From Martha Washington to Jill Biden, first ladies have made their mark on American history. While the job of the president of the United States is defined in the constitution, no such document exists for the first ladies, yet first ladies have used their unique role and made history through their work for more than two hundred years.

This new children’s book introduces young readers to the first ladies and takes them beyond the topics of hospitality and fashion often associated with them to highlight the important contributions they have made to society throughout American history.

Anita McBride is the co-author of the first textbook on the first ladies, U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies(2023) and co-author of Remember the First Ladies The Legacies of America's History-Making Women (2024). She directs American University's Legacies of America's First Ladies, served in the White House during three presidencies, and was chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush. She is a founding member of the First Ladies Association for Research and Education (FLARE). 

Giovanna McBride's first children's book, the award-winning Gigi at the White House, was published by the White House Historical Association in 2021. She graduated from Texas Christian University, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Education, in May 2025.