008 at 9:10 am

Pamela White said:

I am an Independant and believe to vote for the best man not the party. So the Gold tie is for me so I can continually hear other opinions.

#88 Nov 3, 2008 at 11:06 am

kathy pease said:

gold :(

#89 Nov 3, 2008 at 11:09 am

Carolyn D. said:

My husband is Precinct Captain here and goes Red all the way!

#90 Nov 3, 2008 at 11:54 am

John Deal said:

Keep the comments civil??
Are you trying to destroy our political system?

OK, Red.

#91 Nov 3, 2008 at 12:00 pm

Angie P said:

Blue tie please~

#92 Nov 3, 2008 at 12:30 pm

Robin said:

Blue please, our economy can’t handle another red.

#93 Nov 3, 2008 at 1:02 pm

Melissa said:

RED, RED, RED!

#94 Nov 3, 2008 at 1:10 pm

ami said:

i’d love the red tie thanks :D

#95 Nov 3, 2008 at 1:42 pm

sarah b said:

my husband would love to wear the blue tie!

#96 Nov 3, 2008 at 3:41 pm

LeeAnn P. said:

Blue. Without a Doubt, BLUE!

#97 Nov 3, 2008 at 3:55 pm

the last man said:

please enter me for the gold tie. you are supposed to vote for the man and not the party. thanks if i win and i hope everyone’s days are all blessed.

#98 Nov 3, 2008 at 7:43 pm

Keith D. said:

I would like to cast my vote for everyone’s favorite color – Gold.

#99 Nov 3, 2008 at 10:29 pm

Samantha Pruitt said:

anyone who valued this country would vote blue, so blue all the way!

#100 Nov 3, 2008 at 10:30 pm

Marc said:

Well, I have a lot of red ties, and I have a lot of blue ties, but I don’t have any gold ties…so I choose GOLD.

#101 Nov 4, 2008 at 12:25 am

Janet said:

I like the blue

#102 Nov 4, 2008 at 12:27 am

Gianna said:

I’d love to win the red tie for my husband :)

#103 Nov 4, 2008 at 12:30 am

Lily Kwan said:

Please enter me into the contest for the Gold (Undecided) tie. Thanks!

#104 Nov 4, 2008 at 12:57 am

Contest Winners | Mamanista! said:

[...] to Alissa who won the Blue Tie from Bird Dog Bay. Curious about the results of the Election Contest? There were 37 votes for the red tie, 46 votes [...]

#105 Nov 24, 2008 at 4:19 pm