The Day Gogo Went to Vote

I really enjoyed this book for several reasons. The illustrations are beautiful and immensely detailed, which adds a more serious note to the story. This story was empowering, reading about this 100 year olds determination to vote for the first time in her life. What was even more amazing to me was how the narrator, who is so young, was able to pick up on the fact that this moment in time was momentous, which you can see when she remarks that "the best part of the day was Gogo voting". This girl got to stay up past her bedtime, surrounded by family and friends, and still thought her grandma going to vote was the best thing to happen that day. That was such a heartwarming moment for me that really elevated the already excellent plot. show more This book would be a great introduction to the struggle African and African American people have faced when it comes to equality. show less

This is an extremely powerful story about a young girl named Thembi and her great grandmother, Gogo. Gogo and Thembi are best friends, Gogo takes care of Thembi and tells her stories. One day it is announced that black South Africans will be able to vote for the first time in history. Despite the fact that Gogo is very old and hasn't left the house in many years, she is determined to cast her vote. Thembi of course insists on going with her. Thembi and Gogo travel many miles to the voting polls. Once Gogo casts her vote, many people cheer for her. Gogo is the oldest member of the township to vote. Thembi is proud of her great grandmother and says that the "best day was when Gogo went to vote".
This is a beautiful story of an important show more milestone in South African history told from the point of view of a young girl. It really puts things into perspective for voters in America. I feel that many people in the U.S. are too lazy or simply do not care enough to take the time to vote, yet, here is a story of a great grandmother who does everything she can to cast her vote. Very moving. show less

A tale of admiration, of sacrifice and of freedom. The Day Gogo Went to Vote is set in April 1994 South Africa during Presidential elections. For the first time in South African history, a black man is running for President and black Africans are now allowed to vote. The story is told in the voice of six-year-old Thembi, the great-granddaughter of the eldest woman in town, Mrs.Mokoena "Gogo". Gogo becomes the first black woman to vote in a South African election and is given the red carpet treatment on the way to the polls to cast her vote. Documenting the entire event is Thembi, helping her grandmother to the polls and becoming apart of history. The relationship between Gogo and Thembi is heartwarming

An excellent and timeless story of social justice and reform. This award-winning book appeals to a wide and diverse audience. Not only to African Americans, but to women and other marginalized minorities. The story takes place in South Africa in 1994 when the first legal democratic election took place and Nelson Mandela, a political prisoner for 30 years, was elected to lead and govern his people. This tale was very moving to me on a personal level. My grandmother was born the year before American women were given the right to vote. It is a bittersweet reminder that I am not too far removed from a time when I would not have been allowed to cast my vote. I have a feeling this story could spark some excellent classroom discussion show more regarding equality and rights across gender, race, and socioeconomic lines. show less

A fabulous historical fiction that explores the pure joy of the black African people when they were finally given the right to vote. The event is told through the eyes of a young child who goes with her great grandmother to the polling booths to vote. The family were concerned that the woman would not survive the long trek to the polling station and yet she was determined to go "you want me to die not having voted?" An inspirational story of human strength and the power of democracy to move a nation and it's people forward.
Review by: Fiona

The day Gogo went to vote-
This book won the Notable Children's Book award in 1994.
This story uses point of view, from a child's perspective to tell us how a 100 year old woman in South Africa, went to vote for the first time. This book focuses on diversity because the woman is elderly and black, so this election was the first time that black people in South Africa were allowed to elect their leaders, which was a momentous occasion. Gogo, the old woman was absolutely determined to attend the separate voting day for the sick and elderly because of this. She went, along with her little granddaughter, and upon their return, they were celebrated. This day was one to remember, as even through her health issues, that kept her inside majority show more of the time, she stubbornly persisted and attended to vote. show less

This is an awesome book that follows a 6 year old Thembi and her 100 year old grandmother through the process of Africa having the ability to vote for the first time. This was a life changing day for all of Africa. Thembi's grandmother was the oldest being in the town, and when people heard that she had to wait in line to vote they were upset so they sent a car to pick her up to take her to vote, and she did. She was a part of history that Africa hasn't been through. That night after the vote, the whole family danced the night away and celebrated this achievement. Thembi closes the book and says that Nelson Mandela will change the way that things are, but her favorite day was the day that her grandmother got to vote. I would use this in show more my classroom when we were learning about voting and how to vote, and why voting is important. It will show my students that not everyone has the same chance that they have here in the United States. Genre: Biography, this book is the story of the first woman to vote in Africa. Based on a true story. show less