An illustrated adventure with a presidential twist

Meet Josiah the Badger

One unforgettable badger. A White House full of surprises. A charming adventure inspired by a remarkable chapter of American history.

Discover the Book Meet Josiah

Small paws. Big personality. Even bigger swagger.

Original watercolor illustration of Josiah the badger standing in front of the White House

A PRESIDENT’S
PET
ADVENTURE

Original illustration of the Roosevelt children with a lively group of animals outside the White House

The story behind the adventure

A very unusual White House guest

Step into the world of Theodore Roosevelt and discover a presidential household filled with curiosity, energy, and extraordinary animals.

At the heart of this story is Josiah, a little badger with a wonderfully big personality. Follow his adventures and discover how history can come alive through storytelling and art.

Discover His Swagger

The legend of a very confident little badger

Josiah the Badger with Swagger!

Now, nobody knows exactly where Josiah got his swagger. But if you ask the other White House pets, they might tell you it started with President Theodore Roosevelt.

Every morning, the president marched about with the confidence of a Rough Rider. Shoulders back! Chin up! Ready for adventure! Josiah watched closely. Then he puffed out his fuzzy chest, lifted his little nose, and practiced his own presidential strut.

His first attempt was not exactly majestic. He tripped over a boot, startled a rabbit, and landed whiskers-first in the grass. But Josiah simply stood up, shook off the dust, and strutted on as if he'd planned the whole thing.

Soon, the other animals were whispering, “There goes Josiah—the badger with swagger!”

And Josiah? He gave a mischievous grin. After all, the president might run the country, but Josiah was quite certain he ran the backyard.

A playful, imagined tale inspired by Josiah and the Roosevelt White House—not a documented historical event.

Meet the cuddly Josiah

Original watercolor of Josiah grinning in a hat and spectacles

Small paws. Big swagger.

The illustrated children's book

Josiah the Badger

A President's Pet Adventure

Explore a delightful world of presidential history, unforgettable animals, and beautifully detailed original watercolor illustrations.

Written by Chris Epting
Illustrated by Toni Haas

Book availability and launch details will be shared here when announced.

Meet the Creators

A peek between the pages

Inside Josiah’s World

Come along for a little presidential mischief. Enjoy a first look at the original watercolor storybook pages, where history meets a very spirited badger.

Illustrated storybook page introducing the year 1903, with a warm sunset and wildlife — The adventure begins · 1903

Illustrated spread showing Theodore Roosevelt and Josiah traveling by train — Traveling with the President

Illustrated page with Josiah making a feathery mess in a presidential room — A little presidential mischief

Preview artwork and page layouts from the developing book; final printed pages may differ.

Watercolor of Josiah in a hat and spectacles

Josiah’s Explorer Club

Coming soon: history discoveries, printable activities, and adventures for curious little readers.

Watercolor of President Theodore Roosevelt

Meet Theodore Roosevelt

Meet the adventurous president whose family filled the White House with lively pets and unforgettable stories.

Behind the Watercolors

Explore the original art that gives Josiah his twinkling eyes, mischievous smile, and signature swagger.

A little friend to love

Meet the Josiah Plush

From watercolor character to cuddly companion! This charming Josiah plush, complete with his bright red scarf, brings the story's little hero into the real world.

This is Toni Haas’s lovingly created first prototype—not a product currently for sale. We’re exploring whether to bring Josiah to families, readers, and collectors. Your interest can help shape what happens next.

Adventure looks good in a red scarf.

Help Bring Josiah to Life!

Josiah badger plush toy wearing a bright red knitted scarf

A special sneak peek

Help Bring Josiah to Life!

Would you love to bring home a cuddly Josiah of your own? The red-scarf plushie pictured here is an original prototype created by illustrator Toni Haas.

We're gathering interest before deciding whether to produce a collection. Share your thoughts and, if you'd like, join the email list to hear about future developments.

No purchase or reservation is required. This is an interest survey, not a preorder or a promise of availability.

Tell us what you think

The people behind the pages

Meet the Creators

A curious little badger, a remarkable president, and two storytellers who believed Josiah deserved an adventure all his own.

Author & historical storyteller

Chris Epting

Chris Epting is the author of more than fifty books exploring American history, popular culture, and the remarkable stories hidden in familiar places. His love of uncovering the human side of history makes him a natural guide to the lively world of Theodore Roosevelt.

While researching Roosevelt’s travels and adventures, Chris discovered that one of the president’s most unforgettable companions was a badger named Josiah. A character this spirited simply couldn’t stay in the history books. Josiah needed a story of his own—one that young readers could laugh with, learn from, and remember.

Illustrator & visual storyteller

Toni Haas

Toni Haas is a Huntington Beach artist, author, and illustrator who brings stories to life through expressive characters, detailed watercolors, and a love of history. Her illustrations invite children to linger on every page and discover something new.

For Josiah the Badger: A President’s Pet Adventure, Toni imagined the presidential pet as a little fellow with an enormous personality—curious eyes, a mischievous grin, and a walk all his own. She created the original watercolor illustrations and even designed a one-of-a-kind Josiah plushie prototype, complete with a bright red scarf.

Her goal is to make Josiah feel like a character children can meet, laugh with, and carry in their imaginations long after the last page.

Explore Toni’s Artwork ↗

Cover of Theodore Roosevelt in California by Chris Epting

The historical inspiration

One history book. One unforgettable badger.

Chris Epting’s Theodore Roosevelt in California explores the president’s 1903 travels and his enduring connection to the natural world, including his celebrated Yosemite journey with John Muir.

That research opened the door to Roosevelt’s extraordinary life—and to Josiah, the unusual little pet whose personality was simply too good to leave in the footnotes. Chris and Toni knew he deserved his very own children’s book.

The historical book and the illustrated adventure are separate works, connected by curiosity, wildlife, and a shared love of bringing the past to life.

Find Chris Epting’s Theodore Roosevelt in California ↗

A little piece of real history

Meet the Real Josiah

Before Josiah was a storybook star, he was a real badger who lived among the Roosevelt family’s famous White House pets. These remarkable historic photographs bring that chapter of his life into view.

Historic black-and-white photograph of a young Roosevelt boy holding a badger — A Roosevelt child holding Josiah the badger.

Historic side-view photograph of a young boy holding a badger outdoors — Josiah getting a lift outdoors.

Historic black-and-white photograph of a young boy sitting in a rocking chair with a badger — A quiet moment with Josiah in a rocking chair.

Who’s in the photographs? These images are commonly associated with Archie Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt’s son, and his pet badger Josiah. The precise attribution of each individual photograph has not been independently verified here; captions are deliberately conservative.

Historical photographs supplied for this website. The children’s book illustrations are imaginative interpretations inspired by the Roosevelt era.