Fina Mendoza Mysteries

A lively mystery with a touch of spookiness, an intriguing setting, an appealing family dynamic, and an enterprising Latina heroine. – Kirkus ReviewsBeware the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill! Legends say if you see the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill, you're cursed with bad luck. Ten-year-old Fina Mendoza just saw it. And the last thing her family needs right now is a jinx! Fina and her older sister Gabby just moved to Washington, D.C. after the death of their mom to live with Papa, a congressman from California. But then she comes face-to-whiskers with a mysterious cat in the Capitol Crypt. Is it the Demon Cat? 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. The only way for Fina to save her family from future "cat"astrophe is to solve the mystery of the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill.This Readers' Favorite Award-winning novel is more than a mystery story! Fina takes us backstage at the U.S. Capitol to see firsthand how government works with an emphasis on Congress and the Legislative Branch. The Fina Mendoza Mysteries provide an introduction to civics for elementary age children.The West Wing meets Nancy Drew...For fans of Nancy Drew Mysteries, Boxcar Children, Encyclopedia Brown, and Hardy Boys! THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES SERIES: Book 1 – Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza Book 2 – State of the Union Book 3 – Snake in the Grass (coming soon) ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH: Book 1 – Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza Book 2 – Estado de la Unión Book 3 – Serpiente en la Hierba (muy pronto) ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: – Perfect for classroom or homeschooling settings – Free podcast based on the books and current events: The Fina Mendoza Mysteries – 32-page Teacher's Guide including language arts, math, and social studies lessons

A great book and series for CIVICS EDUCATION! Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th features a Latina protagonist of spunk and smarts whose congressman father is on the House floor on January 6th. Teachers, Librarians, and Homeschoolers, THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES SERIES of Books, Podcasts, Teacher' s Guides, and "Facts Behind the Fiction" newsletter/blog provide a multidisciplinary approach to civics education for elementary school readers. As our amateur detective solves mysteries on Capitol Hill, she and your students learn about American democracy, the electoral process, civic engagement and the events of January 6, 2021. SYNOPSIS: Fina is in the middle of an investigation to find out who stole the 5th grade's pizza- the prize for winning a reading competition. But all thoughts of detection go out the window as she, her older sister Gabby, and grandmother Abuelita watch on television as a mob breaks into the Capitol. Is Papa okay? Most of Fina's classmates have parents who work inside that building as well. Their teacher calms their fears and the next day, turns the event into a teaching opportunity, looking back at the bitter presidential election rivalry between Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The students discuss the importance of winning and losing, whether it's in a baseball game, a reading competition, or an election. THE WEST WING meets NANCY DREW FREE DOWNLOADABLE CURRICULUM AVAILABLE:Build reading skills while teaching integrated lessons in: – ELA, social studies, and history designed for grades 3-5 Common Core Standards – NCSS curriculum standards, C3 Social Studies Readiness – California Public Schools' History-Social Science content standardsPromote deeper learning through: – active engagement – reading comprehension – content knowledge – creative and analytical thinkingDesigned for use by elementary school teachers, parents, homeschoolers, scout leaders, and community educators. INTERACTIVE COMPONENTS AND MULTIMEDIA SOURCES:Helps address students' diverse learning needs and supports the use of technology in the classroom.The Fina Mendoza Mysteries FREE podcast is based on the books and current events. The "Facts Behind the Fiction" blog and newsletter offer historical and civics context for both the books and podcast. Introduce civics to your students with The Fina Mendoza Mysteries series! THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES SERIES: Book 1 – Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza Book 2 – State of the Union: A Fina Mendoza Mystery Book 3 – Snake in the Grass (coming Spring 2025) Podcast – The Fina Mendoza Mysteries ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH: Book 1 – Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza Book 2 – Estado de la Unió n: Un Misterio de Fina Mendoza Book 3 – Serpiente en la Hierba (Autumn 2025) For fans of The Secret Lake, Greenglass House, and "The Mysterious Benedict Society" and "National Park Mystery Series" as well as classic books and detective series like The Westing Game, Boxcar Children, Encyclopedia Brown, The Virginia Mysteries, and Hardy Boys.

A mysterious bird poops on the president's head during the State of the Union address. The bird could be a Chickcharney, the legendary bird from the Caribbean, which may have come to Washington to deliver a secret message. Is it for the president? Or Congress? Or for Fina\u2019s friend, a cashier at the Capitol snack bar? Or maybe it's a message for Fina from her mom who passed away not so many months ago. Fina gets detecting help from a pair of congressional dogs as she searches for clues. The story mixes the mystery with a peek behind the scenes at the U.S. Capitol, including a congressional battle over immigration reform and a family battle when Fina\u2019s grandmother is nearly arrested at an immigration protest. "State of the Union" is an introduction to civics for elementary school readers. It's "The West Wing" meets Nancy Drew.

A great book and series for CIVICS EDUCATION Pairing the allure of Washington DC, with an animal misadventure, "Snake in the Grass" is a robust series mystery novel. -FOREWORD REVIEWS 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. * * * * * * FINA'S LATEST CASE: Everybody's mad at everybody else on Capitol Hill. Members call each other names on the floor of the House of Representatives. And anybody who dares to work with someone in the other political party is punished. Now somebody's putting snakes in lawmaker gym bags and trash cans. It's up to Fina and Senator Something to find the real snake in the grass. TEACHERS, LIBRARIANS, and HOMESCHOOLERS, The Fina Mendoza Mysteries 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! * * * * * * This third book in the series is more than a mystery story! It's THE WEST WING meets NANCY DREW. Available soon in Spanish! Look for Serpiente en la Hierba by Kitty Felde, translated by Jorge Flores GonzÁlez. * * * * * * FREE DOWNLOADABLE TEACHER'S GUIDE AVAILABLE: – Build reading skills while teaching integrated lessons in: • ELA, social studies, and history designed for grades 3-5 Common Core Standards • NCSS curriculum standards, C3 Social Studies Readiness • California Public Schools' History-Social Science content standards. – Promote deeper learning through: • active engagement • reading comprehension • content knowledge • creative and analytical thinking – Designed for elementary school teachers, librarians, parents, homeschoolers, scout leaders, and other community educators. INTERACTIVE COMPONENTS & FREE MULTIMEDIA SOURCES: • Helps address students' diverse learning needs. • Supports the use of technology in the classroom. • Dramatic podcast based on the books and current events. • Facts Behind the Fiction blog and newsletter offer historical and civics context for the books and podcast. * * * * * * Introduce civics to your students with "The Fina Mendoza Mysteries" series! THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES SERIES: Book 1 – Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza Book 2 – State of the Union: A Fina Mendoza Mystery Book 3 – Snake in the Grass Book 4 – Home of the Brave (coming Spring 2026) Novella – Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th Podcast – The Fina Mendoza Mysteries ALSO AVAILABLE IN SPANISH: Libro 1 – Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza Libro 2 – Estado de la UniÓn: Un Misterio de Fina Mendoza Libro 3 – Serpiente en la Hierba (OtoÑo 2025) Libro 4 – Casa de los Valientes (OtoÑo 2026) * * * * * * For fans of: The Secret L