In this cute adventure chapter book, three children take a visit to the white house and end up going back in time meeting every president that has lived there. The main message of the book is to provide information on USA history while keeping it fun and interesting for its readers. I personally enjoyed this book, one, because of the way it is written. It is such a easy and fun read although you are retaining so much important information about past presidents. Secondly, I liked how the author includes small illustrations within the chapters that follow along with the texts. I also enjoy the plot, mainly because its more of a story being told with a rise of action and a fall.For example in the beginning the author sets up the whole image with the knocking down of the painting then going from there to build. It is interesting and fun. ( )

This book has a worthwhile motive, making the history of the White House live for contemporary kids. Unfortunately, it tries to do this by giving historical characters contemporary speech and behaviors and tacking a string of historical facts onto an extremely thin plot.

Three students are on a White House tour; Dee from the suburbs who enjoys and flaunts her family's new wealth, Jose who lives in a crowded apartment building with his loving family and relatives, and Annie, a recent immigrant from Poland. The tour guide is giving the most boring tour of all time, telling the children about antique furniture and dishes and the security guard, Mr. Flower is on the lookout for any breaking of rules.

When the three children accidentally knock the portrait of George Washington off the wall, a wild chase ensues with Mr. Flower trying to get him back in his frame as they race through history and meet some of the children who have lived in the White House. They end up helping Lincoln sign the Emancipation Proclamation and seeing the portrait being saved by Dolley Madison. George Washington ends up back in his protrait and the students now have a better understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of White House.

This story is based on a play and while I can see it working well as a school play, as a beginning chapter book it's weak and pounds in its moral with a two-ton hammer. Also, this book hits on one of my rant-buttons for books - putting contemporary language into the mouths of historical characters and giving them contemporary motives and behaviors. Yes, George Washington was a real person; a good biography can give you plenty of information about his life that shows him as a human, not just a hero of the American Revolution. But he'd never say "Hey, I like smiling...It feels good." Sheesh.

Verdict: I'd suggest Ron Roy's Capital Mysteries for kids who like historical facts and information mixed into their stories. There are also many, many excellent historical fiction and nonfiction picture books that are a suitable reading level for beginning readers.

ISBN: 978-1416948582; Published September 2009 by Simon and Schuster; Review copy provided by the publisher for Cybils

Chasing George Washington is a story about a class field trip to The White House. Annie, Dee, and Jose are typical students from varied background. During a tour of The White House, these three students knock George Washington's picture off the wall, bringing him back to life. He takes them on a tour to see momentous events in history. As they race to put him back, the three meet other famous people who lived in the White House.
This story made hanging out with the president seems cool and full of adventure. It gives kids the opportunity to imagine what it would be like to run around with the president all day. I loved that the class started on a normal field trip and their day took a different turn. They are getting to learn all about history and have fun all at the same time.
This book would be great to read on President’s Day! It would also be useful for a class studying American icons. Reading this book during a presidential election would be a great way to get students involved with world issues and the political campaign.

Age: Intermediate
Genre: Modern Fantasy

The theme of this book is modern fantasy because the events in the story are impossible to happen in real life, but they seem real in the story. The three children are just like normal kids, but they travel through time in the White House with George Washington creating modern fantasy. ( )