Synopses & Reviews
Have you ever wondered what its like to live and work in the most important house in the country, or what its like to grow up there? Now, with The White House for Kids as your guide, you can explore the Executive Mansion for yourself. This intriguing, in-depth history of the White House explains its role as a home, an office, and a powerful symbol of the United States and tells both famous and little-known stories about some of the surprising—and sometimes surprisingly ordinary—things that go on there. Learn which president hosted T-ball games on the White House lawn; which mischievous first son was scolded for shooting spitballs at a portrait of President Andrew Jackson; which first daughter held her high school prom in the famous mansion; which first lady hung her laundry to dry in the East Room; where first families go to work, entertain, relax, and have fun; how the White House staff feels to see beloved presidential families come and go; and much more. Crosscurricular activities allow readers to walk in the footsteps of presidents and those around them.
Kids can:
* Build a model White House
* Design an official china pattern
* Play key passages of “Hail to the Chief”
* Practice signing a bill the way presidents do
* Make White House fruit punch
* Play an aerobic game designed for President Hoover
* And much more
Review
"An engaging history of a country through the biography of its most famous dwelling." —Kirkus Reviews
Review
"A great resource" and "in-depth and engaging introduction to our nation's most famous home." —School Library Journal
Review
"Attractive, informative, and up-to-date, this is a solid choice for library collections." —Booklist
Review
"Kids who are interested in our president's home will learn plenty here...I can't get over the kid-friendliness of this book, or the plethora of photos, or the abundance of sidebars, and I think children will like it." —The Bookworm Sez
Review
“This is a must purchase for a school or classroom library and also a book you might want to have your child read before a visit to the nation's capital.” —BookLoons
Review
"Through vivid story-telling and pictures on each page, the history of lighthouses comes alive." —Curious Parents magazine
Review
"Fascinating." createreaders.natlib.govt.nz
Review
"Fun for your whole family." Newport Life
Synopsis
A 2015 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
Have you ever wondered what it's like to live and work in the most important house in the country, or what it's like to grow up there? Now, with The White House for Kids as your guide, you can explore the Executive Mansion for yourself. This intriguing, in-depth history of the White House explains its role as a home, an office, and a powerful symbol of the United States and tells both famous and little-known stories about some of the surprising--and sometimes surprisingly ordinary--things that go on there. Learn which president hosted T-ball games on the White House lawn; which mischievous first son was scolded for shooting spitballs at a portrait of President Andrew Jackson; which first daughter held her high school prom in the famous mansion; which first lady hung her laundry to dry in the East Room; where first families go to work, entertain, relax, and have fun; how the White House staff feels to see beloved presidential families come and go; and much more. Crosscurricular activities allow readers to walk in the footsteps of presidents and those around them.
Synopsis
An intriguing, in-depth look at the most famous home in the United States, this kid-friendly activity book educates young readers on the White House. Blending facts from numerous primary sources with engaging anecdotes—from learning that George Washington never actually slept in the White House and Abraham Lincoln never slept in the Lincoln Bedroom to how Gerald Ford's daughter Susan held her high school prom in the White House—this book provides the complete story of the presidents home. Details on the many changes, updates, renovations, and redecorations that have occurred over the years are featured as well as a look at the daily lives of the White Houses inhabitants, including past presidents and their families along with the enormous staff that makes the White House run smoothly. This rich history is packed with an assortment of cross-curricular activities that allow readers to walk in the footsteps of presidents—they can play key passages of “Hail to the Chief,” practice signing a bill into law, make a White House punch, and re-create an aerobic game designed for President Hoover—making it a perfect book for any young mind with an interest in the White House or American history.
Synopsis
Bringing to life an era when rivers, lakes, and oceans were the nations highways and lighthouses served as traffic signals and maps, this comprehensive reference provides children with an in-depth history of lighthouses and firsthand stories of the challenges faced by lighthouse keepers. Filled with engaging activities such as learning how to tie a bowline knot and building a model lighthouse, this unique book also includes a field guide to U.S. lighthouses, places to visit, a time line, glossary, websites to explore, and a reading list for further study.
About the Author
Katherine L. House is a freelance writer and the author of Lighthouses for Kids. She has written for AppleSeeds, Cobblestone, FamilyFun magazine, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. She lives in Iowa City, Iowa.