{"product_id":"welcome-to-washington-fina-mendoza-9781735976747","title":"Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA great book and series for CIVICS EDUCATION\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eA lively mystery with a touch of spookiness, an intriguing setting, an appealing family dynamic, and an enterprising Latina heroine.\u003c\/i\u003e --KIRKUS REVIEWS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Fina Mendoza is the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman who solves mysteries in the U.S. Capitol with the help of a big orange dog named Senator Something. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e* * * * * *\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFINA'S FIRST CASE: \u003c\/b\u003eBeware the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill! \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, and HOMESCHOOLERS, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Fina Mendoza Mysteries\u003c\/i\u003e series of books, podcasts, teacher's guides, and \"Facts Behind the Fiction\" blog\/newsletter provide a multidisciplinary approach to civics education for elementary school readers. As our amateur detective solves mysteries on Capitol Hill, Fina learns about American democracy, the electoral process and legislative branch along with your students. Take them deeper into Common Core knowledge with standards-based instruction through the series' multimedia sources! \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSYNOPSIS: \u003c\/b\u003eLegends say if you see the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill, you're cursed with bad luck. Fina Mendoza, the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman from California, just saw it. And the last thing her family needs right now is more bad luck! \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Fina and her older sister Gabby just moved to Washington, D.C. after the death of their mom to live with Papa. But then she comes face-to-whiskers with a mysterious cat in the Capitol Crypt. Is it the Demon Cat? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Disasters follow! Jars of spaghetti sauce explode. Fina's beloved grandmother Abuelita breaks her leg. And Fina's only friend in Washington, a big orange dog named Senator Something, becomes the next target. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe only way for Fina to save her family from future \"cat\"astrophe is to solve the mystery of the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e* * * * * *\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e This Readers' Favorite Award-winning novel is more than a mystery story! \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIt's \u003ci\u003eTHE WEST WING\u003c\/i\u003e meets NANCY DREW.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlso available in Spanish! Look for \u003ci\u003eBienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza\u003c\/i\u003e by Kitty Felde, translated by Jorge Flores Gonz?lez. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e* * * * * *\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFREE DOWNLOADABLE TEACHER'S GUIDE AVAILABLE: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e- Build reading skills while teaching integrated lessons in: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e ELA, social studies, and history designed for grades 3-5 Common Core Standards \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e NCSS curriculum standards, C3 Social Studies Readiness \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e California Public Schools' History-Social Science content standards. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e- Promote deeper learning through: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e active engagement \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e reading comprehension \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e content knowledge \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e creative and analytical thinking \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e- Designed for\u003c\/b\u003e elementary school teachers, librarians, parents, homeschoolers, scout leaders, and other community educators. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eINTERACTIVE COMPONENTS \u0026amp; FREE MULTIMEDIA SOURCES: \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Helps address students' diverse learning needs. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Supports the use of technology in the classroom. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eDramatic podcast\u003c\/b\u003e based on the books and current events. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFacts Behind the Fiction\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e blog and newsletter offer historical and civics context for the books and podcast. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e* * * * * *\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIntroduce civics to your students with \"The Fina Mendoza Mysteries\" series!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES SERIES: \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Book 1 - \u003ci\u003eWelcome to Washington Fina Mendoza\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Book 2 - \u003ci\u003eState of the Union: A Fina Mendoza Mystery\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Book 3 - \u003ci\u003eSnake in the Grass\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Book 4 - \u003ci\u003eHome of the Brave\u003c\/i\u003e (coming Spring 2026) \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Novella - \u003ci\u003eLosing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Podcast - \u003ci\u003eThe Fina Mendoza Mysteries\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH: \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Libro 1 - \u003ci\u003eBienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Libro 2 - \u003ci\u003eEstado de la Uni?n: Un Misterio de Fina Mendoza\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Libro 3 - \u003ci\u003eSerpiente en la Hierba\u003c\/i\u003e (Oto?o 2025) \u003cbr\u003e Libro 4 - \u003ci\u003eCasa de los Valientes\u003c\/i\u003e (Oto?o 2026) \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e* * * * * *\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFor fans of: \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The Secret Lake \u003cbr\u003e Greenglass House \u003cbr\u003e The Mysterious Benedict Society \u003cbr\u003e National Park Mystery Series \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eAnd classic books and detective series like: \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The Westing Game \u003cbr\u003e The Boxcar Children \u003cbr\u003e Encyclopedia Brown \u003cbr\u003e The Virginia Mysteries \u003cbr\u003e Hardy Boys \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eAward-winning public radio journalist, writer, and TEDx speaker Kitty Felde hosts the \u003cb\u003eBook Club for Kids\u003c\/b\u003e podcast, named by \u003ci\u003eThe Times\u003c\/i\u003e of London as one of the top 10 kidcasts in the world. The Los Angeles native created the Washington bureau for Southern California Public Radio. She covered Capitol Hill for nearly a decade, explaining how government works to grownups. Now she explains it to kids in a series of mystery novels and podcasts called \u003cb\u003eThe Fina Mendoza Mysteries\u003c\/b\u003e. Kitty was named LA Radio Journalist of the Year three times by the LA Press Club and the Society of Professional Journalists. She fell in love with kidlit when she worked at her local public library.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Chesapeake Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50554036846866,"sku":"9781735976747","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_e6a9540d-ca12-4a1c-9e01-7ce6ccec3246.jpg?v=1746626869","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/welcome-to-washington-fina-mendoza-9781735976747","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}