The Kid Who Ran for President

The Kid Who Ran for President #1

by Dan Gutman

Just in time for election season, Dan Gutman's hugely popular THE KID WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT is back. Humor, adventure, and excitement will draw kids into the world of elections and politics.

"Hi! My name is Judson Moon. I'm 12 years old and I'm running for President of the YOU-nited States."

So begins this fast-paced, funny, and surprising account of a boy's run for the Oval Office in the year 2000. Under the tutelage of Lane, his brainy friend and self-appointed campaign manager, the affable sixth-grader from Madison, Wisconsin, takes on the Democrats and Republicans as a Third Party candidate who can make waves. "Grown-ups have had the last one thousand years to mess up the world," Judd tells a reporter. "Now it's our turn."

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Middle Grade, Politics, Young Adult

156 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

The author of over 80 books in a little over a decade of writing, Dan Gutman has written on topics from computers to baseball. Beginning his freelance career as a nonfiction author dealing mostly with sports for adults and young readers, Gutman has concentrated on juvenile fiction since 1995. His most popular titles include the time-travel sports book Honus and Me and its sequels, and a clutch of baseball books, including The Green Monster from Left Field. From hopeful and very youthful presidential candidates to stunt men, nothing is off limits in Gutman's fertile imagination. As he noted on his author Web site, since writing his first novel, They Came from Centerfield, in 1994, he has been hooked on fiction. "It was fun to write, kids loved it, and I discovered how incredibly rewarding it is to take a blank page and turn it into a WORLD."

Gutman was born in New York City in 1955, but moved to Newark, New Jersey the following year and spent his youth there.

Reviews

[Mike Mullin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep, it's pretty much as John Oliver called it: Gutman precognitively satirized the 2016 U.S. presidential election in this book.

[EMMA · Rating 5 out of 5]

فوق العاده بود،خيلي خوب با لحن طنز به سياست هاي امريكا نقد وارد كرده بود

[hpboy13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remembered this book from when I was a kid (because it was such an exciting concept when I was a kid). I reread in light of the absurdity of the 2016 election (which is way more ridiculous than anything that happened in this book). It’s really quite funny, offering a clever look at our rather ridiculous election process, and remains quite relevant in addressing what a media circus the election is.

[Hamidreza · Rating 3 out of 5]

دن گاتمن نویسنده خلاقیه . این کتاب به وضوح میگه که چه فکرایی به ذهن این نویسنده میاد . کتابش سورئال بود ولی نه از اون سورئال هایی که کلاسیک هم هستن . سورئال کمدی بود :دی . کتابش یه سری اشکالاتی داشت ولی راضی بودم ازش

( بند پایین اسپویله )
این کتاب با یه جمله کاملا لو میره ( که اسم جلد دو این کتاب هم هست :| ) : پسری که رئیس جمهور شد ... خلاصه ازین مشکلات هم داره ولی واقعا جالب بود . وقتی این کتابو میخونی حس میکنی خیلی دنیا راحته . این پسر به راحتی توی کل کالیفرنیا مشهور شد . و به راحتی با بدست آوردن 2000 امضا در انتخابات شرکت کرد . البته یه سری تیکه هایی که نویسنده از زبون شخصیت هاش توی کتاب می انداخت ، واقعا خنده دار همینطور دردناک بود

قسمت هایی از کتاب :
مردم به کسی که خوب دست میدهد احترام میگذارند ، پس این کار را دقیق و کامل انجام بدهید . بقیه کارها را درست هم انجام ندهید ، چندان مهم نیست . اگر این کار را درست انجام بدهید ، مطمئن باشید که رای طرف مقابل را به دست آورده اید
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خب راستش فکر میکنم که بزرگترها در طول صد سال گذشته حسابی دنیا را به هم ریخته اند . حالا دیگر نوبت ما بچه هاست
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چه کسی این همه جنگ را در طول تاریخ بشری به راه انداخت ؟
بزرگتر ها

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this during October with my fourth grade students for social studies. Really great story to introduce the election process. They loved the book and were very interested in the whole presidential campaign and I think this book really helped them to grasp the process. Thank you Mr. Gutman!

Update: Read this again this election season. My students again loved it! Making the election process real to them and helping them to understand the process. I will try it again in 4 years!

[MD · Rating 3 out of 5]

A super cute story about a twelve-year old boy who runs for President. The students seem to love it, it makes them chuckle, and they even learn a bit about US Presidential election process- these are all good perks!

[Alexyss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in fifth or fourth grade. LOVED IT!!!

[Michael Kahan]

You know how there are some books that are simply inappropriate for children? This one is inappropriate for adults. If you're, let's say, 13 or younger this is a fun little romp to read and enjoy and maybe fantasize about. If you're an adult, your jaded cynicism is going to have you overthinking this book to the point of madness and it's not likely to be a pleasant experience for you. Give this to the preteen in your life and don't open it yourself, no matter how much nostalgia tempts you.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gutman makes a lot of interesting points in this book. I could see engaging students in some thoughtful conversations about friendship, honesty, integrity and the difference between being clever and being intelligent. The premise is silly, but middle grade students will appreciate it for the extreme situations that make it silly to adults, and kids, after all, are Gutman’s target audience.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is ridiculous, but gave my kids a great imaginative exploration of what it takes to become president. We had fun listening AND debunking this story, so all in all it was an enjoyable audiobook experience.

[Cath · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been pretty good satire (for a middle-grade novel) except for the fact it's a little too similar to a certain 2016 presidential campaign - so is it really satire?

[Eva Herbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that John Oliver referenced on his show. Frankly, it should be required reading for all Americans who can at least read on a 5th grade level.

Prankster Judd Moon decides to run for president of the You-nited States (as he calls them) at the suggestion of his friend and campaign manager, Laine. It is set in the year 2000 in which voters are less than thrilled with their political parties and their politicians. Judd invents his own party, the Lemonade Party, selects his former babysitter as his running mate ("She's smart, and I'm dumb"), and even acquires a First Babe, the most beautiful blonde in the school to accompany him to parties and media events. He charms the local media into covering his campaign as a special interest story, and thus launches his presidential campaign.

Just. Wow. Any other year, I would've given this book 4 stars for the absurdity of its premise, that a kid could be president . In 2016, this gets 5 stars.

[Shannon McGee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Judson Moon is charismatic, and funny at times but if you are looking for a book that teaches your kid somethings except politicians full of lies.

I was hoping for much more then a moral story from this book other then what I received from the book. I think there could have been so much more added to educate children about the Constitution or Congress. Instead it is a book about a goofball kid who want to be honest, which is fine and good. I was just hopeful for more educational with fun and not moral with fun or could have had both.

This book also has a sequel which if I mention the title ruins this book.

[Brian guaman · Rating 3 out of 5]

this kid wants to make a change in his life but he wants to become president the problem is that he don't know were to start at or what to do he is still a kid he does not know what is going on in his life in his people Also i like how the kid try's his best to be what he always wanted to be he does not stop does not care what other people think of him the message the Author is trying to tell us that if u want to do something or finish it don't give up its never to late to do things in your life.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024
Truthfully, I'd rather have Judson Moon be president than who just won

2020
As always, a very cute and satisfying read.

I love how believable the story is, too. The author definitely put a lot of thought and care into the story. You can see every step of the way how Judson Moon became a presidential candidate. Even with the constitution stating that you have to be 35 years old. I couldn't believe the stuff Lane came up with to make that happen!

2015

[Hima · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, this seems like another one of Dan's Gutman's famous side splitters, but then develops into a cool story. It also has some educational value, as I learned about the different things that have to be done for presidential elections. You need to get 2000 signatures to get your name on the ballot! Wowzers!

[Brooke Boukather · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was somewhat good. I thought it was kinda funny but pretty ridiculous. Some kid decided that he wanted to make a joke out of running for president. He actually won! Ridiculous and obviously fake, right?

[Marcy Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud to my six-year-old. He loved it, and it gave us the opportunity to discuss current politics and history. He is very anxious to read the book the kid who was president

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read The Kid Who Ran for President in 1996, right as my English teacher was reading it to our class to give us some perspective on the upcoming presidential election. At the time, I was a ten-year-old who had technically lived through two elections but only remembered one. Re-reading it now, as an adult who has voted in six presidential elections, the book naturally takes on a different tone. I recently learned of the sequel, The Kid Who Became President, and after twenty-nine years, it felt only right to revisit the original before diving into the follow-up.

The book remains charming, light, funny, and filled with genuinely educational tidbits that make the Constitution and the presidency accessible to middle-school readers. It’s a quick, enjoyable read with real value for young audiences who are just beginning to understand how our political system works.

At the same time, adult readers may find themselves applying a bit of necessary suspension of disbelief. No constitutional amendment has ever been proposed and ratified as quickly as it is in the story. June Syers and Judson Moon hailing from the same state raises an electoral-college wrinkle the book never addresses. And in a country with countless people trying to get on presidential ballots, the idea that a kid with two thousand signatures would spark national news coverage is undeniably simplified.

But those shortcuts serve a purpose: if these gaps stand out to you, you’re not the target audience. For younger readers, the streamlined approach makes the electoral process fun, understandable, and far less intimidating than it often feels in real life.

Ultimately, The Kid Who Ran for President holds up as an entertaining and informative read, both for kids who aren’t yet old enough to vote and for adults reflecting on the elections they’ve lived through. It still has something to offer, no matter which side of that divide you fall on.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judson Moon is 12 years old and he is running for president with his smart campaign manager Lane Brainard, his running mate June Syers, and his first lady Chelsea Daniels with those people around him (and of corse his parents) he sets off on a quest for the white house. The first thing they do is get a newspaper article about them by calling the newspaper and raising money. After the story is out Judson makes a speech at his school. He got a story with the AP and that got everywhere. The next day a lot of people called and he got Lane to schedule tv shows, interviews, and newspapers. After all that settled down kids raised money for Judson by making lemonade stands, putting up car washes, bake sales, yard sales, some kids sold their own toys for him with all the donations he got $2,568.75. Lane then made a bank account, rented office space and coordinated volunteers to run it, he also hired a artist to draw a picture of the moon with Judson's face in the middle. Chelsea decided that she wanted to have better conditions for silkworms. That same night Judson had a Talk with his Dad. People then said that it wasn't allowed to run for president because he is 12 years old. Other people then said that he should be allowed to run and after a lot of arguing then he was allowed to run. about a week later Judson debated President White and Senator Dunn and he won. After he won the debate Judson gets a scandal against him. Judson deals with it and gets out of it. Judson then wins the election.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book dozens of times when I was a kid and I've been thinking about it a lot lately (it's hard not to think about presidency a lot these days...) so I reread it and let me tell you it was a surreal experience. It's been updated? Sort of? I apparently read this book enough times that I remembered perfectly full sentences and even paragraphs, but then there were some that were shoehorned in there to make it modern and I *hate it,* reading this book that I knew should have been fully 90s and then he mentions Obama or Facebook or whatever. It's bizarrely pointless. Books can be of their time. My years as a child spanned the mid 90s to mid 00s and I read plenty of books that were juuuuust no longer modern, and I loved them, and it made me understand the perspective of people who grew up with them that much more, and I just don't get why this was necessary. It looks like the book was updated in 2012, 16 years after it had been published, so write another book and set it in the near future and have Judson's kid run for president and if you really want to touch how technology changed things.

(Disclaimer: wah wah I'm 24 years old and books must stay the same as they were when I was 10 cause everything is about me is a VALID review, but also I am self aware, so ignore me and read this book/ give it to your kids to read because it's still great and adorable even though I'm mad.)

[Mary]

When Judson Moon is 12-years old, he decides to run for President. Lane Branard runs his campaign. He chooses as his running mate, Mrs. Syers, an African-American friend and former babysitter, who sits on her porch in her wheelchair and who hasn't voted in a presidential election since 1944. Although Abby Goldstein is his good friend, Lane convinces him to select Chelsea Daniels as his first lady, since she's prettier. She adopts silkworms as her cause. Generally, Judson has trouble geting his parents' attention, but when his candidacy makes the news, they pay attention. When a classmate - and former friend - ridicules Judson's run, he is mostly ignored. An editorial in the New York Times suggesting that Judson should be given a chance to run despite not being 35, an amendment is passed to allow him to do so. When things get tiresome, he tries to throw the race by refusing to take the debate seriously, but his joking around backfires, and he's declared winner of the debate. Will Judson go all the way to the White House? And if he does, then what?

[Allie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why I hated this book:

1. Totally unrealistic. It falls under the category of Realistic Fiction, but it is totally unbelievable. A kid running for president? He even created his own political party, the Lemonade Party, where their only values were that kids were as equal as adults.

2. It portrays adults as stupid. The main character’s parents are described as not caring for him until he is famous, and that sends a bad message. Also, the fact that he won put a bad image on America, because all of the parents voted for him so their kids would stop acting up. That is the single most dumbest way to parent. It even portrays his opposing candidates as shallow and stupid too.

3. There are so many obnoxious characters. There are too many annoying dumb kids in the story.

4. The structure. It was a really boring book, and you can tell by the title that he’s obviously going to win. It was a short book (thank goodness!). As the required material of my very advanced AP literature class, this humored me.

I do NOT recommend this book to anyone, except for an example of an atrocious novel.

[Jenni Enzor · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want a book about presidents and elections that doesn't take itself too seriously, this is a good one. It may have been be written in 90s, but it's still wonderful. Judson is a bit of a goofball, but incredibly fun to read about. Gutman really gets the middle school boy mind, and I loved that realistic aspect of this book. There were a few things that were far-fetched, but necessary to allow the story to unfold.

I particularly enjoyed his running mate who hadn't voted since Roosevelt, the "First Babe" who wanted to start a campaign for silk worms, and how Judson's guffaws always made him more likeable to the voters.

A fun read that would be a good conversation starter for upper elementary/middle school students learning about presidents or US elections.

I highlighted this book on my blog: https://jennienzor.blogspot.com/2025/...

[Roberto · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kid who ran for president its about, well a kid who ran for president the kid's name is Judson moon and the reason why he is running first it because his friend said he will be perfect to run for president and make history, second Judson just goofed and said it will be a good joke, and there he is really running for president. A conflict that Judson had to face is the popularity, he cant leave his house because of all the reporter on the door step. A theme that Judson used is that "grown ups had one hundred years to mess up the world, now its are turn". I say the book is good and it gave me a good laugh and the ending is worth reading. I recommend this book to other people because it can give you a good laugh and it has some twist that shocked me.

[Patron]

Book #5 in my 2018 Reading Challenge.

Yeah, this isn't even an upper middle grade book, but I needed to take a break from the Royal Diaries, and this happened to be in the library. I want to be a kid's writer, anyway, so I didn't see a problem with including it in my Reading Challenge.

Anyway, onto the book itself. I'm not American, but I know a bit about American politics, and I was surprised about how hilarious this turned out to be. John Oliver was right. Ten years on, this manages to be a completely brilliant and almost believable satirical children's novel. I was cracking up when I read the words 'READ-MY-LIPS-NO-MORE-HOMEWORK'.

I might just read the sequel.

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light hearted and fun, with an undercurrent of occasional seriousness. A 12 year old runs for President of the YOU SA. Can he win? What about that little clause saying you need to be age 35 to become President? His manager has a solution! Can it work? Read and find out!

Gutman lampoons things like the debates that clearly need reforming. He shows the issues with many things such as the electoral college. This book is humorous but he also gives people some things to wish for reform. Great lit it isn’t. Which I suspect is fine with Gutman. He wants to get kids hooked on reading and I think he has succeeded!

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

My 4th grader read this book aloud to me. He liked it a lot (hence the second star, I guess it has some appeal to kids) I thought it was awful. I’m not sure if it’s just because it’s geared toward kids, or if it was supposed to be satirical, or if the 2000 publication date just makes it dated, but it was sexist (the “First Lady” as a trophy cute, popular blond girl whose philanthropy was saving the silk worms, who Judson didn’t even really know? Ew.) and Judson was really unlikable. It was also mind numbingly boring.

[Allison Gouker · Rating 2 out of 5]

I used to love to read this book as a kid, so I thought I would re-read it as an adult to see if I would recommend it for friends’ kids… I would not lol.

I’m not sure what age group I think this book would be appropriate for. The premise is cute but the storyline isn’t great. I somehow remember it giving me “The Parent Trap” magical feelings but it’s mostly silly name calling and bashing the government lol. Kids wouldn’t really have any cool takeaways from it or feelings about how neat it’d be to run for President as a 12 year old.

[Dan Greenleaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this at the suggestion of John Oliver (Last Week Tonight). Although Dan Gutman published this in 1996, it is a unsettling parallel to our last presidential election.

Written for kids, it's a quick read and elementary look at the election system. The story is simple and moves quickly. But is worth the read for the prophetic element of the story.

I'm tempted to read the sequel The Kid Who Became President but I'm scared what it will reveal.