Playful politics in fun book for future PMs
A new kids book by a CQUniversity historian is challenging young Australians to dream about life in The Lodge.
You Can Be Prime Minister is written by democracy enthusiast and dad Dr Benjamin T Jones, a Senior Lecturer in History with CQU.
Just like democracy sausages have made election day duties more palatable for many voters, Dr Jones hopes the lighthearted look at Australian leadership might help kids connect with our political system.
“We wanted to share all that we value about democracy with an audience that splits its time between the Wiggles and Peppa Pig – and You Can Be Prime Minister is the result!” he said.
Written in fun rhyme, and illustrated by Newcastle-based creative Sheree Chambers, the book also features fun facts about about electoral process and historic political moments.
For instance, did you know Joseph Cook in 1914 was the most recent prime minister to have a beard?
Dr Jones, who also has a beard, said the book started as a fun side project.
“I’d been teaching History and Politics at university for 15 years and wanted to write a kids book for my five-year-old daughter,” he explained.
“I wanted to inspire her to aim high, and give her a quick rundown on Australia’s democratic values!”
He was motivated to reach a wider audience while publishing research about the history of referendums.
“Australians in general have a poor knowledge of their constitution and how our unique democracy functions … for instance, there’s a troubling poll from the 1980s that found that half the population did not even know we had a written constitution,” he said.
“If anything, our understanding today is worse – this year, ABC News reported that Australian students had their worst-ever performance in civics and citizenship and, alarmingly, that 72 percent do not understand the basics of democracy.”
As well as introducing the Constitution, You Can Be Prime Minister also highlights that the document doesn’t cover the role of federal cabinet, or even the prime minister.
“It gave me a chuckle to think this kids book could be more thorough than our nation’s foundational document,” he said.
“But also, I want young people to understand both the importance of the Constitution, and that it might have its shortcomings.”
The book also highlights the different ways prime ministers can be appointed, with one page explaining:
You can by Prime Minister by
winning an election that is fair,
or if your party is in government and
plays a game of musical chairs.
While the cute illustrations look like youthful versions of former Labor leaders Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd, the fun fact points out that eight PMs have been sacked by their own party: Billy Hughes, Robert Menzies, John Gorton, Bob Hawke, Rudd, Gillard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull.
“As a teacher, I believe whole-heartedly that education changes lives and that young minds are our hope for the future,” Dr Jones said.
“It is vital that our democratic past, present and future, is taught at schools and universities – and with my friend and fellow author and parent Sheree Chambers, we realised that five or six years old isn’t too young to learn!”
Using their own kids for market research, Dr Jones and Ms Chambers designed the book to be informative and inspirational.
“Reading to young children is truly special. Perhaps it’s idealistic to say that anyone can be prime minister, but if you can’t be idealistic at five, when can you be?
“As a teacher and a dad, I put You Can Be Prime Minister together to read to my own child – because she, like democracy, is precious to me.”
Learn more at the You Can Be Prime Minister website.
