GHOSTS OF THE WHITE HOUSE

A factual picture book offers a good look at the White House and thumbnail sketches of its occupants, past and present. The premise is that Sara and her classmates are to visit the White House, looking up facts ahead of time ``so we wouldn't be stupid on the tour.'' While she's in the East Room, George Washington yanks her physically into his painting, and begins showing her around the house, where they meet different presidential ghosts. Each gets a summary and portrait; factual material is mixed with personal comments to Sara, the tone of which is often quite glib, e.g., Truman tells of his surprise at the metal detectors in the building: ``That makes me mad!'' Despite such lapses, Harness (Abe Lincoln Goes to Washington 18371865, p. 58, etc.) presents a wealth of information, from floor plans to a time line of important events in US history. The illustrations are terrifically cluttered, a design explosion that sometimes results in mottled colors, but more often renders a real idea of what the rooms of the White House are like. The least successful painting appears on the jacket, where various presidents float in the air and sit on the roof of this famous building. (Picture book. 7-10)