Kamala Harris: Fast Facts for Families About Our VP

The latest political news in America has overtaken the week’s news cycle. Families across the nation witnessed history as President and former 2024 Democratic nominee Joe Biden dropped out of the race, passing the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris. She has since garnered the internet’s attention, which means our kids are likely curious and might even be asking their parents and teachers, who is Kamala Harris?

If you’re finding your kids are curious about everything that’s been going on and especially curious about who VP Kamala Harris is, we’re here to break down her political career and everything you need to know about our Vice President. Regardless of your own political beliefs, it’s important to be knowledgable about the presidential candidates. It helps voters make the right decision for themselves and their families.

We are also sharing some children’s books that are a great way to introduce young ones to the likely 2024 Democratic nominee.

Psst…. Check out How to Talk About Politics with Kids

Early Life of Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, California, on October 20th, 1964.
Her father was born in Jamaica, and her mother was born in India.
After her parents divorced, Harris and her younger sister Maya were raised by their mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris.
Harris’s early experiences with her parents participating in the Civil Rights movement inspired her to pursue her career path today.
Harris attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., and later received her law degree from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.
She began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and, in 2003, was elected as the District Attorney of the City and County of San Francisco.

Kamala Harris’s Political Career

In 2010, Kamala Harris became California’s Attorney General, the first African American woman elected to this position.
During her time as Attorney General, she married fellow lawyer Doug Emhoff and took on the role of stepmom to his two children.
In 2016, Harris was elected as a Senator for California, becoming the second African American woman and the first South Asian American to serve in the Senate, making U.S. history.
While Harris did not win the Democratic primary, she was chosen as President Joseph R. Biden’s running mate. This made her the fourth woman on a major party’s national ticket and the second African American on a presidential ticket.
On January 20th, 2021, Harris was sworn in as the country’s first female, Black, South Asian Vice President.

Books We Recommend

Some of our favorite books educate our little ones on significant figures who are ever-present in history. While Kamala Harris has not won this presidential election, she is currently our Vice President, has exceeded some major milestones, and has solidified herself as a figure in history. Our kids will certainly continue to read about her for years to come.

Below are some books that could help introduce our kids to the vice president, including two books written by Vice President Harris.

Kamala Harris (Little People, Big Dreams)

This children’s book chronicles the life of Kamala Harris, the first woman, first Black person, and first South Asian American to be elected vice president of the United States. It highlights her early experiences, aspirations, and journey to becoming a leader. The book also has some amazing illustrations and includes additional facts, such as a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of Kamala Harris’s life and achievements.

Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice, available at The Smithsonian

Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice is a book about Kamala Harris that highlights how she used her voice to stand up for her beliefs and those whose voices were not heard. It focuses on her fight against injustice, which has been something that has been continuously discussed throughout her career.

Superheroes Are Everywhere by Kamala Harris

Superheroes Are Everywhere is a #1 New York Times bestseller authored by Vice President Kamala Harris. The empowering picture book conveys the message that everyone has the potential to be a superhero. Kamala Harris shares her experiences to show that the power to impact the world resides within each of us. Mechal Renee Roe is the illustrator of this book, and it includes a guide to being a superhero.

The Truths We Hold: An American Journey

Released in 2019, The Truths We Hold: An American Journey is Kamala Harris’s memoir that has actually soared in sales since the news of her being the new potential Democratic candidate dropped. Her book delves into her experiences growing up in a community dedicated to social justice and how she grappled with complex issues as a political leader.

Our families will likely continue to hear all about the presidential election and our candidates for the remainder of the election season, and all we can do is stay informed, share information, and make sure we head to the polls and vote so that our voices are heard.

Saf-T-Swim

For over 35 years, Saf-T-Swim Swim School has been teaching lifesaving swimming skills throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County, and now Little Neck. The school is proud to be Long Island's #1 swim school and a leader in water safety education. With swim programs for infants as young as 4 months, beginners, and advanced swimmers, Saf-T-Swim offers swimming programs for every age and skill level. Discover why generations of Long Islanders have trusted Saf-T-Swim time and time again with equipping their little ones the essential skill of swimming. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Speakitaly NYC

SPEAKITALY NYC offers stimulating and entertaining lessons for children 0 to 16 years through a wide combination of activities based on the communicative approach anchored in the Common European Framework of Reference: active learning (group work, role plays, etc.) and practice exercises aimed to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Kids will start speaking and using Italian in a very natural way.&nbsp; Small classes capped at 6 students to make sure each one gets the needed attention and facilitate learners' progress.&nbsp; Our method is driven by a didactic method that is the result of constant updates, professional certifications and more than 10 years of experience in working with non-native speakers from different native languages and levels of knowledge. Our aim is to develop a range of Italian language skills while improving accuracy that will enable the students and participants to interact without stress or feeling rushed. We want to help those in the community really embrace not only the true culture in Italy but the Italian culture within New York City&hellip; Who doesn&rsquo;t love what Italy represents in the kitchen, in history &amp; in the arts? Speakitaly wants to support multilingual families who want to learn a new language or pass along their ancestor&rsquo;s heritage and culture. Raffaella, the founder said: "We see language awareness and intercultural sensitivity as the milestones for an inclusive society. Italian, like all other languages, is an enrichment and a growth in every way. Vi aspettiamo!"

WCS Education - Wildlife Conservation Society

Explore nature, learn about the planet, and get close to animals&mdash;all in New York City! WCS zoo and aquarium day camps are for every young adventurer, from toddlers to teens. Campers experience hands-on learning, from STEAM classrooms and animal exhibits to nature trails and the beach. Recognized as industry leaders, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Education Department was the first of its kind to offer zoo camps and continues to provide award-winning programming. Visit wcs.education/camps to explore summer camps at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and New York Aquarium!

Kamala Harris: Fast Facts for Families About Our VP