The People’s House

The “beautiful 200-year-old mansion on 18 acres of land right in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C.,” is better known as the White House. It’s where most, though not all, U.S. presidents have lived. Fun and fast, this lighthearted look at the residents of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is presented in sound bites and illustrations reminiscent of political cartoons.

The large format of this collection of stories both factual and fictionalized has been created by about 100 notable authors and illustrators with an introduction by historian David McCullough. Ideal for sharing aloud at home or in the classroom, activities and additional resources are up-to-date at a companion website (opens in a new window).

As the older woman, Ms Lillian, walks a steep hill to vote. While walking, she remembers the precipitous climb that those who preceded her made so that she could cast her ballot. The storyteller’s tone of the text and dramatic illustrations tell a powerful story.

What house has 35 bathrooms and 28 fireplaces plus 8 staircases? Its residents don’t own it or buy it and usually live there for a maximum of 8 years. It is the White House in Washington DC! Take a quick visit to it and meet some of the First Pets and First Children who have lived in it for over 200 years through brief text and well-placed photographs.

Buzz and his pet fly, Fly Guy, share what they learn when they visit the White House in Washington, DC. Photographs and comic cartoon illustrations combine for an informative, informal, and lighthearted introduction to the Presidential mansion.

Journals, letters and other primary sources were used to introduce “a few of the women who helped… make [the United States] a nation where everyone could pursue the happiness promised when America declared independence…” Line and wash illustrations enhance the brief entries of these intriguing but largely unknown women.

The Cat in the Hat is back with Things 1 & 2 for a rhyming introduction to the steps in voting. The easy-to-read text with cartoon illustrations demonstrates the process of voting from start to finish.

The White House has hosted U.S. Presidents and their families which have often included First Pets. These have ranged from alligators to dogs with lots of other species in-between, all revealed here in lively language and humorous illustrations.

Growing up is never easy, not even when one is on a path to the White House. Though each of these guys grew up to become a U.S. President, each had regular kid problems like dealing with bullies and being a klutz. Humorously illustrated, each vignette reminds readers that those who became Presidents are not unlike themselves.