• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Learning Table

Eclectic Homeschooling

  • Home
  • About Me
    • Contact Me
  • Advertising/PR/Terms
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure/Terms
  • Homeschool
    • Themed Unit Studies
  • Home Keeping
    • Reviews & Resources
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • Terms & Conditions

Learning About Presidents: Ghosts of the White House

February 12, 2016 by Anne Campbell 7 Comments

Picture Books for Learning about Presidents

This blog uses affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

When Cheryl Harness visited the White House with her niece Sara, she imagined what it would be like for one of the former presidents to take her on an inside tour. My edition of Ghosts of the White House includes the presidents through Bill Clinton, but an updated edition including the forty-third president has been published.

The book begins with Sara and her elementary school class arriving at the White House for a field trip. As they begin their tour, Sara is whisked into a painting of George Washington, who then guides her through the different rooms and introduces her to the past presidents.

Each page is illustrated in great detail, showcasing rooms such as the Treaty Room, the Blue Room, and the Oval Office. As more of the presidents join in Sara’s “tour,”  they each tell her some tidbit of their time in office. A short paragraph about each president is also included in the sidebars:

President Kennedy found out that the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R.) was putting missiles aimed at the U.S. in Cuba, only ninety miles from Florida. JFK forced the Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, to change his mind, but there nearly was a nuclear war in this ‘Cuban Missile Crisis.’  (p. 37)

Freebie: Presidents Activity Pack Printable

Click here or on the image below for our free printable activity pack! This activity pack is perfect for celebrating Washington’s Birthday, Lincoln’s Birthday, and President’s Day. It includes library checklists for books about Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, Fact vs. Opinion activity, Venn Diagram activity, copywork, and notebook pages. (Elementary, Middle)

Ghosts of the White House is full of information, and the word balloon format makes it read like a graphic novel. It is better suited for older kids to read independently, because its style makes it awkward to read aloud.

If you have a reluctant reader, this book would be a less intimidating way to introduce them to some presidential and United States history, and it might inspire them to further reading. My reluctant reader will eagerly devour comics and graphic novels, so I am always on the lookout for resources that will interest him.

Highlights:

  • The two-page timeline is a visual feast. I wish it were poster-sized so that I could post it on our wall.
  • An incredible amount of information is packed into this book, including quotes, dates, historical events, and other trivia.
  • The pictures are very detailed, and each time I look at a page, I notice something new. Kids who like “I spy” type books will enjoy studying the pages of this one.

Things to consider with younger kids:

  • Some parents may not be comfortable with the premise of the presidents appearing as ghosts. Although they do not look scary or ghost-like at all, the idea of them being ghosts is the basis for the storyline. Sara asks, “You guys do look way better than in your pictures, but…are you REAL? Are we ghosts?” George Washington tells her, “WE are, but not YOU.” At the end of the book, Sara finds herself standing beside the painting with her group, as the tour guide picks up where he left off when Sara entered the painting at the beginning. It is as if the whole experience was in her imagination, after all.
  • Some of the material may be frightening for younger kids, such as details about assassinations and natural deaths of some presidents, and details about historical events such as war.
  • The presidents do not appear in chronological order, which may be confusing for some readers.
  • Some of the trivia that is presented has an undertone of the author’s bias. This is not blatant, but some things presented as fact are actually the author’s opinion, such as with George Bush:  “During his time in office…Americans became less confident about their economy.” (p. 44)

Overall, Ghosts of the White House is a fun book. The colorful illustrations will interest visual learners, the format will interest both reluctant readers and presidential trivia buffs, and kids will learn many facts about American history. As with her other children’s books, Cheryl Harness’ research is evident through her painstaking attention to detail. During election season, this would be a nice book to have on hand.

More resources for learning about presidents:

  • Abraham Lincoln
  • George Washington
  • The Buck Stops Here
  • So You Want to Be President?
Share this:
Facebooktwitterpinterest

Filed Under: Elementary, History, Homeschool

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. L. E. Mastilock says

    February 15, 2016 at 1:54 AM

    This looks great! I’ll have to get a copy for my kids

    Reply
  2. Crystal says

    February 15, 2016 at 12:23 PM

    This sounds like an interesting book with a unique perspective. Thanks for sharing it with us.

    Reply
  3. Emily, Our house now a home says

    February 15, 2016 at 9:18 PM

    I love the idea of teaching my kids through a storybook. It makes it more fun for them!

    Reply
  4. Emily @ The Innovative Mama says

    February 17, 2016 at 3:41 PM

    I think this premise could be just as interesting for adults as kids! A cool combination of history and the paranormal. 😉

    Reply
  5. Asheli says

    February 18, 2016 at 2:37 PM

    Awesome. You never know just what will catch a child’s eye!

    Reply
  6. Jessica says

    February 21, 2016 at 8:45 AM

    This sounds like a great book! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Anne Campbell says

      February 21, 2016 at 9:28 PM

      Thanks Jessica! 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Connect with us!

Facebooktwitterpinterestlinkedininstagram

Pull up a chair and stay awhile!

Anne Campbell mylearningtable.com

I’m Anne, a homeschool mom, editor, writer, reviewer, tutor, homeschool consultant, English and ESL teacher.

We spend our days embracing the light bulb moments of discovery and cherishing our spontaneous life. Click here to read more. This blog uses referral links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Take a look around!

Cart

Popular Posts

A Game Plan for Choosing Homeschool Curriculum

Cow Books for Kids

Learning From Field Trips

Farm books for kids are a great way to supplement a field trip or to learn more about where our food comes from.

Farm Books for Kids

The Best Easter Books for Kids

Featured Speaker

Follow Learning Table 's board Homeschool Support on Pinterest.

Copyright © 2021 · Lifestyle Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in