Description:
A mysterious bird poops on the president's head during the State of the Union address. The Fina Mendoza Mysteries series is designed to introduce civics education to elementary students.
Brief description: Award-winning public radio journalist and TEDx speaker Kitty Felde hosts the Book Club for Kids podcast - named one of the top 10 kidcasts in the world by The Times of London. The native Angeleno created the Washington bureau for Southern California Public Radio. She's reported on everything from war crimes trials to OJ Simpson to baseball, and hosted a daily talk show in Los Angeles. She won the Los Angeles Radio Journalist of the Year award three times from the Society of Professional Journalists and the L.A. Press Club. Her many plays are performed worldwide.Kitty is also executive producer of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast, based on the series of Fina Mendoza books.She fell in love with literature for young readers when she was a young reader herself, working at her local public library.
Review Quotes:
"A lively, diverse mystery with enjoyable, informative plotting and a relatable young female protagonist." --Kirkus Reviews
"Many kids will not only learn about civic education in an engaging manner, but also find enjoyment in the learning process." --U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor
"Kitty Felde is teaching our children all about Capitol Hill in a way that grabs and keeps their interest. Personally, I can say she knows every nook and cranny of the place because she interviewed me in almost all of them." --Former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D)
"State of the Union is a civics lesson disguised as a mystery for kids, a family story where Papa just happens to serve in the U.S. Congress. In an era of bitter partisan politics, it's a sneaky way to excite the next generation about government and the possibility of public service." --Former Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Buck McKeon (R)
"State of the Union is a heartwarming read, a gem of a book." --Ginger Park, author of The Hundred Choices Department Store
"State of the Union is another stellar entry in Kitty Felde's outstanding Fina Mendoza Mystery series. State of the Union has it all -- a protagonist you will cheer for, warmth and humor, and a good mystery story underpinning it all. Readers will get an inside look at how their government works -- Felde handles this beautifully, weaving her expertise in seamlessly -- and so much more." --Jan Burke, author of the Irene Kelly mystery series