Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Smart, savvy civics lesson served with lots of laughs.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In BAD KITTY FOR PRESIDENT, Kitty is fed up with stray cats coming into her neighborhood, so she decides to do something about it by running for president of the Neighborhood Cat Club. She tries to crown herself president but learns that it takes a lot of work to get elected. Still, she wins the primary (by kissing a baby) and becomes the nominee. Then she has to seek endorsements, hit the campaign trail, and figure out how to use mass media to her advantage. After a lively debate with her opponent, she and her fellow cats head to the polls on Election Day to find out who will lead the neighborhood cats for the next four years.
Is It Any Good?
Bad Kitty is expertly used here to humorously illustrate the best and worst of the American election process.
The idea of democratically electing a president is easy enough for a young child to understand -- but the actual mechanics of the process are much harder to grasp. Bad Kitty is certainly true to her moniker: She's selfish, devious, rude, and petty. (Insert your own joke about politicians here.)
Nick Bruel, author-illustrator of seven previous bad Kitty books, including A Bad Kitty Christmas, presents a nice piece of political humor built on the metaphorical race to lead the Neighborhood Cat Club. Kids will be so tickled by Kitty's antics -- she mistakes the idea of a "grassroots campaign" to mean she should use a lawn as a litter box, for example, and a video of her going "nutso" goes viral on "VueTube" -- that they'll sail through a complex discussion of American politics. Unlike more idealistic introductions to civics, this slim volume manages to equip kids with the know-how to be savvy participants in the democratic process. Bruel's winning illustrations add to the fun.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what motivates people to run for office. Kitty is apathetic until she realizes that it could be to her advantage to hold power. Why do politicians seek office?
How are political ads like ads for products? How are they different? Talk about how candidates use media.
Families also can talk about the intended safeguards in the election process, from PACs and 527 groups to laws about buying gifts and slandering opponents. The narrator is sometimes skeptical, even saying 527 groups seem "fishy." What do you think?
Kitty runs for office because she's unhappy about stray cats coming into her neighborhood. Read the debate moderator's question about the stray-cats issue: What do you think about the problem?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : For Beginning Readers
- Topics : History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date : January 17, 2012
- Number of pages : 144
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate