The Day Madear Voted

by Wade Hudson, Don Tate (Illustrator)

A moving look at a Black family’s journey to exercise their right to vote and imagine a better future.

Charlie and Ralph’s mom has waited a long time to vote because countless obstacles have been put in Black people’s way to stop them from having a say in elections—obstacles that it took a lot of hard work to tear down. But now, in 1969, Madear is going to vote for the very first time, and the boys are coming along on this exciting day. A day that puts a new bounce in their mom’s step, and enables them all to begin to dream of a better future.

Wade Hudson and Don Tate give young readers a warm family story as well as a powerful glimpse into the struggle that had to be waged to achieve a fundamental right of citizenship.

Genres: Picture Books, African American, Historical Fiction, Childrens, Politics, Historical

32 pages, Hardcover

Published July 9, 2024

About the author

Wade Hudson is the author of nearly 30 books for children and Young adults. He and his wife Cheryl are the founders of Just Us Books, Inc., a leading publisher of multicultural books for children.

Reviews

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

It's 1969, and Charlie and Ralph's mother is very excited that she will get to vote for the first time since the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965. Before, Black people were made to provide documentation they didn't have in order to be abel to vote, or to pay a toll tax or even guess the number of jellybeans in a jar! Now, all that is ended. Madear gets dressed up in her best dress and takes the boys to City Hall to vote. It's a bit of a tense time; it wasn't always easy for Black people to vote in some places in the US, but Madear is able to vote without incident. After that, she voted every year, and in 2008 was able to vote for Barack Obama, the first Black president of the US.

Wade Hudson's fantastic memoir, Defiant: Growing Up in the Jim Crow South (2021) as well as his contemporary middl grade fiction book The Reckoning (2024), both explore Civil Rights, so it is great that he is bringing this topic to younger readers, especially since the illustrator, Don Tate, has done several books on the topic as well, like Pigskins and Paintbrushes.

The illustrations get the details of the 1960s correct, and Madear's outfit somehow made me think of the rebooted Wonder Years television show that portrays the experiences of a Black family in Montgomery, Alabama during this time period. There's something about the clothing and the house that particularly ring true. Don't forget the plaid pants on some of the voters!

An end note says that this is loosely based on one family's experience, and gives more information about the historical period.

As we approach another presidential election cycle, it's important to teach young future voters the importance of making their voice heard. Keep The Day Madear Voted in heavy rotation for nightly read alouds along with Todd's Stacey Abrams and the Fight to Vote, Winter and Evan's Lillian's Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to make sure that children grow up and fulfill their civic duty. Add Rockcliff's Around America to Win the Right to Vote, if you want to also include Women's Suffrage before 1920; my grandmother was 27 before she could vote for the first time, so it is not a right that I ever take lightly!

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

During this election year books like this are a great way to educate children on the hardships Black people have gone through to be able to vote. And a reminder of how significant the 2008 election was for so many Black people to go out and cast their vote for Obama. I like the full circle moment of Madear casting her first vote to being one of many years down the line.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read aloud for fourth or fifth graders prior to the election telling the tale of a black woman voting for the first time in Louisiana in 1969. Then through the year up until Barack Obama's election. The illustrations were detailed and engaging. The story was detailed enough, yet not too long. Really good read aloud for intermediate.

[Joy Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Day Madear Voted is about a black woman that was able to take her two sons to watch her vote for the first time. And it talks about how it was the first time that Black people were able to vote and how it felt like church inside the city hall that election day. But some people did not appreciate that Black people were now able to vote.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coming up on election day in a few short months, this children's book goes back in time to talk about (loosely inspired by) a mother going to vote in 1969 and taking her kids along with her.

It's a lesson in history and current topics about who gets to vote and why it's important to democracy.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book on election day this year, and it was just the reminder I needed that despite the political chaos and uncertainty that may swirl around us, it is still a privilege and a blessing to be able to vote.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy to understand story about African-Americans finally having successfully championed the right to vote. Two young boys accompany their mother to the polls to cast her vote for the first time.

Back matter includes history into the difficult topic. Beautiful and much needed.

[Yapha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great picture book to read aloud to classes as we move closer to the election. Highly recommended for grades 5 & up.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read aloud picture book for children to learn about having the right to vote. What voting actually means.