Patrick Lewis - First Dogs White House Christmas

J. Patrick Lewis and Beth Zappitello

Illustrated by Tim Bowers

Once upon a time there was a dog that had found the perfect place to live.

One day, as he awoke from his nap, Dog happened to see ...

Hey, thought Dog. I have friends all over the worldIll invite them, too!

Wow! exclaimed Dog. Imagine all the planning that goes into this holiday celebration ...

... and Ill be the official Tour Guide! Dog imagined himself leading the guests around and saying, Ah, the Blue Room, my fellow bowwows. And the official White House Christmas tree is more than 18 feet tall. Shes a beaut, isnt she? We have almost 50 trees in and around the White House.

Behold, the East Room. Dog was practicing his speech in his head as he walked from room to room. Wag your tails for this lavish Nativity scene and the four fireplaces hung with garlands. Mother Natures all over the place with hydrangea, magnolia branches, honeysuckle vine, cranberries, and pine cones!

Ready to drool, you lapdogs? Look!

The Master Chefs masterpiece for the State Dining Room is a 56-by-29-inch, 390-pound white chocolate gingerbread White House, including the vegetable garden on the South Lawn. The chandelier really works and the furniture is made of dark chocolate.

Hey, whos that handsome fellow? Yep, thats me sitting right in front. Im made of marzipan, just like the vegetables in the garden!

So much for their planning! thought Dog. Now its time for me to put my best paw forward and come up with my own to-do list! Lets see:

At last, the evening of the Christmas Gala finally arrived!

Dog took his place in the reception line in the Grand Foyer.

The White House welcomes you! said Dog. As you come through the line, please tell us all about Christmas traditions in your country.

The first visitor waddled upthe English Bulldog.

Here, Dog, he said, chow down on our famous English gingerbread. By the way, did you know that Christmas cards got started in London in 1843, thanks to one Sir Henry Cole? The very first card read: A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.

He handed Dog some mistletoe to hang. And thats not all. England was the first country to use this little green leaf at Christmas. The trouble is, no one will stand under the kissletoe with me.

Imagine that, thought Dog.

But the next dog in line was wearing a disguise over his big furry face.

Guess who! said the visitor. A Saint Bernard? said Dog.

The visitor shook his head. Im a Newfoundland from Canada! This is what we do at Christmas. Its called mummering. We wear disguises, knock on doors, and sing songs. Thats me, Im a mummer.

And I brought you a fruitcake. Christmas wouldnt be Christmas in Canada without it. Do you like fruitcake?

Dog took a bite and made a face. Uh, not so much, he groaned.

Who else would come from France but the French Poodle?

Bonjour! she oozed. In France, the kiddies set their shoes by the fireplace in hopes that Pre Nol will leave presents in them. Now may I present you with the traditional Bche de Nola Christmas log? Its a cake served on Christmas Eve.

Oui, oui, a French pastry, Dog said, licking his chops. What do you wish Pre Nol would bring you?

Ooh, chri, a blow dryer!

The Australian guest looked a little worn out from his long trip.

If it isnt the Dingo from Down Under, Dog howled. Youve traveled far, Ding-Dong. If you werent celebrating the holiday with me, what would you be doing?

We live below the equator, Dingo yipped. Were hot when youre cold. So we celebrate Christmas in summer, and that means a picnic followed by a game of cricket on the beach.

Hmmm, thought Dog, sounds perfect! (NOTE TO SELF: Work on getting an invite to next Decembers Dingo Doggie Dash Down Under.)

A tiny friend arrived from sunny Mexico. Hola, Seorita! said Dog.

The Chihuahua handed him two presents: a poinsettia and a piata.

They say that the poinsettia plant formed miraculously one Christmas Eve when a little girl gave a gift of weeds to the baby Jesus, said the Chihuahua. And whats a Mexican Christmas without a piata? Children use a stick to break it open, sending candy and toys flying everywhere. Heres a piata in the shape of a cat!

Dog bubbled with joy, singing, Its beginning to look a lot like Kittenmas ...