WASHINGTON (AP) — With gray skies and drizzle adding a spooky atmosphere, books took center stage alongside candy at the Halloween eve trick-or-treating event hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the White House.
The “Hallo-READ!” event on Monday featured book giveaways and captivating story readings by the First Lady, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, and celebrated authors.
First Lady Jill Biden embraced the festive spirit by donning feline ears, a tail, and a black nose, cleverly portraying her cat, Willow.
As she read “Ten Spooky Pumpkins,” a counting book, she shared a heartwarming message with a group of costumed children, saying, “Go have fun and eat lots of candy.”
Biden administration is moving toward a narrower student loan relief targeting groups of borrowers
President Joe Biden signs an executive on artificial intelligence in the East Room of the White House, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023, in Washington. Vice President Kamala Harris looks on at right. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Biden wants to move fast on AI safeguards and signs an executive order to address his concerns
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, right, displays a completed form to get on the Republican Presidential Primary ballot in New Hampshire while flanked by N.H. Secretary of State David Scanlan, left, at the New Hampshire State House, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Concord, N.H. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New Hampshire’s presidential primary ballots will have 24 Republicans and 21 Democrats, but no Biden
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, dressed as an angel with a halo and angel wings, explained that she opted for this costume over a devilish one.
Following her reading, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden spent approximately 90 minutes welcoming children from local public schools and military families who had been invited to the event.
As the children, dressed in various costumes, approached the driveway, President Biden generously distributed M&M’s and Hershey’s Kisses in boxes adorned with the presidential seal into their bags or buckets, while the First Lady gifted them with books.
First Lady Jill Biden, a lifelong educator, conceptualized the “Hallow-READ!” theme, which featured decorations depicting famous literary characters, eerie tales, and ghost story time. The White House arranged for a military band to perform instrumental renditions of Halloween classics, such as “Thriller” and “Monster Mash.”
The event welcomed around 8,000 guests, according to the White House, with numerous federal government departments and agencies participating. These agencies set up booths on the south grounds, offering a wide array of chocolate candy and other sugary treats supplied by the National Confectioners Association and its member companies. The books distributed at the event were generously provided by Scholastic.