The White House for Kids

December 15, 2013
The latest installment in the For Kids series offers a biography of a house. "Even if you don't know your best friend's house number, chances are you know the address for the White House." The premise may or may not be true nowadays, but young readers will certainly be drawn in by this kid-friendly approach to history. The story of the White House represents much of the history of the United States, and it's fitting that a biography of a house be written by an author named House. From George Washington, who died before the White House was finished and thus never slept there, to Barack Obama playing basketball at the White House, this narrative of American history is chock-full of photographs, diagrams and sidebars. The series' signature activities include how to write a letter to the president, make stilts (since Theodore Roosevelt's children loved walking the house and gardens on stilts), bake Chelsea Clinton's chocolate-chip cookies and hold an egg race like the annual Easter Egg Roll at the White House. Extensive backmatter includes lists of presidents and places to visits, Web resources and a bibliography, including a few sources for young readers. An engaging history of a country through the biography of its most famous dwelling. (Nonfiction. 8-12)

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February 1, 2014

Gr 4-7-House has provided a great resource for readers seeking to learn more about the famous residence and its role in American history, past and present. The text describes the White House's transformation from its early beginnings to the landmark we know today. Amid many kid-friendly facts and anecdotes, descriptions of the role of the building as an office, workplace, and home for the First Family are delivered. Chapters focusing on holidays, home life, entertaining, and growing up there provide a complete view of the building. The text is generously accompanied by photographs through the years as well as its many inhabitants, and a time line marks monumental moments in history. Engaging activities geared toward bringing history alive include baking Chelsea Clinton's favorite chocolate chip cookies, practicing signing a bill the way a president does, and creating a model White House. An in-depth and engaging introduction to our nation's most famous home.-Lauren M. Sinacore, George M. Davis Elementary School, New Rochelle, NY

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2014
Grades 4-7 The newest entry in the 21 Activities series presents the White House, one of the most storied places in America. After opening with a biography and a tour of the building itself, the remaining chapters draw from more than two centuries of history to discuss how people have worked, grown up, entertained, celebrated holidays, and created their family homes at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The clearly written text is full of anecdotes that bring the past to life. From making White House Fruit Punch to designing a modern presidential complex, the activities will suit a broad range of interests and abilities. Besides showcasing these activities, the book's wide pages offer plenty of space for informative sidebars and well-chosen photos, including pictures of nineteenth-century presidents and their families, a twenty-first-century view of the national security team in the Situation Room, and several shots of White House pets. Attractive, informative, and up-to-date, this is a solid choice for library collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)