The Children's Book Guild of Washington D.C.

Many Guild members live in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Not surprisingly, the history, people, and details of these places have provided rich inspiration for our fiction and nonfiction. We are delighted to share this list with teachers, librarians, media specialists, parents, grandparents--in short, all those bringing together young people and books. We hope you find it helpful.

Many of these authors and illustrators are listed in the Guild Speakers Bureau and available for school visits or booktalks. This list was compiled by The Children's Book Guild of Washington, D.C. Please feel free to photocopy it and share with others.

MARYLAND

Children (Ages 2 to 7)

Barefoot: Escape on the Underground Railroad by Pamela Duncan Edwards, illus. by Henry Cole. Picturebook fiction, 5-8. Animals witness a pair of bare feet of a runaway slave running through the woods. Unwittingly, the animals help with the escape. Set on Eastern Shore of Maryland. (Starred Review, School Library Journal)
[HarperCollins 1997; ISBN 006027137 $14.95]

Chesapeake ABC by Priscilla Cummings, illus. by David Aiken. Fiction, 2 to 7. A is for an anchor,/B for boat and Bay./Come and learn the alphabet./Have fun--the Chesapeake Way!
[Tidewater 2000; ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-525-1 $11.95]

Chesapeake Rainbow by Priscilla Cummings, illus. by David Aiken. Picture book. A companion book to Chesapeake ABC and Chesapeake 1-2-3. Chesapeake Rainbow helps young readers learn their colors the Chesapeake way.
[Tidewater 2004; ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-556-1 $11.95.]

Chessie, the Seamonster That Ate Annapolis by Jeff Holland, illus. by Marcy Dunn Ramsey. Fiction, 2-7. Legendary Chessie is taken in by kindly Cap'n Dan and, though she stirs up some trouble, becomes the hero of the local watermen.
[Oak Creek 1990; ISBN hdbk. 0-961846-0-0 $8.95]

M is for Maryland by Carla Golembe. Nonfiction, 4 and up. This alphabet picture book teaches children about the rich history, people, and traditions of Maryland.
[VSP 2000; ISBN hdbk. 1-893622-03-7 $15.95]

On the Way to the Beach written and illustrated by Henry Cole. Fiction, 2 to 7. A visit to a beach on the Eastern Short brings encounters with various creatures of nature. Flaps fold out to reveal the plants and animals of each two-page spread. (2004 Outstanding Science Trade Books)
[Greenwillow 2003; hdbk ISBN 0-688-17515-5 $15.99]

Rosie's Posies by Marcy Dunn Ramsey. Fiction, 2-7. Shy Rosie finds imaginary friends in her flower garden on the Eastern Shore.
[Tidewater 1995; ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-472-7 $14.95]

Santa and the Skipjack by Janie Meneely, illus. by Marcy Dunn Ramsey. Fiction, 2-7. When his sleigh has trouble, Santa gets help from local waterman on Tilghman Island.
[Oak Creek 1991; ISBN hdbk. 0-9618461-1-9 $11.95]

Older Readers (Ages 8 and up)

Alice Series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Fiction, 9-14. We watch an appealing teenage girl mature in realistic situations with family and friends in a projected series of 28 books. Set in Silver Spring. Titles include Agony of Alice (1985; ALA Notable), Alice the Brave (1995), and Alice Alone (2001).
[Atheneum; ISBN's hdbk., respectively, 0-689-31143-5, 0-689-80095-9, 0-689-82634-6, each $16. ISBN's pbk., respectively, for first two titles, 0-689-81672-3, 0-689-80598-5, each $3.99]

Anna All Year Round by Mary Downing Hahn. Historic fiction, 9-12. The stories, everyday experiences, and emotional development of 8-year-old Anna, based on childhood memories of the author's mother growing up in Baltimore, circa 1915.
[Houghton Mifflin 1999; ISBN hdbk. 0395869757 $15, pbk. 038073317X $4.95]

Anna on the Farm by Mary Downing Hahn. Historic fiction, 9-12. A sequel to Anna All Year Round set just before WWI, Anna spends a week on her uncle's farm until Theodore calls her a "city slicker" and challenges her to prove herself.
[Clarion 2001; ISBN hdbk. 0-618-03605-9 $15]

As Ever, Gordy by Mary Downing Hahn. Historic fiction, 10-13. A sequel to Stepping on the Cracks (1991) and Following my own Footsteps (1996), eighth grader Gordy must move back to the Maryland town he hates and step away from his past behavior.
[Houghton Mifflin 1998; ISBN hdbk. 0-395-83627-1 $15]

Autumn Journey by Priscilla Cummings. Fiction, 9 and up. A coming-of-age story about 11-year-old Will Newcomb who shoots a Canada goose on his first hunting trip, then nurses the injured bird back to health. Specific settings: Baltimore, Eastern Shore. (ABA Pick of the List)
[Dutton 1997; ISBN hdbk. 0-525-65238-8 $14.99]

Awesome Chesapeake by David Bell, illus. by Marcy Dunn Ramsey. Nonfiction, 8-14. This kids' guide to the Chesapeake Bay includes information on the area's history, ecology, and creatures.
[Tidewater 1994; ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-457-3 $11.95]

Biggest (and Best) Flag That Ever Flew, The by Rebecca Jones, illus. by Charles Geer. Nonfiction, 5-10. Caroline Pickersgill (of Baltimore's Flag House) helps her mother make the flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner."
[Tidewater 1988; ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-440-9 $8.95]

Boy Who Saved the Town, The by Brenda Seabrooke, illus. by Howard Burns. Historic fiction, 4-10. In the War of 1812 a boy helps save the town of St. Michaels from an attack by a British ship.
[Tidewater 1990; ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-405-0 $9.95]

Brothers at War by Margaret Blair. Fiction, ages 8 and up. Two teenage boys, the Henry Brothers, reenacting the Civil War time travel through the medium of old-time photography back to Maryland's Battle of Antietam, where they fight on opposite sides; their friend Sarah Singleton joins up with Nurse Clara Burton.
[White Mane 1997; ISBN pbk. 1-57249-049-7 $7.95]

Captain Kate by Carolyn Reeder. Historical fiction, 8 and up. Kate and Seth, 12-year-old stepsibs and rivals, must learn to work together while they contend with Confederate raiders and the rigors of their journey down the C&O Canal from Cumberland to Georgetown.
[Children's Literature reprint 2002; ISBN pbk. 1-890920-14-2 $6.50]

Chadwick the Crab Series by Priscilla Cummings, illus. by A.R. Cohen. Fiction, 4-11. Chadwick the Crab and his Chesapeake Bay buddies find fame, fight pollution, and help their endangered friends in this five-book series, which includes Chadwick the Crab (1986), Chadwick and the Garplegrungen (1987), and Chadwick Forever (1993).
[Tidewater; ISBN's hdbk., respectively, 0-87033-347-X; 0-87033-377-1; 0-87033-450-6, each $8.95]

Chester Town Tea Party, The by Brenda Seabrooke, illus. by Nancy Coates Smith. Historic fiction, 4-10. When Amanda follows her brother on May 23, 1774, she becomes a surprised secret participant in the tea party staged by Chester Town in sympathy for the city of Boston being punished by the British for its tea party.
[Tidewater 1991; ISBN pbk. 0-87033-422-0 $8.95]

Corey's Story: Her Family's Secret by Elisa Carbone, illus. by Sally J.K. Davies. Twelve-year-old Corey copes with her father's alcoholism until she and her mother find a way to help that they never would have dreamed of. Set in Montgomery County and Washington, DC. (Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist)
[Waterfront 1997; ISBN pbk. 0-914525-30-1 $8.95]

Counties of Central Maryland, The by Patricia D'Amario and Elaine Bunting, illus. by Marcy Dunn Ramsey. Nonfiction, 8 and up. Resource book devoted to the region's geography, environment, growth and development, history, and fascinating "folks." Features Anne Arundel, Howard, Prince George, and Montgomery counties.
[Tidewater 2000; ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-503-0 $19.95]

Counties of Northern Maryland, The by Patricia D'Amario and Elaine Bunting. Nonfiction, 8 and up. Resource book devoted to the region's geography, environment, growth and development, history, and fascinating "folks." Features Frederick, Carroll, Baltimore, and Harford counties.
[Tidewater 2001; ISBN 0-87033-520-0 $19.95]

Crazy Lady! by Jane Leslie Conly. Fiction, 8 and up. Academic low-achiever Vernon Dibbs befriends an alcoholic woman and her disabled teen-aged son and becomes part of a crisis they face. Set in Baltimore. (Newbery Honor)
[HarperCollins 1993; ISBN hdbk. 0-06-021357-4 $13, pbk. 0-06-440571-0 $3.95]

Face First, A by Priscilla Cummings. Fiction, 10 and up. Seriously burned in an automobile accident, 12-year-old Kelley Brennan must learn to accept that she will never look the same. Set in Baltimore and Stevensville on Kent Island. (School Library Journal starred review)
[Dutton 2001; ISBN hdbk. 0-525-46522-7 $16.99]

Great Gilly Hopkins, The by Katherine Paterson. Fiction, 10 and up. An angry foster child learns to care for an unusual family. Also contains details of Virginia. (National Book Award)
[Crowell/HarperCollins 1978; ISBN hdbk. 0-690-03837-2 $15.95, pbk. 0-06-440201-0 $5.95]

Hannah In Between by Colby Rodowsky. Fiction, 10 and up. For a long time, Hannah feels her family is wrapped in secrecy as no one wants to admit her mother is alcoholic. Specific settings: Baltimore, Ocean City. (ALA Best Book)
[Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1994; ISBN hdbk. 0-374-32837-4 $15, pbk. 0-8167-3740-1 $3.95]

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson. Historic fiction, 12 and up. Set on an island in the Chesapeake Bay, this tells of a jealous twin who must find both herself and an understanding of her sister. Also contains details of Virginia. (Newbery Medal)
[Crowell/HarperCollins 1980; ISBN hdbk. 0-690-04078-4 $15.95, pbk. 0-06-440368-8 $5.95]

John Smith Escapes Again! written and illustrated by Rosalyn Schanzer. Non-fiction/Biography/Historical/Picture Book, 7-14. John Smith, the man rescued by Pocahontas, was also America�s first superstar! An explorer, adventurer, writer, and fighter, his amazing life included a whole series of impossibly daring escapes from slavery, attacks by ruthless sea pirates, ambush by Indians, and more.
[National Geographic Society 2006; 64 Pages; ISBN hdbk. 0-7922-5930-0, $16.95; ISBN LB 0-7922-5931-9]

Joseph Schwartz's Story by Carolyn Reeder. Historical fiction, 10 and up. Set in Baltimore at the time of the Pratt Street riot. As the Civil War begins, fourteen-year-old Joseph, a scholarship student, tries to hide his support for the Union from his rich classmates who hope Maryland will secede. [Children's Literature reprint, 2003; ISBN pbk. 798-1-890920-16-6 $6.95]

Leonard Calvert and the Maryland Adventure by Ann Jensen, illus. by Marcy Dunn Ramsey. Nonfiction, 8 and up. The story of how Leonard Calvert founded the Maryland Colony and proved he was not the dunce that others thought him. Set in St. Mary's County.
[Tidewater 1998; ISBN pbk. 0-87033-502-2 $9.95]

Maryland (Seeds of a Nation Series) by Debbie Levy. Illustrated nonfiction, 8 and up. Read about Maryland�s early history, from the rise of the Algonquians, through European exploration and settlement, to statehood.
[KidHaven Press/Thomson Gale 2004; ISBN 0-7377-1447-6 $20.96]

Molly Bannaky by Alice McGill, illus. by Chris Soentpiet. Biography, 7 and up. After serving seven years as an indentured servant, a young Englishwoman buys a slave, marries him, and becomes the grandmother of Benjamin Banneker. Set in Oella/Ellicott City. (ALA Notable)
[Houghton Mifflin 1999; ISBN hdbk. 0-395-7228X $16]

Mystery of the Tiger's Eye by Gertrude Chandler Warner (aka Candice Ransom). Fiction, 7-11. In #17 of the Boxcar Children Special series, the Alden children encounter a strange boy and a mysterious house on the cliffs overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.
[Whitman 2001; ISBN hdbk. 0807554871 $13.95, pbk. 080755488X $3.95]

Not My Dog by Colby Rodowsky. Fiction, 7-10. Though Ellie Martin has always wanted a puppy, she learns to adapt when asked to take in Great-Aunt Margaret's dog Preston. Set in Baltimore. (ALA Notable)
[Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1999; ISBN hdbk. 0-374-35531-2 $16, pbk. 0-374-45538-4 $4.95]

Oyster Moon by Margaret Meacham, illus. by Marcy Dunn Ramsey. Historic fiction, 8-12. This exciting blend of mystery and history is set on the Eastern Shore in the late 1800s during the tumultuous oyster wars.
[Tidewater 1996; ISBN pbk. 0-87033-459-X $9.95]

Pack, The by Elisa Carbone. Contemporary YA fiction, ages 12 and up. A group of friends, an act of school violence in the making . . . how far will it all go? Set in and around the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, MD. (A Junior Library Guild selection).
[Viking 2003; 0670036196 hbk $15.99]

Park's Quest by Katherine Paterson. Fiction, 10 and up. In seeking to know his father who was killed in Vietnam, a boy's fantasy life is played out in reality. Also contains details of Washington, D.C., and Virginia. (IRA-CBC Children's Choice)
[Lodestar/Econo-Clad 1989; ISBN hdbk. 0-525-67258-3 $11.10, pbk. 0-14-034262-1 $4.99]

Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings. Contemporary young adult fiction, 10 and up. Brady Parks, the 13-year-old son of a Chesapeake Bay waterman, struggles to do the right thing when he discovers two of his friends have sabotaged a kayak with tragic results.
[Dutton Chidren's Books 2004; ISBN hdbk 0-525-47317-3 $15.99]

Remembering Mog by Colby Rodowsky. Fiction, 12 and up. About to finish high school, Annie Fitzhugh finally begins to confront her grief over the murder of her sister Mog, two years ago. Specific setting: Baltimore.
[Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1996; ISBN hdbk. 0-374-34663-1 $14, pbk. 0-380-72922-9 $3.99]

Sarah and the Naked Truth by Elisa Carbone. Fiction, 8 and up. Sarah wonders about the secret her new friend Olivia is hiding, and when she discovers Olivia has an artificial leg, Sarah learns something about the courage to be one's self, about disability, and about friendship. Set in Montgomery County. (ABA Kids Pick of the List)
[Knopf 2000; ISBN hdbk. 0-375-80264-9, $15.95]

Secret of Heron Creek by Margaret Meacham, illus. by Lynne Lockhart. Fiction, 8-12. William befriends Chessie the Chesapeake Bay Sea Monster and attempts to save her when she is kidnapped by the evil Mr. Harrigan.
[Tidewater 1991; ISBN pbk. 0-87033-414-X $7.95]

Starting School With an Enemy by Elisa Carbone. Fiction, 8 and up. Spunky Sarah deals with a school bully and learns that sometimes it takes more courage not to fight than to fight. Set in Montgomery County. (Children's Literature Choice List)
[Knopf 1998; ISBN hdbk. 0-679-88639-7 $16, pbk. 0-679-88640-0 $4.99]

Stealing Freedom by Elisa Carbone. Historic fiction, 8 and up. Based on the true story of Ann Maria Weems and her courageous escape from slavery in Rockville to weeks of hiding in Washington, DC, and finally on to freedom in Canada. (ALA Best Book for Young Adults)
[Knopf 1998; ISBN hdbk. 0-679-89307-5 $17, pbk. 0-440-41707-4 $5.50]

Stepping on the Cracks by Mary Downing Hahn. Historic fiction, 9-12. Set during World War II, this tells the story of two girls dealing with the war, the town bully Gordy Smith, and his brother Stu, a deserter that Gordy is hiding in the woods. The sequel, As Ever, Gordy was published in 1998. Specific setting: Prince Georges County, College Park. (Scott O'Dell Award)
[Clarion 1991; ISBN hdbk. 0-395-58507-4 $16, pbk. 0380719002 $4.95]

Toulouse: The Story of a Canada Goose by Priscilla Cummings, illus. by A.R. Cohen. Fiction, 4-11. Toulouse the Canada Goose is separated from his family on his first fall migration from Quebec to Maryland and finds his way with a lost snow goose. Set in Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore.
[Tidewater 1995; ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-460-3 $9.95]

Turnabout Shop, The by Colby Rodowsky. Fiction, 10 and up. After the death of her mother, Livvy is sent to live with her mother's old friend Jessie Barnes and encounters a large family and the Turnabout Shop. Set in Baltimore.
[Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1998; ISBN hdbk. 0-374-37889-4 $16, pbk. 0-380-73192-4 $4.95]

While No One Was Watching by Jane Leslie Conly. Fiction, 8 and up. Children from a wealthy and a poor neighborhood in Baltimore end up meeting when Frankie steals Addie's pet rabbit and she and detective friend Maynard track Frankie down. (Horn Book Award Honor)
[Henry Holt 1998; ISBN hdbk. 0-8050-3934-1 $16.95, pbk. 0-06-440787-X $4.95]

World Turned Upside Down, The by Ann Jensen, illus. by Marcy Dunn Ramsey. Historic fiction, 7 and up. The story of an Annapolis family during the American Revolution.
[Tidewater 2001; ISBN pbk. 0-87033-534-0 $9.95]

VIRGINIA

Children (Ages 2 to 7)

Big Green Pocketbook, The by Candice Ransom, illus. by Felicia Bond. Fiction, 3-6. On her day in town with her mother, a little girl starts off with an empty pocketbook, and along the way collects pieces of her day to put inside. (ABA Pick of the List)
[HarperCollins 1993; ISBN hdbk. 006020849X $17, pbk. 0064433951 $6.95]

Christmas Dolls, The by Candice Ransom, illus. by Moira Fain. Fiction, 4-7. Claire and her mother find beauty and meaning in making new holiday traditions unique to their special family. Set in Centreville.
[Walker 1998; ISBN hdbk. 082786618 $15.95]

I Took a Walk written and illustrated by Henry Cole, Fiction, 2-7. This story was inspired by the author's childhood in Loudoun County. A visit to woods, pasture, and creek, and pond brings encounters with various birds, insects, and other creatures of nataure. Flaps fold out to reveal the animals on each two-page spread. (Bank Street Best Books)
[Greenwillow, 1998; ISBN 0-688-15115-9 $16.99 hdbk]

Liberty Street, by Candice Ransom, illustrated by Eric Velasquez. Fiction, ages 6 to 9. Kezia, a slave in antebellum Fredericksburg, attends a secret school to learn to read, but must escape to freedom before she is bonded out to another family.
[Walker, 2003; ISBN hdbk 0802788696 $16.95]

One Christmas Dawn by Candice Ransom, illus. by Peter Fiore. Historic fiction, 4-7. In 1917 Appalachia, the coldest winter on record, a little girl waits for her father to come home, and experiences a magical Christmas eve. (ABA Pick of the List)
[BridgeWater 1996; ISBN hdbk. 0816733848 $14.95, pbk. 0816733856 $4.95]

Promise Quilt, The by Candice Ransom, illus. by Moira Fain. Historic fiction, 4-7. When Addie's father is killed at Gettysburg, her family learns how to survive in war-torn Virginia. Set in Loudon County. (Hodge-Podge Award)
[Walker 1998; ISBN hdbk. 0802786944 $15.95]

Sparks Fly High: The Legend of Dancing Point by Mary Quattlebaum, illus. by Leonid Gore. Picture book folktale, 4-8. This lively Colonial American folktale re-tells the story of the legendary dance contest between Colonel Lightfoot and the devil for a spit of land called Dancing Point along the James River, close to Colonial Williamsburg.
[Farrar Straus Giroux 2006; ISBN 0-374-34452-3 $16]

Older Readers (Ages 8 and up)

Across the Lines by Carolyn Reeder. Historical fiction, 8-12. Edward, the 12-year-old son of a plantation family, spends the last year of the Civil War with relatives in the besieged city of Petersburg while Simon, his companion and servant, has attached himself to the Union Army outside the city. Specific settings: Petersburg and City Point.
[Atheneum 1997; ISBN pbk. 0-380-73073-1 $5.99]

Annie, Between the States by L. M. Elliott. Historic fiction, 12 and up. Based on the lives of real-life Virginia civilians and the Confederate and Union leaders fighting in the region, Annie, Between the States presents a teenaged girl's struggle to survive and understand the upheaval and moral dilemmas of the Civil War. Virginia Readers' Choice, high school master list, 2006-2007.
(HarperCollins 2004; ISBN hdbk. 0060012110 $15.99, pbk 0060012137 $6.99)

Baron Von Steuben by Bruce Adelson. Biography, 10 and up. Biography of the Prussian general who trained the American army at Valley Forge in 1778 and commanded it in Virginia in the late 1770s, and to whom British General Cornwallis first surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown in Virginia at the end of the Revolutionary War.
[Chelsea 2001; ISBN pbk. 0791063925 $9.95]

Blood on the River: James Town 1607 by Elisa Carbone. Historical fiction, 9 and up. Be prepared to be taken back to the year 1607 when 104 settlers landed in the New World.
(Viking 2006; ISBN 0-670-06060-7)

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. Fiction, 10 and up. A boy and girl build a magic kingdom and a friendship, which tragedy disrupts. Also includes details of Washington, D.C. (Newbery Medal)
[Crowell/HarperCollins 1977; ISBN hdbk. 0-690-01359-0 $15.95, pbk. 0-06-440184-7, $5.95]

Care and Feeding of Dragons, The by Brenda Seabrooke. Fiction, 7-10. When school starts, Alastair McKnight's pet baby dragon Spike has abandonment symptoms, which Alastair must cure while coping with his dragon of a teacher.
[Dutton 1998; ISBN hdbk. 0-525-65252-3 $15.99]

Chase: A Police Story by Alison Hart, photos by Dennis Sutton. Fiction 8 and up. Real Officer Amy Collins hunts down a fictitious car robber. Written with the assistance of the Staunton Virginia Police Department. [Random House 2002; ISBN ppbk 0-679-89367-9 $3.99]

Children of the Civil War by Candice Ransom. Nonfiction, 7-11. Illustrated with photographs.
[Lerner 1998; ISBN hdbk. 1575052415 $25]

Clara Barton by Candice Ransom. Nonfiction, 8-10. Biography of the founder of the American Red Cross. Set in Virginia, Washignton, D.C., and Glen Echo, Maryland.
[Lerner 2003; ISBN ? $23.93]

Clay by Colby Rodowsky. Fiction, 10 and up. Elsie makes a courageous decision to save her younger brother after their mother abducts them from their Baltimore home.
[Farrar, Straus & Giroux 2001; ISBN hdbk. 0-374-31338-5, $16]

Come Sing, Jimmy Jo by Katherine Paterson. Fiction, 10 and up. A shy boy becomes part of a country music act and learns the truth about his family. (ALA Notable)
[Lodestar/Dutton 1985; ISBN hdbk. 0-525-67167-6 $15.99, pbk. 0-14-037397-7 $5.99]

David Farragut: Union Admiral by Bruce Adelson. Biography, 10 and up. Biography of the most decorated admiral in American history whose statue is at Farragut Square in Washington, DC and who lived in Virginia but sided with the Union during the Civil War.
[Chelsea 2001; ISBN hdbk. 0791064166 $20.85]

Dear Ellen Bee: A Civil War Scrapbook of Two Union Spies by Mary Lyons and Muriel Branch. Historic fiction, 10 and up. This scrapbook novel includes reproductions of Civil War-period memorabilia and is based on the lives of Elizabeth Van Lew, a former slaveholder, and Mary Elizabeth Bowser, Van Lew's freed slave, who worked together as spies to help win the Civil War. (NY Public Library: One Hundred Books for Reading and Sharing)
[Atheneum 2001; ISBN hdbk. 0-689-82379-7 $17]

Fires of Jubilee by Alison Hart. Historical Fiction 8 and up. "Abby is free from slavery but not from the secrets of her past." Set in Nelson County, Virginia, 1865. [Aladdin 2003; ISBN ppbk 0-689-85528-1 $4.99]

Flip-Flop Girl by Katherine Paterson. Fiction, 9-12. After Vinnie's father dies and her little brother becomes mute, her grief leads her into betraying a friendship that will ultimately heal her. (ALA Notable)
[Lodestar/Econo-Clad 1994; ISBN hdbk. 0-525-67480-2 $11.10, pbk. 0-1-037679-8 $4.99]

George Meade: Union General by Bruce Adelson. Biography, 10 and up. Biography of the hero of Gettysburg, who commanded the Army of the Potomac in its campaigns in Virginia from 1863 until the end of the Civil War.
[Chelsea 2001; ISBN hdbk. 0791064107 $20.85]

George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides written and illustrated by Rosalyn Schanzer. Nonfiction/Biography/History/Picture Book, 7-Adult. "� This carefully researched reminder that the Revolution was an "us vs. us" conflict, not an "us vs. them" conflict should be required reading for all young students of American history." Kirkus Reviews. Best Book of the Year - School Library Journal.
[National Geographic Society 2004; 64 Pages; ISBN hdbk. 0-7922-7349-4, $16.95; ISBN LB 0-7922-6999-3, $25.90; ISBN pbk 978-1-4263-0042-4]

George Washington by Candice Ransom. Nonfiction, 8-10. Biography of the father of our country. Set in Virginia.
[Lerner 2002; ISBN 0-8225-0374-3 $23.93]

Give Me Liberty by L.M. Elliott. Historic fiction, 9 and up. Indentured servant Nathaniel Dunn finds the courage to fight for liberty when revolution explodes in Williamsburg, and to face off with his oldest friend, a run-away slave fighting for the British Royal Ethiopian, at the Battle of Great Bridge, December 1775, just outside Norfolk.
(HarperCollins 2006; ISBN hdbk.0060744219, $16.99)

Grandpa's Mountain by Carolyn Reeder. Historical fiction, 8-12. When 11-year-old Carrie arrives for her annual visit with her grandparents, she finds that her favorite place in the world is threatened because the government wants Grandpa's land for the new Shenandoah National Park. Set in Blue Ridge Mountains.
[Simon & Schuster 1991; ISBN pbk. 0-689-84867-6 $4.99]

Gregory Howard's Story by Carolyn Reeder. Historical fiction, 10 and up. Thirteen-year-old Gregory finds himself living in an occupied city�as well as in a family with divided loyalties�when undisciplined Union troops march into Alexandria at the start of the Civil War. [Children's Literature reprint 2008; ISBN pbk. 978-1-890920-17-3 $6.95]

Grover G. Graham and Me by Mary Quattlebaum. Fiction, 8-12. In this humorous and poignant novel, an 11-year-old boy cares for the toddler in his eighth foster home--and begins to feel his first sense of belonging. Set in rural Virginia.
[Random House 2001; hdbk. ISBN 0-385-3227-1 $14.95, pbk. ISBN 0-440-41918-2 $4.99].

Hear the Wind Blow by Mary Downing Hahn. Historic fiction, 11-14. At the closing months of the Civil War, Haswell Magruder shelters a wounded Confederate soldier on his family's Shenandoah Valley farm, and this generous act sets off a horrendous chain of events for him. Set near Winchester.
[Clarion 2003; ISBN hdbk 0618181903 $15.00]

Haunting of Holroyd Hill, The by Brenda Seabrooke. Fiction, 10-13. Melinda and Kevin discover their new house is haunted by the ghost of a Civil War soldier whose problem they have to solve in a hurry. Set in Fairfax County. (Shortlisted for Mark Twain Award)
[Puffin 1997; ISBN pbk. 0-14-038540-1 $3.99]

How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark written and illustrated by Rosalyn Schanzer. Non-fiction picture book, 6-12. Through quotes from the travelers' own journals and plenty of colorful, thoroughly researched artwork, you'll relive hair-raising adventures and narrow escapes as Virginia-born Lewis and Clark make the famous Voyage of Discovery that opened the West. (National Council of Social Studies/Children's Book Council Joint Committee Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies)
[National Geographic Society 1997; ISBN hdbk. 0-7922-3738-2; ISBN pbk 0-7922-6726-5]

Lewis and Clark by Candice Ransom. Nonfiction, 8-10. Biography of the Virginia-born explorers. Partly set in Virginia.
[Lerner 2002; ISBN 0-8225-0374-0 $23.93]

Martha Washington by Candice Ransom. Nonfiction, 7-10. Easy reader biography of America's first First Lady. Set in Virginia.
[Carolrhoda 2003; ISBN ? $21.27]

Moonshiner's Son by Carolyn Reeder. Historical fiction, 8-12. In a clash of cultures, 12-year-old Tom and his pa find their traditional Appalachian values at odds with those of the mission preacher and his daughter as well as with the law of the land during the prohibition years. Set in Blue Ridge Mountains. (Sugarman Award)
[Simon & Schuster 1993; ISBN pbk. 0-689-85550-8 $4.99]

Mystery at Peacock Hall, The by Gertrude Chandler Warner (aka Candice Ransom). Fiction, 7-11. In #63 of the Boxcar Children series, the Alden children are determined to help their cousin keep her home, Peacock Hill, and find its hidden treasure.
[Whitman 1998; ISBN hdbk. 087554448 $13.95, pbk. 0807554456 $3.95]

Rescue: A Police Story by Alison Hart, Photos by Dennis Sutton. Fiction 8 and up. A fictional robbery requires a response by the Staunton, VA Police Department's Critical Incidence Response Team. Discusses real police equipment and procedures. [Random House 2002; ISBN ppbk 0-679-89366-0 $3.99]

Return of the Gypsy Witch by Alison Hart. Fiction 8 and up. "It all started with one mysterious briefcase." Quirky mystery set in the fictional town of Stanford, Virginia. [Aladdin 2003; ISBN ppbk 0-689-85527-3 $4.99]

Shades of Gray by Carolyn Reeder. Historical fiction, 8-12. Orphaned by the Civil War, Will Page must make a new life for himself with relatives in the war-torn Virginia Piedmont--including an uncle Will considers a traitor or coward because he refused to fight for the Confederacy. Specific setting: Culpeper County. (Scott O'Dell Award)
[Simon & Schuster 1989; ISBN hdbk. 0-02-775810-9 $16, pbk. 0-689-82696-6 $4.99]

Shadow Horse by Alison Hart. Fiction 10 and up. After assaulting the owner of a horse farm where she works, thirteen-year-old Jasmine is placed in foster care at Second Chance, a farm for abused animals. A page-turning mystery set in the fictional town of Stanford, Virginia. [Random House 1999; ISBN ppbk 0-375-80263-0]

Twin in the Tavern, The by Barbara Brooks Wallace. Historic fiction, 8-12. This Dickensian tale is filled with imposters, scoundrels, and danger as a young orphaned boy tries to find his twin and learn the secret of his true identity. Specific setting: Alexandria. (Edgar Award)
[Atheneum 1993; ISBN hdbk. 0-689-31846-4, $14.95, pbk. 0-689-80167-X $3.95]

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Children (Ages 2 to 7)

CAPITAL! Washington D.C. from A to Z, by Laura Krauss Melmed, illus. by Fran� Lessac. Nonfiction, 5-9. An alphabetical tour of Washington, DC in lively, informative verse, with fascinating facts about the historic people and places of our nation's capital and spirited, folk-style illustrations that capture the unique brilliance of the city.
[HarperCollins 2003; ISBN 0-688-17561-9; $15.99]

Underground Train by Mary Quattlebaum, illus. by Cat Bowman Smith. Fiction, 2-8. This poem-picture book features a ride on the Metro and the sights and sounds of our nation's capital. (Maryland Black-eyed Susan Masterlist)
[Random House 1997; ISBN pbk. 0-440-41325-7 $5.99]

Washington, D.C. ABC's by Carla Golembe, with Cheryl Shaw Barnes and Peter Barnes. Nonfiction, 4 and up. This alphabet picture book teaches children about the rich history, people, and places of our nation's capital.
[VSP 2001; ISBN hdbk. I-893622-06-01 $15.95]

Older Readers (Ages 8 and up)

Auks, Rocks and the Odd Dinosaur by Peggy Thomson. Nonfiction, 7-13. Each chapter focuses on one item at the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum, telling how it was found or fixed or the history to be read from it--from a bone, a stone, or the tooth of a house mouse--and the book closes with a night-time treasure tour by guard dog Max. (Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, l986).
[HarperCollins,1985; ISBN 0690044917/ 0690044925(lib.bdg); OP]

Congressman's Daughter, The by Patricia Maloney Markun. Fiction, 8-12. Molly finds life on Capitol Hill and in her Quaker private school very different from the small Texas town where her father was elected to Congress.
[Willowisp 1994; ISBN pbk. 0-87-406-674-3, $2.99] Email author at pmmarkun@erols.com to obtain copies.

Duke Ellington: Giant of Jazz by Wendie Old. Biography, 10 and up. A biography of the Jazz composer and band leader who grew up in the nation's capital.
[Enslow 1996; ISBN hdbk. 0-89490-691-7 $20.95]

George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides written and illustrated by Rosalyn Schanzer. Nonfiction, 8 to adult. There are two sides to every story and this contrasts contemporary attitudes and feelings about both King George and George Washington.
[National Geographic, 2004, hdbk ISBN 0-7922-7349-4, $16.95 Library hdbk ISBN 0-7922-6999-3 $25.90]

George Washington by Wendie Old. Biography, 10 and up. A biography of the first president of the United States.
[Enslow 1997; ISBN hdbk. 0-89490-832-4 $20.95]

Great American Memorials Series by Brent Ashabranner, photographs by Jennifer Ashabranner. Nonfiction, 10 and up. This five-book series on memorials, all set in our nation's capital, includes Their Names to Live: What the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Means to America (1998), A Date with Destiny: The Women in Military Service For America Memorial (2000), The Washington Monument, and Remembering Korea: The Korean War Veterans Memorial (2001).
[Twenty-first Century; ISBN hdbks. 0-7613-3235-9, 0-7613-1472-5, 0-7613-2156-X, respectively, each $24.90]

Here We Go Round by Alice McGill, In the summer of 1946, seven-year-old Roberta is sent from Washington, D.C. to stay with her grandparents in rural North Carolina until after the birth of her new baby brother or sister.
[Ages 7 to 10; 2002, Houghton Mifflin; $15.00. ISBN 0618160647]

House of Spies by Margaret Blair. Fiction, 8 and up. This time the Henry brothers and their friend Sarah time travel back to Washington, D.C. in the summer of 1861, where they become involved with the Civil War espionage, through meeting high-society Confederate spy Rose Greenhow and Union Army balloonist Thaddeus Lowe.
[White Mane 1999; ISBN pbk. 1-57249-161-2 $8.95]

It Happened in the White House: Extraordinary Tales from America's Most Famous Home by Kathleen Karr, illus. by Paul Meisel. Nonfiction, 8 and up. Ghosts, dinosaur bones, and more: get the lowdown on what was truly going on in the President's House during it 200-year history!
[Hyperion 2000; ISBN hdbk. 078680369-X $16.99, pbk. 0-7868-1560-4 $5.99]

Jackson Jones and Mission Greentop by Mary Quattlebaum. Fiction, 8-12. Jackson and his friends battle developers for their city community garden, learn about historic gardens at Georgetown's Tudor Place, and take on the neighborhood bully. (Notable Social Studies Trade Book)
[Random House 2004; ISBN 0-385-73114-0 $15.95]

James Monroe by Wendie Old. Biography, 10 and up. A biography of the fifth president of the United States.
[Enslow 1998; ISBN hdbk. 0-89490941-X $20.95]

Jay Grows an Alien by Caroline Levine. Science fiction, ages 8 and up. When Jay, who has Asperger's Syndrome, grows a cyborg from a toy capsule, their friendship helps him come to terms with his condition, even appreciating its positive aspects.
[The Autism Asperger Publishing Co. 2007; ISBN 13:978-1-931282-29-1]

Keepers and Creatures at the National Zoo by Peggy Thomson, photos by Paul Conklin. Nonfiction, 7-13. Here chapters focus on bathing elephants, on training sea lions (to challenge them and keep them safe too), on teaching sign language to a fragile orangutan --all done by keepers who are keen observers, loving caregivers and know how to cope with complex emotions and with mess. (1988 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children).
[HarperCollins, 1988; ISBN 069004710X/ ISBN 0-690-04712-6 (lib.bdg); OP]

Kidding Around Washington, D.C (2nd ed.) by Debbie Levy. Picture and activity book, 8 and up. Young people have a travel book of their own in this guide for getting the most out of the city, packed with information and stories about Washington�s best museums, parks, and other fun places, as well as dozens of games, puzzles, and illustrations. [John Muir Publications/Avalon Travel Publishing 2000; ISBN 1-56261-588-2 $8.95]

Mama Went to Jail for the Vote, by Kathleen Karr, illus. by Malene Laugesen. Fictionalized true story, 5-9. The suffragists' struggle for the vote in World War I Washington is told from the tongue-in-cheek point of view of young Susan Elizabeth, whose mama is at the forefront of the battle. (ALA Amelia Bloomer Project List 2006) [Hyperion 2005; ISBN 078680593-5; $15.99]

Marian Wright Edelman: Fighting for Children's Rights by Wendie Old. Biography, 10 and up. A biography of the advocate for children's rights who lives and works in the nation's capital. (CBC/NCSS Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Sciences)
[Enslow 1995; ISBN hdbk. 0-89490-623- $20.95]

Mystery of Mary Surratt, The by Rebecca C. Jones. Nonfiction, 9 and up. A true mystery about the Maryland woman who was hanged for her part in the plot to kill Abraham Lincoln.
[Tidewater. ISBN pbk. 0-87033-560-X $9.95]

Nine-Ton Cat, The by Peggy Thomson, with Barbara Moore. Nonfiction, 9 and up. A conversational tone and fascinating facts bring alive this walk through the workrooms of the National Gallery of Art where lighters, conservators, carpenters, guards, curators, and engineers embark on the work of their day. (Horn Book starred review)
[Houghton Mifflin 1997; ISBN hdbk. 0-395-82655-1 $21.95, pbk. 0-395-82683-7 $14.95]

President Has Been Shot, The by Rebecca Jones. Nonfiction, 8 and up. True stories of assassinations and attempts on the lives of U.S. Presidents.
[Dutton 1996; ISBN hdbk. 0-525-45333-4 $14.99, pbk. 0-14-038505-3 $7.99]

Saving Grace by Priscilla Cummings. Historical fiction, 8-12. When Grace's family is evicted from their Washington D.C. apartment just before Christmas 1932, and she and her younger brothers are sent to a mission, Grace wonders what will become of her sick older brother, her pregnant mother and her out-of-work father. (A Junior Library Guild Selection).
[Dutton 2003; ISBN 0525471235; hbk $16.99]

Spy in the Sky by Kathleen Karr. Historic fiction, 7-10. Orphan Ridley Jones becomes assistant to the famous balloonist Thaddeus Lowe in this Civil War adventure about how they convince Abraham Lincoln to start a Balloon Corps. (Virginia State Reading Association's Young Reader's Program)
[Hyperion 1997; ISBN hdbk. 0-7868-2239-2 $13.89, pbk. 0-7868-1165-X $3.95]

Strong Right Arm: The Story of Mamie "Peanut" Johnson, A by Michelle Y. Green. Biography, 10-14. Mamie is the first woman to pitch professional baseball in a men's league. On of only three women to play in the Negro Leagues, Mamie overcame the obstacles of gender and race to pitch three winning seasons with the Indianapolis Clowns. Historical photos of Washington, D.C. Settings include D.C. and Maryland. (Junior Library Guild selection, Kirkus Review)
[Dial Books for Young Readers. 2002; ISBN hdbk. 0-8037-2661-9 $15.99]

Thomas Jefferson by Wendie Old. Biography, 10 and up. Biography of the third president of the United States.
[Enslow 1997; ISBN hdbk. 0-89490-837-5 $20.95]

Washington is Burning by Marty Rhodes Figley, illus. by Craig Orback. Easy-read historical fiction, grades 2-4. The burning of Washington during the War of 1812 is told from the viewpoint of Paul Jennings, James Madison�s fifteen-year-old African American slave and personal valet who later wrote the first White House memoir.
[Millbrook Press 2006; ISBN hdbk. 1575058758 $23.93]