Rock Creek Park - Books

The President’s Daughter Kimberly Brubaker Bradley From the Publisher: ETHEL IS 10 YEARS OLD in 1901 when her family’s life changed forever. Suddenly, Father is not only a famous cowboy, war hero, and politician, but also President Theodore Roosevelt, leader of the United States--and Ethel has a new place to call home. The White House is older and stuffier than Ethel imagined, but there’s never a dull moment with her adventurous family around. Ethel would love to spend every day following Father on horseback rides and scrambles through neighboring Rock Creek Park. Instead, Ethel has to stay at boarding school during the week, where nothing she does feels right and none of the girls seem to like her. Ethel’s parents keep telling her to keep her chin up and be patient, but it’s not easy being the president’s daughter. Ethel wishes she could be as courageous as father and make her family proud. When her fashionable older sister arrives home, Ethel feels new hope. Sister knows the secret of being brave and making friends, and she’s willing to share it. All Ethel needs to do is take one outrageous dare. From The Critics: School Library JournalGr 5-7-Ethel’s life changes in an instant when her father, Theodore Roosevelt, becomes President of the U.S. after the McKinley assassination. The 10-year-old and her family move into the Executive Mansion, which Roosevelt renames the White House. It is a dark, musty place, filled with worn and garish furnishings. That doesn’t stop Ethel and her brothers from having fun roller-skating in the basement and sneaking up to the roof. The girl is miserable, though, when her parents send her to the National Cathedral School. Being the president’s daughter doesn’t necessarily make life or finding friends any easier. She lives for the weekends when she can go home and dreads the return to school on Monday mornings. It’s not until her older sister, Alice, challenges her to crawl under the table at a dinner in the East Room that Ethel finds the courage to fit in at school. Loaded with historical details, including Booker T. Washington’s controversial invitation to dinner, the novel rings true and the people come to life. Ethel finds that along with privileges comes scrutiny from the press and the public, and the story aptly shows the dichotomy between the two. An author’s note is included.-Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. Kirkus ReviewsIt’s 1901, and ten-year-old Ethel’s father has just become president after McKinley’s assassination. As seen through Ethel’s eyes, this story of the first few months of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency is a genuine page-turner, rich with historical detail. Ethel adores her lively, intelligent mother, her nature-loving war-hero father, and her tumble of brothers and their pets. She’s especially close to Alice Roosevelt, her 17-year-old stepsister. But Ethel must attend boarding school Monday through Friday. She misses her wild and woolly family and is confused and upset by the other girls’ gossip about her-the newspapers were as frenzied then as now. Bradley expertly weaves in some hilarious-and true-set pieces: Ethel crawling under the table at a state dinner to put a note in her father’s lap on a dare; Alice making up descriptions of her own and her stepmother’s gowns for the newspapers because they didn’t have different ones for every occasion; the president playing "Bear" with his sons. She makes Ethel a vivid and engaging presence and her struggles for acceptance at school ring true. A fascinating look at an intriguing world. (photographs, author’s note, bibliography) (Historical fiction. 8-12) Our Price: $15.95

Southern Sierra Rock Climbing: Sequoia-Kings Canyon Sally Moser From the Publisher: Includes the climbs of Courtright Reservoir, Shaver Lake, Charlottes’ Dome, and Bubb’s Creek Wall, among others. Our Price: $25.00

President’s Daughter Kimberly Brubaker Brubaker Bradley From the Publisher: ETHEL IS 10 YEARS OLD in 1901 when her family’s life changed forever. Suddenly, Father is not only a famous cowboy, war hero, and politician, but also President Theodore Roosevelt, leader of the United States--and Ethel has a new place to call home. The White House is older and stuffier than Ethel imagined, but there’s never a dull moment with her adventurous family around. Ethel would love to spend every day following Father on horseback rides and scrambles through neighboring Rock Creek Park. Instead, Ethel has to stay at boarding school during the week, where nothing she does feels right and none of the girls seem to like her. Ethel’s parents keep telling her to keep her chin up and be patient, but it’s not easy being the president’s daughter. Ethel wishes she could be as courageous as father and make her family proud. When her fashionable older sister arrives home, Ethel feels new hope. Sister knows the secret of being brave and making friends, and she’s willing to share it. All Ethel needs to do is take one outrageous dare. From The Critics: Children’s Literature - Karen Leggett We have often heard of the antics of Theodore Roosevelt’s sons in the White House and his daughter Alice lived to tell stories until 1980. But we hear very little about Ethel, Roosevelt’s second daughter. Kimberly Brubaker Bradley explains in her very useful notes that her book is a work of fiction, but she has tried to be as true and accurate as possible. We learn for example that Ethel and her family are quite concerned about Theodore’s safety, especially since he became president after the assassination of William McKinley. We know that the young Roosevelts brought a rat, guinea pigs, horses, dogs and cats to the White House and that Alice frequently came to family dinners with her pet snake wrapped around her neck. Bradley takes that information a step further and imagines the impact all that had on the White House staff! She brings a reality to the Roosevelts that is not apparent in formal family portraits—Theodore wrestling with his sons and leading diplomats, congressmen and children alike on muddy scrambles through Rock Creek Park. He always insists that everyone go "over or under but not around" any obstacle in the path. Ethel finds the advice quite useful as a way to begin slowly accepting her new situation as a boarding student at the Cathedral School for Girls—a student who happens to be the daughter of the president. The story moves slowly and seems repetitive at times but there are fascinating glimpses of pre-World War I Washington and one of the liveliest families to ever occupy the White House. 2004, Random House, Ages 8 to 14. School Library JournalGr 5-7-Ethel’s life changes in an instant when her father, Theodore Roosevelt, becomes President of the U.S. after the McKinley assassination. The 10-year-old and her family move into the Executive Mansion, which Roosevelt renames the White House. It is a dark, musty place, filled with worn and garish furnishings. That doesn’t stop Ethel and her brothers from having fun roller-skating in the basement and sneaking up to the roof. The girl is miserable, though, when her parents send her to the National Cathedral School. Being the president’s daughter doesn’t necessarily make life or finding friends any easier. She lives for the weekends when she can go home and dreads the return to school on Monday mornings. It’s not until her older sister, Alice, challenges her to crawl under the table at a dinner in the East Room that Ethel finds the courage to fit in at school. Loaded with historical details, including Booker T. Washington’s controversial invitation to dinner, the novel rings true and the people come to life. Ethel finds that along with privileges comes scrutiny from the press and the public, and the story aptly shows the dichotomy between the two. An author’s note is included.-Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. Kirkus ReviewsIt’s 1901, and ten-year-old Ethel’s father has just become president after McKinley’s assassination. As seen through Ethel’s eyes, this story of the first few months of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency is a genuine page-turner, rich with historical detail. Ethel adores her lively, intelligent mother, her nature-loving war-hero father, and her tumble of brothers and their pets. She’s especially close to Alice Roosevelt, her 17-year-old stepsister. But Ethel must attend boarding school Monday through Friday. She misses her wild and woolly family and is confused and upset by the other girls’ gossip about her-the newspapers were as frenzied then as now. Bradley expertly weaves in some hilarious-and true-set pieces: Ethel crawling under the table at a state dinner to put a note in her father’s lap on a dare; Alice making up descriptions of her own and her stepmother’s gowns for the newspapers because they didn’t have different ones for every occasion; the president playing "Bear" with his sons. She makes Ethel a vivid and engaging presence and her struggles for acceptance at school ring true. A fascinating look at an intriguing world. (photographs, author’s note, bibliography) (Historical fiction. 8-12) Our Price: $17.99

Mountain Biking Minnesota Steve Johnson From the Publisher: Heaven on two wheels. Minnesota is the place where you’ll find technical singletrack, steep ski area climbs, and smooth park trails. So get on your bike and ride. Cyclist and author Steve Johnson outlines more than sixty of the best rides in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Try the Holzinger Lodge Trail through the rolling bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley or discover metro area trails like those in the Twin Cities’ Battle Creek Park or enjoy spectacular views at Split Rock along the North Shore - there are trails for riders of all abilities. Insider tidbits about the regions’ wildlife and attractions make this more than just a trail guide. Also included: detailed ride descriptions, easy-to-read maps, ratings for physical and technical difficulty; tips on riding and trip preparation. Whatever you ride and whatever your skill level, let Mountain Biking Minnesota be your guide to fat-tire fun in Minnesota’s diverse landscape. Our Price: $16.95

Washington, D. C. Laura Harger From the Publisher: Visit scenes of scandal and bars where lobbyists troll for politicians. Attend a concert at the Kennedy Center or hike the trails in Rock Creek Park. Written with flair and wit by a DC native, this is the essential guide to its world-class museums and formidable architecture, grand promenades and shady alleys. Bring this book to see it all. where to stay, eat and shop - for all budgetsthe best places to take kidscoverage of DC’s African American history and culturespecial section on the capital’s gay and lesbian sceneexcursions to Alexandria, Great Falls, Mt Vernon and more22 detailed color maps Our Price: $15.99