"Class President"

Julio Sanchez has just entered fifth grade and has a new teacher, Ernesto Flores.  There is going to be an election for class president in his class.  Julio wants to help his friend Lucas win the election against another one of their classmate's Cricket.  She is pretty sure she will win.  However, as it gets closer to the election, Julio's leadership skills are shown and his mom wants him to run for president.  He helps a boy named Arthur after his new glasses are crushed by a soccer ball by suggesting that the class raises money so he can get a new pair.  He helps Lucas's brothers, Marcus and Marius reach the spigot on the water fountain. He even has the courage to talk to the principal when soccer is banned and convinces the principal not to prohibit kids from playing it.  Arthur nominates Julio on the day of the election and he wins.  Cricket will be the vice-president.  I would do a read-aloud with this book and ask the students who they would vote for if they were in Mr. Flore's fifth grade class.  I would also make a list on the board of qualities that students think make a good president