Description: Conceived and co-created by the National Children's Book and Literary Alliance, this collection of essays, personal accounts, historical fiction, poetry, and original art from more than 100 leading authors and illustrators offers a multifaceted look at America's history through the prism of the White House. It includes an Introduction by bestselling historian David McCullough ("John Adams").

Children's Literature Review: The National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance is the sponsor of this anthology of brief essays and illustrations on the history of the White House created by 108 of the alliance's members. There are some big names attached: David McCullough offers the introduction; David Macaulay has designed the cover art; M. T. Anderson, Natalie Babbitt, Susan Cooper, Steven Kellogg, Gregory Maguire, Katherine Paterson, Richard Peck and Peter Sis, among many others, contribute to this chronological history of the building, which along the way also tells the broader history of the United States. It is an impressive package if only judged by its weight, which is more than a handful! Fortunately, the book is also thoughtfully and richly designed. The heavy, glossy paper and excellent color reproduction do justice to the many illustration styles, and much of the content--from the memoir of Paul Jennings, a former slave, to Katherine Paterson's essay on the history of the press corps, to Steven Kello...

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