The White House Historical Association Announces New Series of Children's Books
"Presidents Play!" and "A White House Alphabet," the first two titles in the new series, to be released in SeptemberWashington, D.C. —
The White House Historical Association announces today the release of the first two titles in a new series of children’s books. A White House Alphabet helps children learn their ABCs while Presidents Play! covers sports that Presidents have enjoyed in the White House. 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.
A White House Alphabet: The White House has served as the home and office of the President of the United States for more than two hundred years. Its history fills thousands of books, but the best place for children to start to learn about the President's House is with the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. They'll find every letter here from A to Z. 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. Rocco and his book were featured in the most recent episode of Young Voices Talk White House History, a YouTube series from the Association on children’s interactions with the White House.
Presidents Play! The president works very hard in the White House, but this big house and its yard provide a special place to take a break for exercise too. Running, swimming, basketball, tennis, sailing, fishing, golf, and even Hoover Ball are just a few of the activities that the presidents enjoy as a break from their hard work at the White House. In this book by Jonathan Pliska, author of The White House Easter Egg Roll, children will learn that President John F. Kennedy had a passion for sailing while President William Taft was honored to throw the first pitch out at the Washington Nationals baseball game and whether there is a president who shared their favorite sport, game, or exercise to play or to watch.
Both 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.
The books are available for purchase online at shop.whitehousehistory.org.
For all media inquiries, please contact press@whha.org.
P.D.F. Resources
Download the PDFAbout 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.
