A Christmas Tree in the White House

I love this Childrens Book and wrote a Review of it on Squidoo at [...] where I interviewed the author and read a portion of the book on video. It is a Keepsake Book to pass down from one generation to the next.

This is an interesting Christmas book for young children. The story is played against the backdrop of the Roosevelt White House (Teddy's), and an apparently true story involving the conservationist president's decision not to allow a cut tree into the White House because he want's to be a good example for Americans.Of course TR's notoriously rebellious brood tries to outfox their dad by secretly procuring a pine tree and stashing it away, decorated, in a bedroom closet. When discovered, TR marches the boys down to speak with Gifford Pinchot, his head of the US Forestry service. Pinchot says that sometimes cutting small trees can actually be beneficial to forests as it gives room for other trees to thrive and grow.With that OK, the live tree (although a small one in keeping with the chief of forestry's direction) is again welcome into the White House and is part of a festive christmas celebration.This story interests my children. Besides the Christmas hook, it involes the president and the White House, concepts they are familiar with. It also teaches a conservation lesson. Good book for the 4-7 set.

This book was excellent for 4-8 year olds to personalize Christmas at their house and at the first family's house. It also introduced a real life president and how carrying out his duties affected his home life. My son saw this as his first 'history lesson' of sorts. As an extra bonus it just so happens that one of President Roosevelt's sons was named Quentin. My son will remember this fact because that's his name and my husband, his dad's name happens to be Theodore!