Written by Wag Harrison
Step right up for a spooky tour of the White House! A long-dead but still charismatic Millard Fillmore will serve as your ghostly guide as you make your way through the Executive Mansion. Learn about the history of each room you visit from ghosts of presidents past—arguably the worst presidents in US history. Discover how they ended up there, cursed for all eternity to haunt the rooms of the White House, and find out why it’s so important for us to learn from their mistakes.
Price range: $4.99 through $22.95
Wag Harrison is an award-winning writer and educator. Holding graduate degrees in both history and educational leadership, Wag spent nearly twenty years as a teacher and school administrator before settling in as a full-time father. A lifelong lover of learning and of telling tales from the past, Wag is proud to call The Presidents Did What? his flagship picture book. Wag lives in Bon Air, Virginia, with his wife and three children.
Format: Paperback, Hardcover, E-book
ISBN Paperback: 978-1-953021-33-5
ISBN Hardcover: 978-1-953021-32-8
ISBN E-book: 978-1-953021-34-2
Pages: 32
Release date: 12/7/2021
“I loved The Presidents Did What? As a father of seven and a history buff, I loved how the book found a unique way to teach and keep kids interested in history. I knew my kids would love it, but I wasn’t prepared for the meaningful conversations we had after reading the book. This book will stay on our bookshelf as my boys get older.”
—Matt Paxton, father of seven children, and host of the hit shows Legacy List with Matt Paxton and Hoarders
“In The Presidents Did What?, Wag Harrison takes us on an educational and entertaining journey through the White House while meeting up with some of its least distinguished inhabitants.”
—Gregory McAlpin, EdS, Virginia Beach City Public Schools
“In these pages, Harrison deftly underscores the most valuable of these sentiments using figures who reached new lows while held to history’s highest standards. The Presidents Did What? quite literally brings to life a rogues’ gallery of our nation’s disgraced presidents, framing their most egregious misdeeds in fascinating historical perspective. Combining clever wit, imaginative storytelling, and an informed understanding of the ghosts of presidents past, Harrison shows us that sometimes the biggest mistakes teach the most valuable lessons.”
—Brett C. Brown, stay-at-home dad, person of consequence
“In the tale The Presidents Did What? by Wag Harrison, the ghost of President Millard Fillmore takes readers on a journey through the White House to speak to the other ghosts of one-term presidents. Here, Fillmore and other presidents, such as Martin Van Buren and Warren G. Harding, hash out the flaws and mistakes that ruined their chances at a second term. Not only did I learn a thing or two, but I found myself fully engaged in this children’s book even as an adult. This children’s book is one for the history books, literally, and belongs on everyone’s shelf.”
—Lori Starling, MFA, author of Toby Wears a Tutu
“The Presidents Did What? is an entertaining history lesson of some of our one-term presidents. The story, told by presidential ghosts, takes the reader through rooms of the White House while sharing facts from the past—definitely a fun way to learn some unfortunate US history!”
—Alison Watson, fourth grade teacher
“The Presidents Did What? is a lighthearted, fictional story about a few one-term US presidents and their historical underachievement. The element of caricature and sly bits of personal detail about each president as well as historical descriptions of various rooms in the White House keep the young reader engaged and the storyline moving. Picture books are not just for the very young—there’s something in this thought-provoking tour for us all!”
—Diane Chess, school librarian, John Rolfe Middle School
“Teachers and parents will find something here to suit children and grownups. There is a bit of ‘hard’ history (for example, welfare during the Great Depression and the treatment of Native Americans and immigrants), policy (what makes a ‘good’ president?), and old-fashioned fun (learning about the different rooms while touring the White House). The story is told with wry humor, without being cynical or sarcastic. This book would make a great read-aloud story for upper elementary. Middle and high schoolers will find the story and illustrations fun, informative, and engaging.”
—Ashley Payne, fifth-grade teacher and parent of a seventh-grade history buff
Christina Rodriguez-Unalt, or “C. Rod. Unalt,” is an illustrator of all things whimsical. She’s been creating images since her kindergarten teacher taught her how to use a scratchboard and has been working professionally for over a decade. Christina began her career as a scenic painter at a creature shop, where she painted murals and large-scale sculptures for mini golf courses, storefronts, windows, and parade floats. Her work has appeared in children’s magazines and textbooks, and she holds a master’s degree in illustration. Christina currently lives with her husband, Jonny; their children, Lily, Ashton, and Ivy; a cuddly pup, Yogi; and two mischievous kitties, Meeko and Lola—all of whom are a constant inspiration for Christina’s own stories and her illustrations. The Presidents Did What? is her fourth illustrated book.
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