Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major

Ethel, Kermit and Archie are under strict orders to be good.  Their dad, President Teddy Roosevelt, is hosting the Russian ambassador that evening, trying to negotiate the end to the Russian-Japanese War.  (Whatever THAT is, thinks Archie.)

They decide to settle down to an interesting book, Treasure Island, when they find a mysterious paper inside the book.  It has a clue written on the back of a map of the White House.

What could it mean?  They quickly find more clues, which send them scrambling around the White House, running into their father, his valet, their governess and even the Russian ambassador, all while hunting down hidden treasure.

Children ready to read short chapter books will enjoy reading Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major, adapted by Ronald Kidd (from the play by Tom Isbell).  The publishers include many funny illustrations by Ard Hoyt to break up the pages,  the chapters are short, and readers learn some interesting facts about the White House.

Best of all, the treasure is not at all what readers expect.

Recommended for ages 5 to 9, depending upon their reading level.