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The White House Historical Association has released the third installment in its video series Young Voices Talk White House History. In this episode, Association President and Host Stewart McLaurin speaks with Rocco and Arioth Smirne about their experience authoring their new book A White House Alphabet, which also launched today.

A White House Alphabet explores the Executive Mansion and its history for young readers through the letters in the alphabet. Five-year-old Rocco Smirne, who learned his ABCs during the COVID lockdown, and his mother Arioth Harrison Smirne created this book to share a story for each letter as they take a tour that leads them from the State Rooms, to the Queens' Bedroom, the Oval Office, and Rocco's favorite picture--Marine One, the helicopter representing the letter H.

Watch Rocco and Arioth Smirne talk about A White House History in this most recent episode of Young Voices Talk White House History here.

The book is part of a new series of children’s books published by the Association. Presidents Play!, which takes a look at sports that Presidents have enjoyed in the White House, is the second title in the series and also launched today. Both books are illustrated by John Hutton and introduced by the Association's President Stewart D. McLaurin and are now available for purchase at shop.whitehousehistory.org.

The books are fun and valuable educational resources for parents to enjoy with preschoolers and early readers. These titles are also an ideal tool for educators who desire a unique approach to teaching the history of the White House in their classrooms. Each book is casebound 8.25 inches square, 24 pages, and priced at $9.95.

Episodes of Young Voices Talk White House History are Available on YouTube.

For all media inquiries, please contact press@whha.org.

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About the White House Historical Association

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. She sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. In 1961, the nonprofit, nonpartisan White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $115 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission.

To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.