Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for sharing this book in exchange for an honest review! I was immediately intrigued by this book based on the title and the beautiful cover with soft colors and our powerful looking White House. I enjoyed the chapters that focused on different aspects of life in the White House and how it covered a huge span of time, but was not confusing. A very information and entertaining read.

With the changing of presidents, this book is very timely. I have also always found the White House to be very interesting and appreciated the inside information of the workings of it.

I expected this book geared more towards early elementary students but the target audience is for older students. The book is interesting from a historical viewpoint but feel most students will never pick it up unless a teacher makes it required reading. I liked the secret service code names and some will find the section on White House pets enjoyable overall I believe they won’t be interested enough to read the book in its entirety.
I received an advanced reader copy for free from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I really enjoyed reading this title. I found it to be informative and felt like a walk down memory lane reading about the past families that lived in the White House.  This is a great read for adults and children, great chapters on the history of the house and the people who have worked there.  Chapters 6 and 7 were my favorite I learned a lot about the expense of living at the most famous address in the world.

This was such a well-written book geared towards younger readers about what it takes to keep the White House running smoothly day to day.  The author did a great job of keeping the information on an understandable level for younger readers and provided a lot of interesting tidbits.   I will be recommending that our school library purchase this title.

Having read Brower's The Residence, this wasn't filled with new information (though there are inclusions from the Trump administration since that publication). That said, that's okay! This is more geared toward a middle grade or young adult audience. It reads as narrative nonfiction and is filled with information about the White House itself and the people who have lived there. It is carefully non-partisan and is much more about those involved in the residence that is the White House as people than it is about anything political.

LBJ does come out of this looking like a demanding jerk, particularly when compared to stories about others who lived in the White House, though that isn't political.

The behind-the-scenes running-of-the-house information is my personal favorite and is exactly the kind of stuff I would have been interested in when I was part of the target audience for this title. Details about grocery shopping and flowers and who takes care of the dogs are really fun.

This is a good addition to a middle grade library, particularly one interested in including social studies titles.

This books gives a very detailed description of the White House and its workings. While geared towards lower elementary students it is quite wordy and I feel that it may suit middle school more. It may be a little infantile for middle school at the same time. Depends on the child!

Exploring the White House: Inside America's Most Famous Home is a nonfiction book for older students. It will be popular with my history buff students who find most elementary nonfiction books not detailed enough. I enjoyed this book as an adult. It was filled with interesting anecdotes and interviews with White House staff. The author does a good job of keeping it nonpartisan. 

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Such an educational book with a very unique and expansive lens into the workings of the White House. I have a new appreciation and can’t wait to share this with readers.

There was so much information in this book! I knew the White House had a grand history, but I did not know many of the facts in this book. Great read for a kid learning more about the White House.

This book's topic would be of great interest to 3-5th graders, but it reads more like grades 6-8. Its appeal is too narrow to justify purchase when budgets are COVID-restricted.

There were so many interesting facts in this book.  Anyone interested in presidential history will enjoy it.  I enjoyed the accompanying pictures as well.

Exploring the White House: Inside America's Most Famous Home is a book that I think my students would enjoy. It offers a true inside glance at the inner workings of what happens day-to-day inside the White House. I loved the features of the different jobs and people that are contributing to our country. They are the behind-the-scenes individuals that allow our most famous landmark to operate at such a high-rate. I look forward to adding this nonfiction book to my classroom library someday!

This is truly a fascinating look behind the doors of the White House. However, my upper elementary students are not likely to check this out due to the length. Although we have other books about the White House in our library collection and they circulate, I believe this one is a little too in depth for their interests.

Exploring the White House  has been such a fun and engaging read for my children. The illustrations are great. We loved Learning all the facts.

What a great book! This book about the White House was so fun to read! Exploring the White House is marketed toward kids, but I loved reading it. There are many fun facts and stories throughout this book. There are sections about the history of the White House, moving in and out of the White House, and ghost sightings in the White House. Did you know the ghost of Abraham Lincoln has been seen by many different people? I especially enjoyed the chapters on children who have lived there and all the different animals that have called the White House home.
I think any parent or educator would love to read this book and read it to younger children. I think middle school and up could read and enjoy on their own.

I requested this book to read to my kids.  It turns out I learned just as much as they did!  This book is well written and organized in a way to keep kids engaged.

I requested a review copy of this book from NetGalley because I have a child very interested in presidents. He at one time knew all of them in order of serving, and owns most every book for children written about them. This book will be one to add to his shelf. It's full of interesting facts beyond the normal dates and wives. I would love to give this to him before we take a trip to visit Washington D.C. in the coming years. This book is wonderful for those readers who enjoy more facts based vs novel based reading. Fun Fact and Did You Know headings for each chapter which is another "love language" for my reader - he will spit these facts back to anyone listening!  Only thing I wish was different was including color photos when able, as the proof copy was B&W or missing the images.

With thanks to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for an early copy in return for an honest review.

This book is perfect for those who love history and non-fiction...so many great facts and trivia in the book! I liked the layout of the book with each chapter looking at a different aspect of life in the White House, rather than each chapter looking at a different family.

As for the intended audience, although this is targeted for Middle Grade readers I actually think adults would enjoy the book (I did!). Additionally, some of the book might be a bit over an 8- or 9-year old's comprehension. I checked with my students (who are 9) about some of the vocabulary and language and it was tricky. So for the younger middle grade set I would suggest the book is best for kids really into history/non-fiction. But for older middle grades, teens and adults this book is great!

Before reading this book, I was already a fan of Kate Andersen Brower.  She has written some great behind the scenes books of Washington DC and its famous inhabitants.  I was excited before even opening this book that Brower had put together this more young adult level book about the many jobs and people who keep the White House running - most excited to read it and purchase it for my niece who has an obsession about past Presidents!

Going from duty to duty, Kate Andersen Brower described the different types of jobs that keep this great house running from President to President and through all sorts of points in history.  The moments that I loved reading about where the personal moments that these people have while doing their jobs with people who are trying to balance a very hard job, the Presidency, while also trying to maintain their personal and family lives.  

The transition from President to President is laid out in this book and what a coordinated effort it must be.  I was so intrigued about the months of preparation it takes for this to go smoothly.  While a candidate is campaigning, they are also answering what if questions about a possible move into the White House.  I can't imagine preparing for a move that may never happen.  

I loved this book and anticipate purchasing a few copies for other President and history buffs like me!