First Kids

by Gibbs Davis, Sally Wern Comport (Illustrator)

Kids will be kids—even when they live in the White House! From Tad Lincoln (secretly called a “tyrant” ) to the Roosevelt gang (who kept a pet badger, a rat, dogs, snakes, horses, parrots, and a one-legged chicken!) to the Kennedys (who used the oval office as a playground) to Chelsea Clinton (who transformed herself from an awkward teen into an accomplished scholar), the children featured in First Kids shared a unique experience and role in American history.

* Oppenheim Best Book Gold Award Winner

Genres: Nonfiction, Childrens

48 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2004

Reviews

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's it like growing up in the White House? First Kids by Gibbs Davis answers that question with the experiences of presidents' children, including the Roosevelt clan, the Coolidge boys, Chelsea Clinton, and even the Obama girls. Some of the kids loved living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, others did not, and still others let the power go to their head! What came through in all the anecdotes was the message that kids are kids, whether their father is POTUS or not.

Part of the Step Into Reading series, this easy-reader is at the reading paragraphs level. It's perfect for grade 2-3. The text is still large with the illustrations taking up whole or half pages. The introduction and all seven chapters are no longer than three or four pages. Children can finish the book in a timely period but also with the incremental accomplishments of completing each chapter.

I used this book as a selection for a pair of Literature Circles lessons. The second graders in my cooperating classroom love presidents, so I'm hoping that affection will extend to the children of presidents.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The grandsons and I are reading this book nightly, chapter by chapter. I am learning things about kids who have lived in the White House right along with them. There are fun facts, such as Alice Roosevelt having a pet snake named Emily Spinach and sad occurrences like when President Coolidge's son died from an infection which developed from a blister. Yuck.

[CMmom]

This is the 2004 edition - Does not include Obama children.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the only book in this house that is defective. It goes along fine until page 32. Then it repeats pages 17 until 32 and never tells the story of the Obama girls who are on the front cover. Bummer.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting book. I really liked taking a look at the unique positions of some of the various first kids throughout history. We will revisit this one again, I am quite sure.