Who's Haunting the White House?: The President's Mansion and the Ghosts Who Live There [Hardcover]

Jeff Belanger (Author), Rick Powell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Come explore the spooky world inside the White House! It’s one of America’s most famous and haunted homes, so keep your eyes wide open for darting shadows, ghostly apparitions, and lurking creepy creatures. We’ll hear true, scary stories from past Presidents and First Ladies, as well as from staff who work there every day and have had the chance to see it all. It’s the perfect election year book; as adults decide who will move in, kids can enjoy thinking of what the new inhabitant might encounter in the building’s many rooms and hallways.
Has the original landowner decided to stick around? Is Abigail Adams still hanging laundry on the premises? Does President Andrew Jackson still make a ruckus up in the Rose Guest Room? Is Abraham Lincoln a permanent fixture in the bedroom that bears his name? Every one of these figures, and others, has been spotted or heard from. To increase the chills, a variety of archival images and original illustrations capture the hauntings.
In addition to ghost-hunting, kids will learn about the real history inside the White House.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–8—In a matter-of-fact tone that assumes ghost stories are true, Belanger relates White House encounters with the supernatural. "After all, where there are wars, there are ghosts," he states to explain the numerous sightings. Paranormal incidents like Dolley Madison defending her garden from would-be landscapers, Abigail Adams hanging laundry in the East Room, and many appearances of Lincoln are chronicled. The perspectives of presidents, statesmen, and other White House residents and employees who have personally experienced these apparitions are described. Primary documents—including letters, paintings, and photos—follow the history of the famous residence. Detailed colored-pencil illustrations successfully depict the ghosts as translucent figures while living characters are solid. While the book is a bit sensationalized, it is the quality of the research and presentation that make it an enticing resource to discover facts about the presidents, the White House, and American history.—Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Illustrated with period photos, paintings, and prints, as well as colored-pencil drawings, this wide-format book combines a chronological history of the White House with accounts of ghosts from different eras who supposedly haunt it. Belanger, who, according to the jacket flap, started “the largest paranormal community on the Web,” guides readers through a “supernatural investigation.” He intersperses history with reports of ghost sightings and sometimes includes documentation such as excerpts from letters, referenced in the appended notes and bibliography. The book provides an example of a researcher’s viewpoint influencing the deductions drawn. Though the account is clearly written, its conclusion that “the White House is haunted” rests on the belief that the existence of ghosts can be determined by positive answers to four questions, starting with “Have there been any deaths or tragedies at this location?” and relying on personal accounts for the others. Some of the intended audience may not have the critical eye needed for an assessment of the thesis, but this does intrigue. Grades 4-7. --Carolyn Phelan

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (October 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402738226
• ISBN-13: 978-1402738227
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 11.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,157,534 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

History, belief, and folklore combine to create paranormal legends that challenge what we know about how the universe works. But are these legends more than just stories? What can we learn about ourselves in exploring the unexplained? Meet Jeff Belanger, the ultimate paranormal insider.

There's a relationship between ghosts, UFOs, Bigfoot, strange monsters, ancient mysteries, and other bizarre phenomena. These concepts offer us a path to our past, a connection with our fellow human beings in our present, and a way to ponder our own inevitable future. Though no one can explain exactly how it all works, few can match Jeff's ability to bring the odd out of the fringe and into our living rooms and near our office water coolers.

Belanger's approach is fun and informative. He brings a lot of personality and knowledge to his work. He's the author of a dozen books that have been published in six languages, he's the writer and researcher for the Ghost Adventures show on the Travel Channel, the host of the widely popular Web and cable talk show 30 Odd Minutes, he's a sought-after lecturer who speaks at dozens of events per year for audiences big and small, and he's a recognized media personality appearing on over 200 radio and television programs worldwide including: The History Channel, The Travel Channel, PBS, Living TV (UK), The Maury Show, The CBS News Early Show, National Public Radio, The BBC, Australian Radio Network, Coast to Coast AM, and The 'X' Zone.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great children's book, December 18, 2008

By 

S. Paulin (Ct., USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Who's Haunting the White House?: The President's Mansion and the Ghosts Who Live There (Hardcover)

I purchased this book for my 10 year old grandson after learning about it locally. This is a child who is not totally enthralled with reading so you can imagine my surprise when he opened his present and said "Wow Nannie, this is really cool!" It was written in a clear and concise manner with great facts that were both real and entertaining. Kudo's to the author for another well researched book, this time one that catches a childs imagination and interest.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHO WANTS A GREAT BOOK FOR ALL SPOOK LOVERs?, November 27, 2008

By 

CURSE OF FLAMINGO CO "a BRoJoNz Company" (MA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Who's Haunting the White House?: The President's Mansion and the Ghosts Who Live There (Hardcover)

Now here is a must have book for all ages If your into the SUPERNATURAL TALES OF THE UNEXPLAINABLE! My 3 sons & I LOVE this (5 STAR book!)
Its very very INTERESTING & VERY VERY enlighting & ENTERTAINING.....THIS BOOK IS NEVER BOARING FILLED WITH TRUE AMERICAN HISTORY & FRIGHTFULL FACTS....hair will stand up on your neck as your read this with YOUR WIDE EYED CHILDREN!!!!
ONE OF THE B E S T BOOKS WE HAVE E V E R PURCHASED! PLUS GOT IT DIRT CHEAP HERE...
I SAW JEFF being INTERVIEWED ON CH.5 WHEN THIS BOOK was RELEASED SEPT/OCT2008 & knew I wanted It! EVEN the COVER HAS a CLEAR PLASTIC SHAPE OF an INVISABLE SOUL OVER the PRINT....SO COOL!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great children's book about hauntings!, October 14, 2008

By 

Lee Prosser (Missouri) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Who's Haunting the White House?: The President's Mansion and the Ghosts Who Live There (Hardcover)

Jeff Belanger has written a remarkable, entertaining, and thoughtful children's book about ghosts in the White House. That the White House is haunted is apparent, and in the capable hands of Jeff Belanger these intriguing true tales about the President's mansion and the ghosts who live there comes alive! Vivid, descriptive, and highly researched, this book is one you will enjoy having in your home for your child or children. This is a genuinely spooky tour of the White House, and each page comes alive with ghostly information! This is a well-written book by an expert in the field of the paranormal and supernatural. The illustrations by Rick Powell are an added delight to the book! For something unusual, get a copy of this book for yourself and a friend! I found "A Little Boy's Ghost," and "President Lincoln: Assassinated, but Not Gone" among my personal favorites as I read the book! The story concerning President Truman was amazing, too! There is much to learn in this interesting, historical look at ghosts in the White House.

--- Lee Prosser, Book Review Editor at www.Ghostvillage.com, and author of the book, Missouri Hauntings.