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Lemon pie, the Library of Congress, and a love of children's literature inspired three authors in 1945 to begin meeting regularly to share information and ideas. Since then, The Children's Book Guild of Washington, D.C., a private organization, has grown to include 80 children's book authors, illustrators, literature specialists, and representatives from public and school library systems, bookstores, publishing companies, and educational and governmental institutions. In the spirit of our founders, we work to "promote high standards in children's literature, and encourage the love of good books." 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 of members books with teachers, librarians, media specialists, parents, grandparents — grandstandingin short, all those bringing together young people and books. We hope you find it helpful. Please feel free to copy it and share with others.
In keeping with its aim to bring the joy of reading to
children and young adults, the Guild also:
Boy Who Saved the Town, The by Brenda Seabrooke illus. by Howard Burns. Historic fiction, 3-10. Barneby Sharpe helps fool the British bombarders in the War of 1812 by hanging lanterns in treetops so the cannonballs harmlessly overshoot the town at night. (ABA Pick of the List) Tidewater/Cornell 1990.ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-405-0, $7.95 Chadwick the Crab Books by Priscilla Cummings illus. by A.R. Cohen Fantasy, 4-11. Chadwick the Crab (1986) features a happy Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab who longs to be a star at the Baltimore Aquarium. In Chadwick and the Garplegrungen (1987) the crab and his Shady Creek friends find the solution to pollution. Wedding shells ring in Chadwick's Wedding (1989) for the crab and his girlfriend, Esmeralda, in a ceremony conducted by Baron Von Heron on a sandbar at low tide. In Chadwick Forever (1993) the crab and his spouse celebrate their new family but worry about their endangered friends. Tidewater. ISBN's hdbk., respectively, 0-87033-347-X; 0-87033-377-1; 0-87033-390-9; 0-87033-450-6, all $8.95 Chessie the Seamonster by Jeff Holland illus. by Marcy Ramsey Fiction, 2-7. Legendary Chessie's big secret is discovered by Captain Dan in a story set in the Annapolis area. Tidewater 1990. ISBN hdbk. 09618461-1-9, $8.95 Chestertown Tea Party, The by Brenda Seabrooke illus. by Nancy Coates Smith Historic fiction, 3-10. In 1774 9-year-old Amanda Wetherby follows her older brother to a tea party--but instead of tea and her favorite crimson cakes, she helps to throw tea into the Chester River in a show of solidarity for the people of Boston after the British closed the port in retaliation for their tea party. Tidewater/Cornell 1991. ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-422-0, $8.95 Oswald and the Timberdoodles by Priscilla Cummings illus. by A.R. Cohen Fiction, 3-10. Oswald the great blue heron is loved for who he is despite his big problem: he can't straighten out his long neck. Specific setting: Chesapeake Bay. Tidewater 1990. ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-411-5, $8.95 Rosie's Posies by Marcy Ramsey, Fiction, 2-7. Shy Rosie finds imaginary friends in her flower garden on the Eastern Shore. Tidewater 1994. ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-459-X, $14.95 Santa and the Skipjack by Janie Meneely, illus. by Marcy Ramsey, Fiction, 2-7. Santa gets help from local waterman on Tilghman Island. Tidewater 1991, ISBN hdbk. 9618461-1-9, $11.95 Sid and Sal's Famous Channel Marker Diner by Priscilla Cummings, illus. by A.R. Cohen Fantasy, 4-11. Two ospreys named Sid and Sal not only build their nest on a Chesapeake Bay channel marker but open a restaurant there, too.Tidewater 1991. ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-423-9, $8.95 Toulouse: The Story of a Canada Gooseby Priscilla Cummings illus. by A.R. Cohen, Fantasy, 4-11. Toulouse the Canada Goose is lost on his first migration from Canada to Maryland and finds his way with a lost snow goose. Tidewater 1995, ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-460-3, $9.95 Why Did We Have to Move Here? by Sally Davies, Fiction, 5-8. A young boy has trouble adjusting to his new home and school in Prince Georges County until he decides that with a little effort, he can make new friends. (ABA Pick of the List) Carolrhoda/Lerner 1997. ISBN hdbk. 1-57505-046-3, $14.95 Older Readers (Ages 7 and up) Alice Series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Fiction, 9-14. Nine books set in Montgomery County and Silver Spring portray the angst and humor in the coming of age of an endearing heroine who is growing up without a mother. Popular titles include Agony of Alice (1985; ALA Notable Book), All But Alice (1992), and Alice In-Between (1994). Atheneum ISBN's hdbk., respectively, 0-689-31143-5, $10.95; 0-689-31773-5, $13.95; 0-689-31890-1, $14.95. ISBN's pbk., respectively, 0-689-81672-3, $3.99; 0-440-40918-7, $3.50; 0-440-410-649, $3.99 Autumn Journey by Priscilla Cummings, Fiction, 10 and up. Eleven-year-old Will Newcomb must deal with his unemployed father's distant behavior, his grandfather's heart attack, and a goose he has shot. Specific setting: Baltimore, farm in Pennsylvania. (ABA Pick of the List) Cobblehill/Penguin 1997. ISBN hdbk 0-525-65238-8, $14.99 Awesome Chesapeake by Dave Bell illus. by Marcy Ramsey, Nonfiction, 8-14. A kid's guide to the Chesapeake Bay. Tidewater 1994 ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-457-3, $11.95 Babe Ruth: Sultan of Swat by Lois Nicholson, Biography, 8 and up. An outstanding portrayal of America's most popular and enduring hero. Contains many details about Baltimore. Goodwood 1994. ISBN hdbk. 0-9625427-1-7, $17.95 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 inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner." Tidewater 1988. ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-440-9, $8.95 Boy on the Beach, The by Maggi Meacham illus. by Marcy Ramsey, Fiction, 11-14. An 1890's time traveler to the Maryland bay area meets a modern teen and helps solve family problems. Tidewater 1992 ISBN pbk. 0-97033-441-7, $8.95 Cap Ripken: Quiet Hero by Lois Nicholson, Biography, 8 and up. A compelling account of the life of baseball's "Iron Man" who has inspired Americans through his dedication to the game he loves. Contains details of Hanford County, Aberdeen, Baltimore. Tidewater 1995 ISBN hdbk. 0-87033-481-6, $13.95
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 1978 ISBN hdbk. 0-690-03837-2, $14.95; ISBN pbk. 0-06-440201-0. $4.50 Hannah In Between by Colby Rodowsky, Fiction, 10 and up. For a while, 12-year-old Hannah thinks she is the only one who knows about her mother's drinking. Specific settings: Baltimore, Ocean City. (ALA Best Book) Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1994. ISBN hdbk. 0-374-32837-4, $15; ISBN 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 story tells of a jealous twin who must both find herself and an understanding of her sister. Also contains details of Virginia. (Newbery Medal) Crowell 1980. ISBN hdbk. 0-690-04078-4, $12.95; ISBN pbk. 0-06-440368-8, $3.95 Keeping Time by Colby Rodowsky, Time-shift fantasy, 8-12. Drew Wakeman shifts back and forth between the worlds of modern-day Baltimore and the 16th century. Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1983. ISBN 0-374-34061-7, $14 Lucy Peale by Colby Rodowsky, Fiction, 12 and up. Pregnant and fearful of her preacher father, 17-year-old Lucy runs away to Ocean City, where she is taken in by Jake, an aspiring writer. Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1992. ISBN hdbk. 0-374-36381-1, $15; ISBN pbk. 0-374-44659-8, $3.95 Oyster Moon by Maggi Meacham illus. by Marcy Ramsey, Historic fiction, 11-14. Family drama set during the Maryland bay area's Oyster wars. Tidewater 1996. ISBN pbk. 0-87033-459-X, $8.95 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/Dutton 1989. ISBN hdbk. 0-525-67258-3, $12.95; ISBN pbk. 0-14-034262-1, $3.99 Private World of Smith Island, The by Sally Foster, Nonfiction, 7-11. Photo-essay of what it is like to live on an island where crabbing is a way of life. Cobblehill/Penguin 1994; Out of print but copies available by sending a check for $16.99 to Sally Foster, 213 Edgevale Road, Baltimore, MD 21210 P.S. Write Soon by Colby Rodowsky, Fiction, 8-12. After a series of wildly exaggerated letters to her penpal, Tanner has to finally tell the truth. Specific setting: Baltimore. Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1987. ISBN pbk. 0-374-46032-9, $3.50 Remembering Mog by Colby Rodowsky, Fiction, 12 and up. This tells the story of Annie's struggle to come to terms with her sister Mog's death. Specific setting: Baltimore. Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1996. ISBN hdbk. 0-374-34663-1, $14 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 will be published in 1998. Specific setting: Prince Georges County, College Park. (Scott O'Dell Award) Clarion 1991. ISBN 0-395-58507-4, $16 Sydney, Invincible by Colby Rodowsky, Fiction, 11 and up. In her junior year Sydney becomes editor of the school paper and deals with her mother's new marriage. Farrar, Straus & Giroux 1995. ISBN hdbk. 0-374-37365-5, $14
Older Readers (Ages 7 and up)
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) T.Y. Crowell 1977; ISBN hdbk. 0-690-01359-0, $14.95; ISBN pbk. 0-06-440184-7, $4.95 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, $12.95; ISBN pbk. 0-14-037397-7, $3.99 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/Dutton 1994; ISBN hdbk. 0-525-67480-2, $13.99; ISBN pbk. 0-1-037679-8, $3.99 Gold in the Blue Ridge: The True Story of the Beale Treasure by P.B. and Walter Innis. Nonfiction, 10 and up. The account of a code-breaking search for treasure in Bedford County. Luce McKay 1972, reprinted 1980; ISBN hdbk. 0941402-11-8, $12.50 Grandpa's Mountains by Carolyn Reeder*. Historic fiction, 8-12. When the government condemns her grandparents' home and Blue Ridge Mountain land for the planned Shenandoah National Park, Carrie hears her Grandpa say, "I was born here, and I intend to die here," but then she sees her grandmother preparing for the worst. Avon 1993; ISBN pbk. 0-380-71914-2, $4.50 Haunting at Holroyd Hill, The by Brenda Seabrooke*. Fiction, 10-13. When her family moves into a new house in the Alexandria area, Melinda, her brother, and the boy next door solve the mystery of a Civil War ghost haunting the house and hill. (Shortlisted for Mark Twain Award) Puffin 1997; ISBN pbk. 0-14-038540-1, $3.99 Moonshiner's Son by Carolyn Reeder*. Historic fiction, 8-12. Tom and his Pa see making whiskey as an honorable craft and a good way to earn "cash money," but the revenuers are out to get them and now a preacher has come into the Blue Ridge Mountains to work against "the evils of drink." (Sugarman Award) Macmillan 1993; ISBN hdbk. 0-02-775805-2, $14.95; ISBN pbk. 0-380-72251-8, $4.50
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 boy attempts to solve the secret of his birth. Specific setting: Alexandria. (Edgar Award) Atheneum 1993; ISBN hdbk. 0-689-31846-4, $14.95; ISBN pbk. 0-689-80167-X, $3.95
Young Children (Ages 2-6) Underground Train by Mary Quattlebaum*, illus. by Cat Bowman Smith. Fiction, 2-7. This poem-picture book features a ride on the Metro and the sights and sounds of Washington, D.C. Bantam Doubleday Dell 1997; ISBN hdbk. 0-385-32204-6, $14.95 Older Readers (Ages 7 and up) Congressman's Daughter, The by Patricia Maloney Markun*. Fiction, 9-12. 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 1995; ISBN pbk. 0-87-406-674-3, $2.99 Kid's Guide to the White House, A by Betty Debnam. Nonfiction, 4 and up. Filled with facts, photographs, and puzzles, this book proves informative and fun for those of all ages. Andrews McMeel 1997; ISBN pbk. 0-8362-2153-2, $8.95 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; ISBN pbk. 0-395-82683-7, $14.95 Prayer and Power in the Capital by Pauline Innis. Nonfiction, 10 and up. History of old churches and the prayers of well-known people, Presidents, members of Congress, and others of all religions. Devon 1982; ISBN pbk. 0-941402-9, $7.50 President Has Been Shot, The by Rebecca Jones. Nonfiction, 8-13. True stories of 11 assassination attempts on U.S. Presidents, five of which took place in Washington, D.C. Dutton, 1996; ISBN hdbk. 0-525-45333-4, $14.99 Spy in the Sky by Kathleen Karr*. Historic fiction, 8-10. 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. Hyperion 1997; ISBN hdbk. 0-7868-2239-2, $13.89; ISBN pbk. 0-7868-1165-X, $3.95
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Captain Kate by Carolyn Reeder, historical fiction, 9 and up. Kate and her new half brother, Seth, must control their rivalry if they are to succeed in taking the family's boat down the C&O Canal to deliver a cargo of coal in 1863. Avon Hardback, 1999; ISBN: 0-380-97628-5, $15.00 (paperback available 1/2000)
