White House Kids: The Perks, Pleasures, Problems, and Pratfalls of the Presidents' Children - Softcover

Rhatigan, Joe

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1623540704 ISBN 13: 9781623540708

Publisher: Charlesbridge, 2015

Synopsis

Living in America's most famous residence might seem glamorous at first--it's the most fun place any kid could live! There's a bowling alley in the basement, chefs are always available to prepare whatever you're craving, and sometimes presidential aides will even help you with your homework! But life isn't always easy for the youngsters who call the White House home. They're always in the spotlight, and those pesky Secret Service agents are always around. For every perk, there's a problem. From Washington to Obama, see the White House through the eyes of the children and grandchildren. Filled with wacky, weird, and wonderful stories, it shows what it's like to call the president Dad (or Granddad or Uncle). Find out what schools they went to, what mischief they caused, and what pets they had. There are first-person accounts from letters and interviews, fascinating photos, original illustrations, and even a section that follows the children after they left the White House.

About this title

About the Author

Joe Rhatigan has authored more than fifteen books for children and adults, including DON'T UNRAVEL WHEN YOU TRAVEL and OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD ASTRONOMY. He has also produced several best-selling books and series, including 101 PLACES YOU GOTTA SEE BEFORE YOU'RE 12!, WHITE HOUSE KIDS, and the My Very Favorite Art Book series. Joe has been a poet, a teacher, a marketing manager, and a newspaper boy. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and three children.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Imagine for a moment that your mom or dad gets a new job. It’s in a different city and you have to move, even though the job is temporary, only lasting four or eight years. Your new house, which has been chosen by your parents’ employers (you have no choice in the matter) is unlike any other home you’ve ever lived in. For one thing, it’s larger—much, much larger. (How many houses do you know that have a bowling alley in the basement?) It’s also furnished with items that look more at home in a museum than in your living room.
            Your parents will work from this mansion…and so will their employees. While you do your homework upstairs, there will be hundreds of people downstairs working. That’s not including the more than six thousand people who come to visit your new house every day. And, oh yeah, there are armed guards at every entrance and a SWAT team on the roof.
            You no longer have to wash the dishes, vacuum, or take out the trash; however, you can’t just walk out your front door and go for a bike ride. There’s a giant kitchen always stocked with your favorite foods, but you may have to eat alone because your parents are at a fancy dinner downstairs that you aren’t invited to. You get to travel in your own private jet, but more often than not you’ll be stuck at home while your extra-busy parents travel. You’ll instantly become one of the most famous kids in the world, but newspapers, websites, and television shows will write and talk about you—and they may not always have nice things to say. You have your own heated outdoor swimming pool, tennis and basketball courts, and movie theater (where you can request any movie—even if it’s still in the theaters!), but it may be difficult to make friends and be yourself, especially now that you have your own bodyguards, who will follow you as soon as you step foot outside your new house.
            Yes, your mom or dad has just been elected to the office of President of the United States, and your family is about to move to the White House. You’re in for the ride of your life.

Edition details

• Publisher: Charlesbridge
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1623540704
• ISBN 13: 9781623540708
• Binding: Paperback
• Illustrator: Shin Jay
• Number of pages: 96