During a recent *Friends of the Library* book sale, I came home with several bags of picture books by new-to-me authors and illustrators. At these sales, we’re like kids in a candy store—filling our bags as quickly as possible before settling down in some corner to preview our finds. This allows us to make more thoughtful decisions about which books to keep and which ones to put back, saving our precious funds only for books worth investing in.
Last month, I took a chance on The White House Cat by Cylin Busby, illustrated by Neely Daggett. (And no, this is not the picture book by Jill Biden.) I’m happy to report that it’s clever and adorable.
The book opens with a playful question:
“You’ve heard of the President, the First Lady, and maybe even some First Dogs who have lived at the White House. But what about the First Cat?”
Although The White House Cat was published in 2022, long after the Biden family brought a cat to the White House, this cat isn’t a nod to their pet. The story is whimsical and not at all political.
Throughout, we follow the First Cat as he goes about his daily “duties” at the White House. His first stop is a meeting with the pastry chef in the kitchen so he can sample the whipped cream. Then he moves to the basement, weaves between the bowling pins, and then goes looking for the chief engineer (“she’s a cat person”) as she works on “all the moving bits and parts.” Page by page, we get a sneak peek into famous and private rooms of the White House and even witness our cat romping through a press conference in the Rose Garden.
The story is both charming and clever, with a light, fun tone that’s perfect for young readers. The whimsical tour of the White House is just the right balance of informative and playful, making it a delightful read for children curious about the iconic building and its day-to-day workings. And, the end of the book has a dollhouse-like interior view of the White House plus a couple of pages of fun facts about each room of the White House featured in the story.