Rebecca the White House Raccoon

In this mostly true tale based on President and First Lady Coolidge’s real-life menagerie, their pet raccoon causes havoc and hilarity in the White House. 

Rebecca was adopted by President Calvin Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge in 1926, joining the many other animals living at the White House: cats, dogs, canaries, a bear, a wallaby, two lion cubs, thirteen Pekin ducks, and more. But none of those pets were half as wonderful as Rebecca—just ask her! After all, First Lady Grace walked Rebecca around on a leash for everyone to see. The president cuddled Rebecca in front of the fire at night. And the staff just loved chasing Rebecca around the White House and cleaning up her messes!

Inspired by a real presidential pet, this spunky story about a beloved (and mischievous) raccoon—with information and photos of the real-life Rebecca in the back—is a wildly fun look at a surprising part of our nation’s history.

April Genevieve Tucholke is the bestselling author of Merry and Hark: A Christmas Story and Beatrice Likes the Dark, among many other books for children, adults, and young adults. She has lived all over the world—from Portland, Oregon, to Edinburgh, Scotland—and currently resides in Bend, Oregon. April invites you to visit her online at apriltucholke.com.

Dave Szalay is an award-winning author, artist, designer, and the illustrator of The Superlative A. Lincoln; The True Story of Zippy Chippy: The Little Horse That Couldn't; and Travel Guide for Monsters, among others. He teaches design and illustration at The University of Akron and invites you to visit him online at daveszalay.com.