Syl Sobel

Author of Children's Non-Fiction, Including

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

and Other Cool Facts

SYL'S BIO

I'm a writer, attorney, newspaper reporter, and retired director of publications for a federal government agency. I started writing books about US government when my oldest daughter—then in first grade--asked me if I could “make a book on how the government works.” So I did, and I sent it to a bunch of publishers, and was fortunate to get it published.

Shortly after it came out, my younger daughter, predictably, asked me to write a book for her, too. So I asked her what to write about, and she said "cool things about presidents." That’s how my second book came to be.

When my editor asked me if I had any more book ideas, I told her that my older daughter suggested the first book, and my younger daughter suggested the second book, but now I was out of ideas. So my editor said: "You know, Mr. Sobel, you should have had more kids." That was in 2000. Both girls are now out of college, I've had five books published, and self-published one. I love telling stories and helping kids learn about our country's history, its system of government, and their responsibilities as citizens.

SYL'S BLOG: CIVICS AND CIVILITY

View more of Syl's writings, including his award-winning high school sports reporting in The Town Courier, a local newspaper in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

SYL'S REVIEWS

“

Presidential Elections and Other Cool Facts is both interesting and easy to understand.For a simple, straightforward explanation of the election process, this book is hard to beat.

JENNIFER GALVIN, THE BOSTON HERALD

“

Direct and easy to understand as branches, checks and balances, and rights are defined and explored. It's a useful addition to the study of U.S. history and government.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

“

Just in time for this year's presidential election, this book offers clear, concise explanations of the constitutional rules for electing a president and lots of interesting tidbits of historical information about the presidents. The book  serves well as a supplement to social studies texts in elementary and middle school.

KAREN LEGGETT, 

BARNESANDNOBLE.COM

CONTACT SYL

For media, book signing, or speaking inquiries, please contact me here.

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SYL'S APPEARANCES

See Syl's C-SPAN appearances on BOOK TV at Thurgood Marshall Elementary School in Gaithersburg, Maryland.