Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major

If your home could talk, what secrets would it tell? What would it say about the people who lived there before you, in the rooms where you now eat, sleep, and play? Would your home reveal the mysteries hidden beneath its floorboards, and within its walls? What if its most closely guarded secret was . . . buried treasure?

In Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major, you’ll follow three adventurous children as they unravel the mysteries of their home. You’ll decipher clues alongside Kermit, Ethel, and Archie Roosevelt—the children of President Theodore Roosevelt. And their home just happens to be one of the most famous buildings in the world—the White House!

During your search, you’ll read about what it was like for Kermit, Ethel, and Archie to grow up in the Roosevelt household, with their exotic pets and their hilarious antics. You’ll learn about their father, one of America’s most respected conservationists, war heroes, peacemakers, and presidents. And you’ll discover fascinating stories of the White House—stories that, like the beautiful home itself, belong to all Americans.

President Bush and I are inspired by the history we see around us every day in the White House, including many of the rooms, paintings, and artifacts you’ll read about in this book. In fact, when the Roosevelt children find an early clue in their father’s desk, they’re investigating a historic piece of furniture still used by U.S. presidents—including President Bush—to this day.

Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major tells the stories of many extraordinary Americans who’ve called the White House home. But as you’ll soon discover, presidents, first ladies, and their children are ordinary families just like yours and mine. And as the Roosevelt children learn, you don’t have to live in the White House to unearth the riches of the past. In your local libraries and museums, you can learn about the history of your own home or community—and the people who lived there before you. You may be surprised by what you find. After all, as Kermit, Ethel, and Archie discover, some of life’s most valuable treasures are found where you least expect them.

Of course, one of the very best places to find hidden treasures is in a good book. The Roosevelts’ adventure starts with a great book called Treasure Island, and leads them on a thrilling chase throughout the White House, across the landscape of American history, and to the limits of their imagination. I encourage you to find many exciting adventures in your favorite books. And I hope you’ll begin right here, in the pages of Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major.

Laura Bush

Teddy Roosevelt
and the Treasure of Ursa Major