New Children’s Book Explores the Ghosts of the White House
Who’s Haunting the White House? is the first book to explore the history of the President’s mansion through the ghostly legends that lurk the halls and grounds of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.
Junior ghost hunters are offered an investigative tour of one of America’s most haunted buildings.
NEW YORK, NY – October 6, 2008 – Obama or McCain: one of these men will be moving their families into a haunted house this January. The White House in Washington, DC, is one of America’s most famous and haunted homes. Stories about strange sounds, disturbing sensations, and ghostly apparitions at the executive mansion date back over a century and have been referenced by Presidents, First Families, and staff members alike. Just in time for a heated election season, paranormal expert Jeff Belanger guides readers on a ghost investigation that explores not only the spooky tales, but the real history of one of the world’s most famous residences.
Who’s Haunting the White House?: The President’s Mansion and the Ghosts Who Live There (By Jeff Belanger, Illustrated by Rick Powell, Sterling Publishing, October 2008; $14.95, Ages 10 and up) is the first book to explore the haunted legends as an innovative way to teach history and learn more about where the Presidents of the United States have lived and worked.
“Damn place is haunted sure as shootin’,” wrote thirty-third President Harry S. Truman in a letter to his wife, Bess.
“The White House is one of the most haunted and historically important buildings in the United States,” said Jeff Belanger, author of Who’s Haunting the White House?. “When you consider the history the took place inside of this building, the tragedies, and the volume of historic decisions made under this roof, it’s small wonder why residents, staff, and visitors of the White House pick up on the past. Add to this the many ghostly reports over the decades from some highly credible witnesses, and you have what could be the single most interesting building in the country. By exploring these legends, young readers are forced to go back through history to discover who these ghosts may have been in life. Ghost investigating can be one of the most educational endeavors young people can embark on.”
Using letters, diaries, and first-hand accounts, readers hear from people who have witnessed a haunting and decide for themselves if the stories are true. 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? In addition to ghost-hunting, kids will learn about the real history inside this famous home. Archival images are combined with original art to illustrate Jeff Belanger’s journey through White House history and its legends.
About the Author
Jeff Belanger (www.jeffbelanger.com) is an author, lecturer, and explorer of the unexplained. He’s been fascinated with the supernatural since age ten when he investigated his first haunted house during a sleepover. In 1999 he launched Ghostvillage.com which has since grown to become the largest paranormal community on the Web, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors per year. His previous books include The World’s Most Haunted Places, Weird Massachusetts, Ghosts of War, Our Haunted Lives, and the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places. Jeff Belanger is one of the leading lecturers on paranormal phenomena. He has been a guest on over 100 radio and television programs including The Early Show on CBS, The History Channel, The Maury Show, The Travel Channel, National Public Radio, DayBreak USA, and Coast to Coast AM. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and daughter.
About the Illustrator
Rick Powell (www.studiopowell.com) is a freelance illustrator and graduate of the Art Institute of Philadelphia. He has worked for National Geographic and currently owns the Book Garden, a bookstore which specializes in art and illustrated books and graphic novels. He lives with his family in Montpelier, Vermont.
