The Fina Mendoza Mysteries

Fina Mendoza, the 10-year-old detective who lives on Capitol Hill, is stuck at home with her older sister Gabby and her father, a U.S. Congessman. Fina's class assignment is to keep an audio diary as a primary source for future historians, recording what it was like to live through the coronavirus pandemic. Fina checks in by phone with her favorite dog Senator Something and solves the mystery of the missing TV remote control. We also learn about what Congress is doing.

Free curriculum and a downloadable worksheet for keeping your own coronavirus diary is available at the website finamendozamysteries.com.

The podcast is based on the award-winning book "Welcome to Washington, Fina Mendoza" by Kitty Felde.

On Tuesday night, February 24th, members of Congress from the House and Senate will hear a speech from President Trump about the State of the Union. Our Founding Fathers thought the annual speech to Congress was so important, they put it in the Constitution.

But what IS the State of the Union address? And what's it like to be inside the U.S. Capitol, sitting in the House Gallery, above the lawmakers and Supreme Court Justices and the cabinet?

In this special bonus episode of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries, we take you to the State of the Union address where a mysterious bird disrupts the speech.

Want to know more about the history of the State of the Union address? Sign up for our Facts Behind the Fiction newsletter. That newsletter explores the facts behind the fiction in the Fina Mendoza Mysteries.We'll even send you a link to a FREE copy of the 56-page Teacher's Guide to State of the Union.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysteries in the U.S. Capitol.

Kitty Felde is writer producer.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast is based on the book State of the Union, by Kitty Felde, published by Chesapeake Press. You can get an autographed copy of State of the Union here.

You can find out more about the cast and crew of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries at the website ChesapeakePress.org.

Cast:

Amy Solano - Fina Mendoza

Christine Avila - Abuelita

Steven Cuevas - Papa

Linda Graves - Claudia

Mark Bramhall - President of the United States

Ian Muchiri - Michael

DeeDee Chapell - stage manager at the rebuttal speech

Rosalie Huntington - Minority Leader

Wenzel Jones - Waiter

Music in the party is composed and performed by Kevin Pike. Andrea Felix Cervantes is our stage manager. Our theme music is written and performed by Andrew Barkan and our logo designer is Imelda Hinojosa.

State of the Union is book two in the Fina Mendoza Mysteries series. The Spanish version Estado de la Union will be released by Chesapeake Press this summer. The podcast and the books are designed to introduce civics education to elementary school students.

You can get an autographed copy of any of the Fina Mendoza books by clicking the link in the shownotes or check out the Chesapeake Press website chesapeakepress.org. that's where you can also sign up for our Facts Behind the Fiction newsletter. This week, it's more information about the rebuttal speech. And when you sign up for the newsletter, you'll also get a free download of the 56 page Teachers Guide to State of the Union.

I hope you'll tune in to Wednesday's SOtU speech and the rebuttals. You never know when a bird might just poop on somebody's head.

It's the fifth anniversary of an attack on the US Capitol by angry voters. As facts become fiction, we are using fiction to share the facts of that January 6th day by viewing events of the day through the eyes of view of the 10-year-old daughter of a member of Congress who was on the House Floor that day. It's designed to help adults talk to children about January 6th.

It's based on the Fina Mendoza Mysteries novella "Losing is Democratic" by Kitty Felde, available as an ebook or paperback. The book contains curriculum so you can use it in the classroom or with your kids.

Buy the book here:

Bookshop.org

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

IPG

Bulk Sales: Brad Fish - [email protected]

Author Kitty Felde is available for class visits. Contact here via [email protected].

It's the fifth anniversary of an attack on the US Capitol by angry voters. As facts become fiction, we are using fiction to share the facts of that January 6th day by viewing events of the day through the eyes of view of the 10-year-old daughter of a member of Congress who was on the House Floor that day. It's designed to help adults talk to children about January 6th.

It's based on the Fina Mendoza Mysteries novella "Losing is Democratic" by Kitty Felde, available as an ebook or paperback. The book contains curriculum so you can use it in the classroom or with your kids.

Buy the book here:

Bookshop.org

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

IPG

Bulk Sales: Brad Fish - [email protected]

Author Kitty Felde is available for class visits. Contact here via [email protected].

We celebrate Thanksgiving with Fina and the Mendoza family as they leave Washington to visit relatives in Los Angeles. Fina worries that the curse of the Demon Cat will follow them to California.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysterious animals in the U.S. Capitol.

Writer/Producer - Kitty Felde

Our cast includes:

Amy Solano - Fina Mendoza

Monica Vigil - Gabby

Raul Garza - Papa

Christine Avila - Abuelita

Imelda Hinojosa - Tia Catalina

Rachel Desztich - Tia Margarita

Brian Bland - Veteran

Steve DeVorkin - Senator Something

Associate Producer - Hannah Matzecki

Associate Sound Designer - Hunter Felde

Music Composed and Performed - Andrew Barkan

Logo Designer - Imelda Hinojosa

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast is based on the award-winning book series. The latest title Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza by Kitty Felde, published by Chesapeake Press is available wherever great books are sold. It's the Spanish language version of Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza.

Get your copy now!

You can find out more at our website.

Find out in The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast.

Want to know the facts behind the fiction in The Fina Mendoza Mysteries? Sign up for our newsletter.

Today is the release date for Serpiente en el Césped, the Spanish version of Snake in the Grass, book 3 in The Fina Mendoza Mysteries! That means all three books in the series are now available in both Spanish and English with a free downloadable teacher's guide.

We also want to introduce you to the latest podcast from writer and producer Kitty Felde: Honeymoon Road: Pete & Me & our Model T, a road trip podcast. Kitty's grandparents got married 100 years ago and took their honeymoon on a cross country adventure in a classic car. Kitty and cousin Marie Felde retrace their grandparents' steps, using their grandmother's letters as their roadmap.

Give a listen to Episode 1!

www.honeymoonroad.com

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysterious animals in the U.S. Capitol.

It's Christmas in Washington, a time to remember family traditions and Capitol Hill traditions. Fina and her sister get a very special opportunity to light the Capitol Christmas Tree. Find out more about the cast at the website.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast is based on the books Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza and State of the Union, by Kitty Felde, published by Chesapeakepress.org.

Want the Facts Behind the Fiction in The Fina Mendoza Mysteries? Sign up for our free newsletter. This month, it's the facts behind the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.

Coming in December: Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th in paperback.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysteries in the U.S. Capitol...and teaching civics along the way.

Join the Mendoza family as they celebrate not only Halloween, but also Dia de los Muertos.

Here's a link to the FREE curriculum for this episode.

You'll find more eductional materials on our Facts Behind the Fiction blog at the website.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries are based on the novels WELCOME TO WASHINGTON FINA MENDOZA and STATE OF THE UNION, written by Kitty Felde.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysterious animals in the U.S. Capitol.

In Episode 18, all of Washington is talking about the capture of the Burrowing Owl that pooped on the president during the State of the Union address. But not about Fina. Papa's political fundraiser with LA food trucks seems to be a huge success. And Fina gets a very special letter.

Want to know the Facts Behind the Fiction in this episode? This week, we highlight some of the more creative political fundraising events over the years.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries are written and produced by Kitty Felde.

Our cast includes:

Amy Solano - Fina Mendoza

Monica Vigil - Gabby

Christine Avila - Abuelita

Steven Cuevas - Congressman Arturo Mendoza

Tamika Katon Donegal - Monica

Waiter - Wenzel Jones

Andrea Felix-Cervantes is our stage manager. Our music is written and performed by Andrew Barkan, and our logo designer is Imelda Hinojosa.

Season 2 of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast is based on the book State of the Union, by Kitty Felde, published by Chesapeake Press. Autographed copies of State of the Union are available for purchase at the website Chesapeakepress.org. That's also where you can find out more about the cast and crew of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries and a free download of the 56-page Teacher's Guide to the book and the podcast just by signing up for our newsletter. That newsletter includes the facts behind the fiction in the Fina Mendoza Mysteries.

Get your AUTOGRAPHED copy of State of the Union HERE

And look for the Spanish version: Estado de la Unión.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries follow the adventures of the 10-year-old daughter of a congressman, investigating mysterious animals in the U.S. Capitol.

In Episode 17, Fina and her loyal canine companion Senator Something track down Chickcharney in one of the U.S. Capitol's parking garages. But will Fina learn the bird's secret message?

Want to know the Facts Behind the Fiction in this episode? This week, we explain what's up with the construction in the Rayburn Garage.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries are written and produced by Kitty Felde.

Our cast includes:

Amy Solano - Fina Mendoza

Monica Vigil - Gabby

Christine Avila - Abuelita

Steven Cuevas - Congressman Arturo Mendoza

Tamika Katon Donegal - Monica

Construction Worker - Daniel Leslie

Steve Devorkin - Senator Something

Andrea Felix-Cervantes is our stage manager. Our music is written and performed by Andrew Barkan, and our logo designer is Imelda Hinojosa.

Season 2 of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast is based on the book State of the Union, by Kitty Felde, published by Chesapeake Press. You can get an autographed copy of State of the Union, at the website Chesapeakepress.org. That's also where you can find out more about the cast and crew of The Fina Mendoza Mysteries and a free download of the 56-page Teacher's Guide to the book and the podcast just by signing up for our newsletter. Every week, that newsletter includes the facts behind the fiction in the Fina Mendoza Mysteries.