Life, Happiness, and the Pursuit of Liberty! Liberty on the Loose in the White House by Mary Therese Grabowski

The Johnson family vacation to Washington D.C. had been planned for over a year. America's brother Sam hoped to see big monuments, while her dad was excited about the airplane museums. America's mom, a librarian, wanted to visit historical places with documents. And the family dog Liberty, famous for exploring, wanted to run around.

America looked at Liberty and said, "Wait till we wake up tomorrow. I'm going to show you the White House, where the president lives! They even have a dog of their own."

But when the Johnsons arrive at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, there's a sign posted on the gate:

NO ANIMALS

And before the family can decide what to do, Liberty takes the situation into her own, er, paws, slips her leash, and dashes right through the door of the White House.

One of the guards speaks quickly into his walkie-talkie.

"Pooch on the loose! I repeat, pooch on the loose in the White House! Close all exits at once!"

"Over here!" yelled Dad, "Liberty is running toward the Oval Office, the office that the president works in!"

But before the guards and the Johnsons can grab Liberty, she squeezes through the partly open door and disappears inside the Oval Office. And just as a guard offers to fetch their dog, the door opens wide to reveal a smiling president, holding Liberty.

"Nice to meet all of you," he laughed. "And who is this?" asked the president, looking down at the tail-wagging pooch.

America speaks up.

"She's Liberty!"

"She certainly is," chuckled the president. "Liberty just gave meaning to the words of the Declaration of Independence--life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Or at least the pursuit of Liberty, in the case of Mary Grabowski's Liberty on the Loose in the White House (Page Publishing, 2015). An unusual way to tour the White House, this lighthearted little holiday vacation story offers young readers a chance to learn a some facts about the White House, while enjoying a family adventure in which their exuberant pooch, perhaps the first dog to sneak into the White House, fittingly leaves the White House Gift Shop sporting a souvenir sweater that reads "First Dog." Information about the White House casually revealed in the narration is appended in "America's Quick Questions." This book is especially recommended for primary students studying the nation's capital and for families preparing for their own visits.

Le Grand Field Trip: Madeline at the White House by John Bemelmans Marciano

AT AN OLD HOUSE IN WASHINGTON, D. C.

LIVED AS LONELY A GIRL AS THERE COULD BE.

HER NAME WAS MISS PENELOPE RANDALL,

BUT EVERYOLNE ALWAYS CALLED HER CANDLE.

Nicknamed Candle for her flame like red cowlick, this President's daughter finds life at the White House quite dreary: Her dad the President is too harried even to keep his appointments to play with her, and at the White House school she is literally in a class by herself. And then her mom schedules a junket over Easter. But luckily, The First Lady has French connections, one fortunately with someone at an old house in Paris that is covered with vines. And, Voila!--the students of a famous, fashionable French girls' school flies in for a fortuitous field trip just in time to save Candle from a lonely holiday.

THEIR PLANE GETS IN AT HALF PAST NINE.
THE SMALLEST ONE IS MADELINE.

With the famous French redhead and America's carrot top First Daughter, the fun never stops. Even Miss Clavell cannot keep the twelve little girls in two straight lines at the big White House Egg Roll on the south lawn, and Candle, Madeline, and the rest fill their tummies on the treats at the fete. Then it's bedtime for the girls. But when Miss Clavell turns out the light, the girls are up and off on their finest adventure. Conjuring up her magician friend, Madeline persuades the dutiful Candle to sneak out for a magic carpet ride around Washington, D.C., hitting all the sights from the sky--the Capitol, the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, and the Washington Monument, all by the light of the starry heavens.

Then with many boo-hoo-hoos from the little girls, the new friends depart for their plane back to Paris with many hugs and promises, as the ever-firm Miss Clavell reminds them that

TO SAY GOODBYE IS ALWAYS SAD.
BUT COMING HOME IS NEVER BAD.

For grownups, who can't remember a time when the Madeline books were not there, seeing those twelve little girls, togged in their matching yellow coats and beribboned hats peering through the iron fence at the White House and its fountain is a happy sight. John Bemelmans Marciano's illustrations for his latest, Madeline at the White House (Viking, 2011) closely approximate those of his grandfather Ludwig Bemelmans, and this story, although perhaps lacking la tension of such cliff-hangers as Madeline's Rescue, provides an agreeable tour of Washington, D.C., a colorful Easter event for holiday reading, and introduces an interesting American character to the Madeline series.

Marciano's previous addition to this venerable picture book series is Madeline and the Cats of Rome.

Boning up on Christmas Customs: First Dog's White House Christmas by J. Patrick Lewis and Beth Zappitello

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A DOG THAT HAD FOUND THE PERFECT PLACE TO LIVE!

Bo the Portuguese water spaniel is well settled in a the White House. He naps on the oval rug in the Oval Office, birdwatches from the window of the Blue Room, chases down missed jump shots in the White House gym, and "helps" the First Lady with her garden on the South Lawn.

But Christmas is coming, and when First Dog spots a stack of invitations for the local diplomatic corps to the annual White House reception, he can't resist pencilling in a slight change to the first sentence:

"YOU AND A CANINE GUEST ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS GALA."

Formalities taken care of, Dog gets busy with his duties, drawing up a to-do list of plans for canine treats, a White House tour, and a special Doggie Dash on the Front Lawn.

At last the big day comes, and Dog takes his place in the reception line amongst a set of well-dressed First Family legs to greet his guests, and when the ambassador's canine escorts are all present, he takes the group around the President's House to see the sights--over 50 Christmas trees, the Blue Room with its four fireplaces ablaze and garlanded with festive greenery, and, of course, the piece de resistance, a model of the White House, done up in white chocolate, complete with the First Lady's garden on the lawn, historic furniture made of dark chocolate, a working chandelier, and even a tiny model of First Dog made from marzipan.

Best of all, Dog's guests share with the group the Christmas customs of their homelands. English Bulldog reminds him that his country gave the world the Christmas kiss custom, even if, as he ruefully admits, "No one will stand under the kisseltoe with ME!" The Newfoundland shares the Canadian custom of mumming for treats, the French Poodle provides a buche de Noel, and the Chihuahua points out that his own Mexico gave us the poinsettia and the pinata. The Turkish kangal dog points out that St. Nicholas came from his homeland, and the Aussie dingo reminds them all that he gets to celebrate Christmas in high summer with frisbee chasing and picnicking on the beach. First Dog takes special notice of that down-under custom:

"NOTE TO SELF: GET INVITED TO THAT DECEMBER DINGO DOGGIE DASH DOWN UNDER!"

First Dog's first-ever Canine Christmas Gala is a success, but when all the diplomats' dogs are ushered out into their limousines, there is still one more late-night White House visitor, one who comes not by limo but by sleigh. Yep, it's that ambassador from the North Pole and his canine guest, who leave the First Family's gifts around their tree. In fact, St. Nick's dog leaves his paw prints behind as he samples just a nibble, not of kibble, but of an actual corner of that chocolate White House model, along with a note of thanks for the cocoa and gingerbread chow Dog has left out for them.

"BO-HO-HO!" SINGS OUT THE EMISSARY FROM THE FAR NORTH.

"AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!"

Following up on their 2009 introduction to the Presidential pooch, First Dog, authors Lewis and Zappitello's new First Dog's White House Christmas (Sleeping Bear Press, 2010) focuses solely on the doggie doings, with a Bo's eye-view of the White House. In Tim Bowers' illustrations, the First Family are only seen from the knees down, except for one shot of the First Lady's garden-glove-garbed right arm as she shoos First Dog away from her carrot seeds. Young social studies students will be intrigued by the tour of the White House, and teachers will appreciate the brief lessons on Christmas customs around the world which the visiting dogs provide. A great kick-off readaloud to their holiday units for preschoolers and primary graders and for dog lovers everywhere.

Pennsylvania Avenue Pooch: Bo: America's Commander-in-Leash by Naren Aryal

Presidential pets have always been celebrities--from Richard Nixon's Checkers to George H.W. Bush's Millie and Spot, from FDR's Fala to Chelsea Clinton's Socks--all of whom have become famous by virtue of where they parked their paws at night. And 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has truly seen a parade of pets, from John Quincy Adams' alligator to Tad Lincoln's goat, LBJ's beagles, Him and Her, and Caroline Kennedy's pony, Macaroni.

And now there's a new pup in the White House, Bo Obama, who's featured in a new (frankly fictionalized) book, Bo, America's Commander in Leash, (Mascot Books, 2009) which highlights the daily life of the presidential pup, whom author Naren Aryal, with tongue in cheek, calls our Commander-In-Leash.

Rather than being a tell-all memoir, Bo's narrative takes the reader on an insider's tour of the White House, from the Oval Office, where Bo confesses to making off with the presidential letter opener, to the Rose Garden, where a Little League team gives Bo an official jersey, complete with his name. As he escorts us through the historic rooms inside, Bo tells us that the White House has been the home of every president (and presidential pet) except George Washington. Bo does take time off from the historical data to point out the First Family's own special places--the girls' swing set, Mrs. Obama's organic garden, the outdoor basketball court, and, of course, the President's favorite sports scene, the basement bowling alley, presumably reinforced for gutter balls.

Scenes for special events are not slighted, as Bo guides the reader through the lawn where the Easter Egg Roll is held annually, the site of the official Christmas tree and the site of the July 4 Cookout. Other upcoming events, such as the presidential pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkey and the lighting of the Christmas tree get short shrift so that Bo can point with special pride to the institution of a new White House custom, the greening of the fountain for St. Patrick's Day, first observed this year by the proudly Irish first family (Don't believe it? Go here!)

Prominently placed fact boxes provide plenty of historic presidential lore for young students, making this little book a light-hearted read-aloud introduction to a study of the White House and its historic residents past and present. For more factual information about the First Pooch, see Koji Kondo's photo essay Bo Obama: First Dog of the United States of America or my earlier roundup of presidential puppy stories here.

Presidential Pooch: Which Puppy? by Kate and Jules Feiffer

"Sasha and Malia, I love you more than you can imagine, and you have earned the new puppy that is coming with us to the White House."

Getting a dog is a big deal for any family, but when the President-Elect announced the upcoming adoption on Election Night, the search for a pup for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue became a national news cycle event. In Kate and Jules Feiffer's brand-new Which Puppy? (Paula Wiseman Books), everyone in the unemployed pet population gets ready to audition for the job. Talk about a good gig! It is such an appealing prospect that some animals are tempted not to let the lack of canine DNA be a handicap for their applications.

"I'd make a fine puppy," squeaked a guinea pig named Sam.

"I'll start barking! Listen to me," barked a turtle named Marple.

Keisha the kitten practiced barking, jumping up on people, and drooling. "How do I look?" she asked.

Even real dogs argue over the job qualifications.

"Long!" "Shaggy!" "Doesn't shed!" "Looks gorgeous on TV!" they argue. Finally the oldest Bassett hound in Mississippi decides to take charge of the competition and sets up some challenges--a race, a loudest barker contest, and a jumping-through-hoops competition for the would-be First Dog. But at the end of the day, the winning mutt has to be disqualified for fighting with another dog. Then a Neapolitan mastiff from Maryland suggests a lottery, and pups from everywhere line up to take a number. But surprise, surprise, the lucky lottery winner turns out to be--the mastiff from Maryland. "No, No, NO!" howls the judicial Bassett hound. "This slick trickster is no presidential pup!"

Finally a roly-poly historical hound pushes his way to the front of the crowd and declares that ancient custom decrees that the First Dog must have two rings around one paw, a heart-shaped spot on his face, an eye that winks, and a tail that tells time! The applicant pool is evaluated carefully, but no one candidate seems to have all the right stuff. At last the selection committee finds one pup with a ringed paw, one with a heart-y spot and a winking eye, and one, who looks suspiciously like Sam the guinea pig, with a tell-time tail capable of clockwise rotation, and decides to send all three for a presidential audition.

Once the three reach the Executive Mansion and slip inside, they nervously follow a long, red carpet down a portrait-lined hall to the First Family's sitting room. There they see the President and First Lady in matching green armchairs, heads buried in their newspapers. Between their chairs are two happy girls, seated on the rug and playing with--Oh, no, a puppy!

Too late! The two puppies and Sam turn and leave the White House, totally dejected.

"With their heads hung low, they walked out of the front door, down some stairs, and toward a fountain. They didn't get far at all before they heard voices.

Where are you going?" called out the two girls who had just moved into the White House. "Won't you come back and play? We have a puppy who needs new friends!"

In Which Puppy? (Paula Wiseman Books), the team of Feiffer and Feiffer amiably poke gentle fun at the hoopla of the presidential puppy campaign. Daughter Kate Feiffer handles the text with the appropriate tongue-in-cheek tone, while dad Jules Feiffer's familiar illustrative style coyly shows only the tops of the heads and the feet of the First Family as they choose, not the First Pup, but the First Pup's playmates, who are shown in the final illustration through the tall windows of the White House Colonnade, curled up and sleeping safely inside on that elegant red carpet.

For other timely tales of presidential pooches, see J. Patrick Lewis' First Dog, or Gina Bauer's Now Hiring: White House Dog. And for nonfiction fun, there's the classic Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids' Letters to the First Pets, for a glimpse at the type of mail that Bo Obama must already be getting from young fans across the country.


CELEBRATE CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK--MAY 11-17

D. C. Holiday: The Great White House Breakout by Helen Thomas

I am Sam.

My mom and dad work at home. I have to be careful not to bother them when I play.

We moved to Washington, D.C, because of my mom's new job.

She is President of the United States, and my dad is First Guy.

Being the First Kid in the White House has its perks, all right. Sam and his cat Warren gets to bounce on the bed in Lincoln's Bedroom, swim in the President's pool, and visit his mom in the Oval Office--the one with the cool red phone, The Button on the desk, and a wastebasket labelled POTUS. And then there is his special friend Leonard, a recently retired NASA lab rat who is the brains behind Sam's secret plan, a plan to take it on the lam and see the real Washington from the bottom up.

Constantly nannied by Secret Service agents equipped with phones in their ears and the latest electronic surveillance equipment at their disposal, Sam is a virtual prisoner in the White House compound. But the chance for the great escape comes when the Queen of England arrives for the grand tour and is escorted to the Dining Room for a festive state dinner. Leonard distracts everyone's attention by making a dash down the center of the banquet table, and amid the shrieks of the affronted guests, Sam and Warren sneak out into the streets of Washington.

At first the three escapees have a wonderful time, playing baseball all night, hanging out at the Spy Museum, watching the crowd from atop the Spirit of St. Louis in the Air and Space Museum, deciphering the handwriting in their personal copy of the Constitution, and looking for pirates in the Tidal Basin. When it grows dark and chilly, Sam, Warren, and Leonard curl up in a very big "nice man's lap" inside the Lincoln Memorial.

The next morning the newspapers' headlines scream "EXTRA! SAM STILL MISSING! NATIONAL ARCHIVES DOCUMENTS DISAPPEAR! Sam realizes that he misses his mom more than he expected, and it's up to Leonard the NASA genius to figure out a way to get Sam back to where he belongs.

Veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas takes a light-hearted look at her favorite beat in her brand-new The Great White House Breakout. Chip Bok's comic illustrations poke gentle fun at White House conventions while building a bit of sympathy for Sam, who, home at last, finally gets his greatest wish, a just-for-Sam supper of burgers and pie with his mom and dad in the newly decorated First Family Dining Room in their private living quarters.