by Ronald Kidd (Adapter), The Kennedy Center (Author), Ard Hoyt (Illustrator), Laura Bush (Foreword)

The “Treasure of Ursa Major” is a super fast-paced, exciting story full of humor, history, and fun facts. It is based on a play by Tom Isbell, adapted by Ronald Kidd. Laura Bush wrote a forward.

Three of Theodore Roosevelt’s children – eleven-year-old Archie, fifteen-year-old Kermit, and their sister, thirteen-year-old Ethel – share an adventure, a ghostly adventure, one night while their dad tries to meet with the Russian Ambassador. Oh, and James, the Butler, and Mrs. Duffit, a new governess (maybe), have secret roles.  

Looking for something fun to do, the children settle on reading Treasure Island.  But when they take out the book, a torn map (of the white house) falls out.  Each of the pieces has a rhyming clue written on the back from a mysterious “Jura Rooams.”  

Archie discovers, maybe from a ghost, that there is treasure hidden in the White House.  The night becomes a fun (and educational) treasure hunt.

Kids will love this easy and fast read. The hilarious antics of the children and the others will entertain them to the end.  And, the surprise (treasure) is very clever … and mysterious.