Learn More About ‘Our White House’

“Our White House,” created by 108 Renowned Authors and Illustrators and the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, with an introduction by David McCullough, 2008, Candlewick Press, $29.99/$33 Canada, 242 pages, includes index: Have you ever slept in a tent?
How about a teepee? Ever slept in an igloo, a yurt or a mud hut? Spent the night in a building made of grass or glass, twigs or paper? What about a castle? Have you ever slept in a house that floats?
Now, imagine living in a dwelling that was built more than 200 years ago, all by hand and without machines. Imagine sleeping in a place that’s been home to over 40 families plus dogs, cats, horses, an alligator and a goat. That place is “Our White House,” and in the book by the same name, created by 108 authors and illustrators and the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, you’ll learn about that house and the people who lived in it.
Long before the home for our presidents was built, architects looked at the grounds and saw a mosquito-filled swamp surrounded by fields. A stone-cutter and his son began carving and crafting the magnificent house, despite a bit of jealousy and rivalry. Mary Brigid Barrett imagines what it must’ve been like, while Walter Dean Myers reminds us that slaves had a hand in the building, too.
Our third president, Thomas Jefferson, was a very brave man, according to Stephanie Loer. Jefferson had a kitchen garden (a garden near the kitchen door) and he actually planted, grew and – gasp! – ate a tomato!  That was when people thought tomatoes were poison, but Tom taught them otherwise.
By the way, did you know that Thomas Jefferson loved dinosaurs?  Did you know that the White House he lived in is not the same White House you see in Washington now? In fact, did you know that the first 25 presidents, technically speaking, really didn’t live in the “White House”?
Native Americans were frequent visitors to the White House during President Lincoln’s time. Some of them, says Joseph Bruchac, were disappointed that the president didn’t speak well (he did; it was just a misunderstanding).
From George W. to George W., “Our White House” is a great book to read when you want to learn about the history behind the little shack where the president lives.
Do your kids have a definite opinion on the political process this year? Do you know a future U.S. president who wants to learn about his or her someday-home? If so, this is the book to get.
I was stunned at the work included in “Our White House.” You and your child will read articles by Charles Dickens, John Scieszka, Lynda Johnson Robb and more. There’s a beautiful poem in here by Kate DiCamillo. Matt Tavares contributed illustrations, as did Mark Teague and others. With so many talents coming together, you know this book is well-worth having for this and plenty of elections to come.
Although it might be tempting to get this book for gradeschoolers, much of what’s in here is probably beyond them. But if your 12-years-old-and-up young historian is loving this political year, “Our White House” is definitely a book to have in your house.

‘LUCKY’ REVIEW
“The Lucky One” by Nicholas Sparks, 2008, Grand Central Publishing, $24.99/$27.99 Canada, 326 pages: Where did you meet your beloved?
Was he a fix-up, a download or a sideswipe as you ran for the elevator? 
Did you notice him from afar and hope for an introduction?  Or was he the passion perpetrator, actively angling to meet you?
Cupid ain’t stupid, and now you’re together. But from where does true love spring? Is it fate or feat?
In Logan Thibault’s case, it’s feet. He walked across America in search of a woman he didn’t know. In the new novel, “The Lucky One” by Nicholas Sparks, a picture is truly worth a thousand words.
He wasn’t looking for a snapshot. He was looking for some quiet time to think, so Logan Thibault ran through the desert every morning before his regiment awoke. On that particular morning, though, the sun lit the Iraqi desert and reflected off a laminated picture half-buried in the sand.
“Keep Safe!” it said, signed with an “E.” A beautiful, smiling girl with an E-name, wearing Lucky Lady T-shirt.
He tried to find the snapshot’s owner, but nobody claimed it. After a week, Thibault put the photo in his pocket. He took it out now and then and thought about her, wondering. Victor, his best buddy, said it was fate that Thibault found the photo.
Maybe it was.
Word got around that the Lucky Lady picture brought Thibault his own bit of luck. He won more poker games. He survived sniper attacks. He was lucky enough to come home, wasn’t he?
But he couldn’t get the woman out of his head. There were clues in the photo, and his heart told him he needed closure. He started walking in search of her.
Beth made a lot of mistakes in her life. Marrying Keith Clayton was one of them, but if it wasn’t for that union, her son Ben wouldn’t be around.
Ben was 10 years old and while he was a great kid, Beth knew he disappointed Clayton. Clayton was sports-minded; Ben wasn’t. Clayton was a bully; Ben was gentle. Ben hated weekends with his father, but since Clayton’s family practically owned Hampton, N.C., Beth knew there wasn’t much choice.
The first run-in Keith Clayton had with that Thigh-bolt guy didn’t go so well. He wished there was a way to get rid of Thigh-bolt for good.  Clayton would do anything to keep Beth from dating.
Anything.
I feel pretty lucky I got to read this book.  “The Lucky One” is possibly one of author Sparks’ finest novels.
Perhaps best known for his almost-a-romance novels, Sparks mixed this one up a little bit with better character development than I thought he had in the last book, a bad-guy who’s simply despicable and a little bit of suspense to keep you going.
Not to be a spoiler, but this novel is a page-turner and very hard to resist.
If you’re a fan of Sparks or if you’re wondering what the hoo-rah is all about, you’ll want “The Lucky One.” Picture yourself reading it this week.

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER has been reading since she was 3 years old and never goes anywhere without a book.