Dia de los Muertos - Day of the Dead

On Thursday night, March 7th, members of Congress from the House and Senate will hear a speech from President Biden 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. 

January 6th is the three year anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. More than a thousand people have been arrested, trials continue around the country, and the events of that day still echo during the upcoming election season.

So how do we talk to kids about January 6th? Let Fina help.

MY NAME IS FINA MENDOZA. My Papa works in the U.S. Capitol. He’s a congressman. Me? I solve mysteries. I had a new case: trying to find out who stole the class pizza. 

But everything changed on January 6th. 

While Papa was voting to certify the presidential election, a bunch of angry people broke into the Capitol. They believed that someone had stolen the election. They were really, really mad. I was really, really scared. My Papa was in that building. So were the parents of a lot of my classmates. Would the angry people hurt them? Why did this happen? Would it happen again?

We talked about it in class, about how angry John Adams was when he lost the election to Thomas Jefferson and what happened next. We learned how important losing is in baseball and class competitions and elections. And how to be a gracious winner and never a sore loser. 

Oh, and I did solve the mystery of the missing pizza.

FREE curriculum for this episode available HERE.

A paperback version of this episode is available as a novella HERE. 

“Our democracy is still very much in danger, and if elections are only considered valid if your side wins, our future is indeed dim. Kitty Felde helps us convey to children that our democracy depends on all sides of an election putting their allegiance to country above party, and her book helps open the door to a discussion about the perilous events on January 6th, how to find common ground, rebuild trust, and reach across the aisle, er, playground.”

— Congressman Adam Schiff

January 6th is the three year anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. More than a thousand people have been arrested, trials continue around the country, and the events of that day still echo during the upcoming election season.

So how do we talk to kids about January 6th? Let Fina help.

MY NAME IS FINA MENDOZA. My Papa works in the U.S. Capitol. He’s a congressman. Me? I solve mysteries. I had a new case: trying to find out who stole the class pizza. 

But everything changed on January 6th. 

While Papa was voting to certify the presidential election, a bunch of angry people broke into the Capitol. They believed that someone had stolen the election. They were really, really mad. I was really, really scared. My Papa was in that building. So were the parents of a lot of my classmates. Would the angry people hurt them? Why did this happen? Would it happen again?

We talked about it in class, about how angry John Adams was when he lost the election to Thomas Jefferson and what happened next. We learned how important losing is in baseball and class competitions and elections. And how to be a gracious winner and never a sore loser. 

Oh, and I did solve the mystery of the missing pizza.

FREE curriculum for this episode available HERE.

A paperback version of this episode is available as a novella HERE. 

“Our democracy is still very much in danger, and if elections are only considered valid if your side wins, our future is indeed dim. Kitty Felde helps us convey to children that our democracy depends on all sides of an election putting their allegiance to country above party, and her book helps open the door to a discussion about the perilous events on January 6th, how to find common ground, rebuild trust, and reach across the aisle, er, playground.”

— Congressman Adam Schiff

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.

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.

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.

Fina ties up loose ends in the case of the mystery of the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill and experiences her first Christmas in Washington, DC.

Writer/Producer - Kitty Felde

Our cast includes:  

Amy Solano - Fina Mendoza 

Monica Vigil - Gabby 

Raul Garza - Papa 

Laura Stegman - Congresswoman Mitchell

Imelda Hinojosa - Tia Catalina

Steve Gamber - John the Staffer

Linda Graves - Claudia

Paul Cummings - Carl Jefferson

Wenzel Jones - Statue of Caesar Rodney

Elizabeth Logun - DC the Cat

Terry Marks Tarlow - Mistress of Ceremonies

Steve DeVorkin - Speaker of the House and Senator Something 

One more thank you to one of our carolers Melanie Newkirk. Melanie passed away shortly after we taped this scene and we wanted to dedicate this episode to her.

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. You can purchase an autographed copy of Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza or the Spanish language version Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza from our friends at Village Well Books & Coffee by clicking HERE.

You can find out more at the website chesapeakepress.org.

Sign up for our FREE Facts Behind the Fiction blog with real information about the facts in the story HERE.

The Mendoza family heads to Los Angeles to celebrate Thanksgiving. Fina worries that the curse of the Demon Cat will follow them to California. 

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. You can purchase an autographed copy of Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza or the Spanish language version Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza from our friends at Village Well Books & Coffee by clicking HERE.

You can find out more at the website chesapeakepress.org.

Sign up for our FREE Facts Behind the Fiction blog with real information about the facts in the story HERE.

Fina continues to investigate the history of cats in the U.S. Capitol. Papa returns to Washington for a family meal. But then catastrophe strikes. Can the Demon Cat be to blame?

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast is written and produced by Kitty Felde

Our cast includes:

Amy Solano - Fina Mendoza

Monica Vigil - Gabby

Raul Garza - Papa

Mat Kaplan - House Historian

Steve Gamber - John the Staffer

Brian Bland - Capitol Tour Guide

Rosalie Fox - Veterinarian

Steve DeVorkin - Senator Something

Our tour kids are Michael Beemer, India Scaglione, and Myca Scaglione

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. You can purchase an autographed copy of Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza or the Spanish language version Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza from our friends at Village Well Books & Coffee by clicking HERE.

You can find out more at the website chesapeakepress.org.

Sign up for our FREE Facts Behind the Fiction blog with real information about the facts in the story HERE.

Fina and Gabby join Claudia at the National Zoo where Fina gathers clues. The Mendoza sisters also celebrate Dia de los Muertos - the Day of the Dead. And Fina comes up with a plan.

The Fina Mendoza Mysteries podcast is written and produced by Kitty Felde

Our cast includes:

Amy Solano as Fina Mendoza

Monica Vigil as Gabby

Linda Graves as Claudia

Christine Avila as Abuelita

And Steve DeVorkin as 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. You can purchase an autographed copy of Welcome to Washington Fina Mendoza or the Spanish language version Bienvenida a Washington Fina Mendoza from our friends at Village Well Books & Coffee by clicking HERE.

You can find out more at the website chesapeakepress.org.