Let's Chat About Democracy

Memorial Day weekend when Danny and Maria move to a new town with a the community park but are challenged to find a fair way for everyone to enjoy the treehouse. With a little guidance from Mrs. Quinn, the ever-present park volunteer, Danny, Maria and their friends explore monarchy, anarchy, dictatorship 

and communism only to find that these options lack freedom and choice. Through their own experiences the children decide that democracy is truly the best form of governing the treehouse and celebrate their newly-found freedom on Independence Day! Let’s Chat About Democracy is an enthusiastic and patriotic story for both children and adults.

Complementing the story is a glossary of three dozen government-related terms as well as the Pledge of Allegiance, Preamble to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights – essential pieces for American families.

Written for families of elementary-age children, Let’s Chat About Democracy is the second illustrated children's book in the Let’s Chat About series from Michelle Balconi, economist Dr. Arthur Laffer and illustrator Mary Cindrich. This series of books provides a framework based upon fun stories and real terms for adults and young children to discuss economics, democracy and immigration and then continue these conversations throughout their life. 

Adding to his long list of accomplishments, famed economist and great grandfather Dr. Arthur Laffer has continued a collaboration with mom-turned-author Michelle Balconi to release a second illustrated children’s book, Let’s Chat About Democracy. The release complements the duo’s first title, Let’s Chat About Economics, and both books include signature artwork by Mary Kinsora Cindrich.

About the Authors/Illustrator:

Dr. Arthur Laffer is the founder and chairman of Laffer Associates, an economic research firm focusing on interconnecting macroeconomic, political and demographic changes. Dr. Laffer was a member of President Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board (1981 - 1989) and was noted in TIME magazine's 1999 cover story as "One of the Century's Greatest Minds." Dr. Laffer is well known for the Laffer Curve, an illustration of the theory that there exists some tax rate between 0% and 100% that will result in maximum tax revenue for governments. He is a frequent cable news contributor and enjoys spending time on a family farm with many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Michelle Balconi is a writer and speaker focused on creating connections between children and adults through economics and government. Before writing, Michelle worked in communications for 15 years alongside engineers and technology investors introducing first-to-market products. Michelle grew up in Florida, spent many years in Massachusetts and Michigan and now lives in Southern California with her husband, two children and newly adopted rescue pup Reeses.

Based in Chicago, Mary Kinsora Cindrich is a graduate of the College for Creative Studies and specializes in children's book illustrations and licensing clothing and other products from her artwork. She and her husband have a growing family of small animals.