Review by Kirkus Book Review
An introduction to the president's home and office and many of the people who work there. Taking the people-first approach of her Trusty Town Hall (2023) and The Capitol (2022), Ward punctuates her tour of the White House's public spaces (and a few glimpses behind the scenes) with portrait galleries of those who keep it running--from the first family (here, a Black woman and her spouse and son) on up to select members of the permanent staff such as groundskeepers, cooks, a hijab-wearing assistant usher, and the beekeeper. A cutaway view of the residence provides overall orientation as a young tourist, the son of one of the chefs, and the first kid chase after the errant first dog through hallways and larger rooms. Along with bustling scenes of tour groups (including one visitor who uses a wheelchair) and banquet preparations, peeks into meeting rooms and additional lineups of the president's cabinet and other high-level officials provide an overview of the executive branch's functions. Befitting the building's richly documented past, pictures are accompanied, not too obtrusively, by historical facts. More details can be found in the backmatter, along with sources of even more information. The chase ends in the Oval Office, where a quick encounter with the first mom ends the tour on a giddy high note. Figures throughout, large and small, are racially diverse. An expansive reminder that the U.S. government is of, as well as by and for, the people. (search & find, glossary) (Informational picture book. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
