If I Ran the Country

This entertaining, fact-filled book about politics invites young readers to imagine how they would run a country if they unexpectedly found themselves in charge. After deciding where to put the presidential hot tub, they will need to turn their attention to more pressing matters, such as creating government departments, collecting tax and forging alliances with other nations.

Each of the six chapters focuses on a different aspect of leadership, exploring the pros and cons of various systems of government, from democracies and monarchies to dictatorships. Big ideas are presented in an accessible manner, using simple comparisons with children's own experiences, such as relationships with teachers, friends and bullies. For example, the practice of trading football cards with friends is used to explain the concept of trade in a fun, relatable way. At the end of each chapter is a template for readers to record the decisions they've made, from choosing their country's name and designing a flag, to their political ideology.

Written in an informal style with lots of humour and attractive black-and-white illustrations, this superb book will inspire children/teens to question and understand more about the world in which they live and think about what things like fairness really means, and what politics really entails.