Books That Take You There: Washington, D.C.

Planning your upcoming summer vacation? Washington, D.C., is a city full of history, charm, monuments, and museums. Summer in our nation's capitol is an especially exciting time with many free activities, festivals, and an impressive Independence Day celebration. Whether you're hoping to travel there in person or dreaming about it from the comfort of your living room, these books will give you a taste of the distinctive D.C. experience!

The White House Cat

Written by Cylin Busby

Illustrated by Neely Daggett

New York, NY: Balzer + Bray, 2022. Picture Book.

Take a tour of the White House from a cat's perspective and learn lots of fun facts about the most famous residence in America along the way!

Washington, DC City Trails

By Moira Butterfield

Oakland, CA: Lonely Planet Global Ltd., 2017. Informational. 102 pages.

Chock-full of little known facts and secrets, each city trail follows a different theme around the Washington, D.C., area. Trails include themes such as City Sounds, Statue City, Washington G-g-g-ghosts, and D.C. Time Travel among others.

Monument Maker: Daniel Chester French and the Lincoln Memorial

Written by Linda Booth Sweeney

Illustrated by Shawn Fields

Thomaston, Maine: Tilbury House Publishers, 2019. Biography. 63 pages.

Following the early life and training of Daniel Chester French, this biography tells of how French became America's foremost sculptor and the artist responsible for the Lincoln Memorial. Fascinating insight is provided on the motivation, process, and symbolism behind his greatest work.

One More Acorn

By Don Freeman and Roy Freeman

New York: Viking, 2010. Picture Book.

A squirrel hunts for a memorable acorn during an autumn day in Washington, D.C. His search takes him past famous landmarks such as Lafayette Square, the Washington Monument, the US Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial, and ends with a parade down Constitution Avenue.

How to Build a Museum: Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture

By Tonya Bolden

New York : Viking, 2016. Informational. 53 pages.

How to Build a Museum chronicles the 100 year journey of the construction of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the most recent and likely the last museum to be built on the National Mall.

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.

The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester 2008

J Fiction 328 pages I almost didn't finish this book. I got to Chapter 4, and was just about ready to quit (a kind of slow story about a girl, name of Piper McCloud, who discovers she can fly, parents freak out, she becomes a social outcast, yadda, yadda) but suddenly, right there in Chapter 4, the story takes a sharp turn and becomes really interesting . Piper finds herself in the company of others like her, but not "fliers", and under the care and authority of Dr. Hellion. I won't even tell you any more. Read this book. Forester does a great job of keeping you wondering who's the good guy and who's the bad? Piper is a likeable, strong, endearing character that girl readers will enjoy. But don't NOT give it to boys! The main male character is an extremely intelligent young man who is one of the ones you wonder about . . . good or bad? This is a good one, well worth your time.

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