Willow the White House Cat, a Picture Book Written by Jill Biden, to Be Published By Simon & Schuster in June 2024
Willow the White House Cat, a picture book written by First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, will be published by Paula Wiseman Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, in June 2024. This is the story of how Willow the White House cat made her way from a farm in Pennsylvania to her new home in The White House and made new friends along the way. The full-color picture book will be published in hardcover and eBook, cowritten with award-winning author Alyssa Satin Capucilli, and illustrated by acclaimed artist Kate Berube.
In Willow the White House Cat, Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States, an educator, and a New York Times bestselling author, tells the story of Willow, the White House cat, to share about the very special place she and President Biden call home.
When Willow leaves her cozy barn for Washington, DC and the big white house where she will now live, Willow discovers new rooms to explore and is welcomed by the nice lady she met at Farmer Rick’s farm. Soon Willow meets so many new people—one who arranges the flowers, another who makes sweet things to eat, and the man with a nice smile who seems to be able to do everything at once. Even though they are much bigger and busier than Willow is, each of them always seems to have time to say hello and make her feel at home in the big white house. Willow enjoys discovering the White House and all the special people who make this house a home.
“As Willow bounds from room to room, exploring history in her new home, she learns quickly about all of the incredible people who make the ‘People’s House’ run,” said First Lady Jill Biden. “They welcomed Willow with love and care, just as they did Joe and me, the First Families who came before us, and all of the people who step foot into this home. Making many new friends along the way, Willow’s journey gives the world a ‘cats-eye’ view of all the ins and outs of America’s most famous address.”
“First Lady Jill Biden has created a heartwarming picture book with Willow the White House Cat,” said Jon Anderson, President and Publisher, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. “Readers young and old will enjoy this fun glimpse into Willow’s life in the White House, and the message that being open to new friendships can sometimes surprise you, is one that is sure to resonate with families everywhere.”
The agreement, which is for World rights, was made by Paula Wiseman and Mollie Glick and David M. Larabell of Creative Artists Agency for Jill Biden, with Liza Voges of Eden Street Literary for Alyssa Satin Capucilli, and with Lori Kikelly at LK Literary Agency for Kate Berube.
Jill Biden, wife of President Joe Biden and the First Lady of the United States, is the New York Times bestselling author of Where the Light Enters and her children’s books, Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops and Joey: The Story of Joe Biden. She teaches English as a community college professor and served as Second Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. During the Obama-Biden administration and now as First Lady, she advocates for military families, community colleges, the fight against cancer, and women’s health research. A mother of three and grandmother of seven, she and her husband live in Wilmington, DE and Washington, DC.
Alyssa Satin Capucilli is the award-winning creator and author of the Katy Duck series and the bestselling Biscuit series. A dancer as well as a writer, she lives with her family in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.
Kate Berube is the author-illustrator of Mae’s First Day of School and Hannah and Sugar, which won the Marion Vannett Ridgway Award and the Oregon Book Award for Children’s Literature, and was shortlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize. She is the illustrator of John’s Turn written by Mac Barnett, which won the Irma Black Silver Medal, and The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read written by Curtis Manley, which won a CLEL Bell Award and was a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Kate Berube lives in Oregon with her family.
Willow is an American tabby domestic short-haired cat owned by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. She was adopted by the Biden family from Rick Telesz, a farmer in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. Willow is named after Jill Biden’s hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.
