The Atlantic Asks:
Are You Smart Enough to be a Citizen?
Are You Smart Enough to be a Citizen?
Take Their Quiz and Find Out!
Illegal immigration and citizenship continue to dominate the national conversation. A recent article titled "Are You Smart Enough to Be a Citizen?" in The Atlantic made a modest proposal:
What if citizenship were not guaranteed by birth? What if everyone had to earn it upon turning 18, and renew it every 10 years, by taking an exam? What might that exam look like?
Take the challenge! And invite the young people in your life to take the challenge and discover how much you all know--or don't know. To take the quiz, click here.
Our White House Is Perfect Resource for Helping Young People Engage in Civics and American History
Exciting stories, informative essays, humorous poetry, and extraordinary art can help kids understand the past and make connections with our present and future. A perfect resource for learning more about American history and civic engagement is the NCBLA's award-winning anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out.With Our White House, kids can learn about the building of the White House--and why it once burned. They can engage with intimate stories of those who have resided in the White House over the years, including presidential pets and ghosts! And kids can also discover the joys and sorrows that have faced our nation and the often gut-wrenching decisions needed to be made by our presidents.
Our White House was created by the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance as a collaborative effort by over one hundred award-winning authors and illustrators to encourage young people to read more about America’s rich history and culture; to think more about America’s future; to talk more about our nation’s leadership; and to act on their own beliefs and convictions, ensuring this great democratic experiment will survive and thrive.
The Our White House anthology is supported by a companion educational website, OurWhiteHouse.org, which expands the book content with additional stories, primary sources, articles, activities, and discussion questions related to book topics.
The Civic Education pages include engaging and informative articles and activities to share with young people, such as "I Pledge Allegiance: Classroom Kit on Becoming an American Citizen" by Helen Kampion, "Getting the Votes and Getting Elected: The Popular Vote vs. The Electoral College," and "Choosing Sides: The Rise of Party Politics."
Learn more about how you can inspire young people using the Our White House resources in the online article "For Educators: Using Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out and OurWhiteHouse.org in the Classroom."
Our White House is available in both hardcover and paperback from Candlewick Press.
Ask for Our White House at a library or bookstore near you!
Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review!
“Eight years in the making, this anthology of White House history convenes an all-star roster of 108 children's authors and illustrators, as well as a few scholars and former White House employees and residents and it is a blue-ribbon choice for family sharing during an election year. Chronologically ordered, the entries range from poems to presidential speeches, satirical cartoons to stately portraits. . . . The volume makes the invaluable point that history does not have to be remote or abstract, but a personal and ongoing engagement.”
The Horn Book Starred Review!
“With something for adults and children alike is the sumptuous new anthology Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out. . . . The contributors are all luminaries of the children’s book field. A fascinating, eminently browsable, and accessible entrance into the People’s House.”
School Library Journal Starred Review!
“This handsome compendium is rich with excerpts, poems, and other writings about the historic residence, many of them personal in tone and subject. With artwork as eclectic as the text, the book offers glimpses into the presidents, their concerns, their families, and the mansion itself.”
Featured on the “Martha Stewart Show” as One of The New York Times “Eight Great Books for the Holidays”
On the December 15, 2008 “Martha Stewart Show,” Martha advised procrastinating audience members and viewers to “Think books! I do!” as ideal holiday gifts. With that in mind New York Times book review editor Sam Tanenhaus shared recommendations of eight great books. Our White House was one of those books—the only children’s book on his list!
L.A. Parent Recommendation!
Awards
- 2009-2010 National Endowment for the Humanities We the People “Picturing America” Bookshelf Award
- 2009 American Library Association Notable Children’s Book for All Ages
- 2009 National Council for Social Studies and the Children’s Book Council Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
- 2009 International Reading Association Teachers’ Choices Booklist Selection
- Amazon.com Best Books of 2008 Top 10 Editors’ Pick for Middle Readers
- Parents’ Choice Foundation Recommended Book Award, Fall 2008
- School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2008
- The Horn Book Fanfare, Best Books of 2008
- Publisher’s Weekly 2008 Best Books of the Year, Children’s Nonfiction
- Publishers Weekly 2008 Cuffie Award, Best Nonfiction Treatment of a Subject, Honorable Mention
- Scripps-Howard News Service Favorite Children's Book of 2008
- www.ourwhitehouse.org named a 2009 American Library Association “Great Websites for Kids”
About The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance
We believe that literacy is essential to the development of responsible citizens in a democracy. And we believe that citizens, both young and old, must have equal access to stimulating books and information sources that invite them to dream and give them the tools to achieve their dreams. As writers and illustrators, teachers and mentors, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles—as citizens and neighbors—our ultimate question is always how can we best serve all of our nation’s children?
For more information about the NCBLA, please visit our website at www.thencbla.org.
