Capital!: Washington D.C. from A to Z

by Laura Krauss Melmed, Frané Lessac

Welcome to our nation's Capital, home of American government, world-renowned museums, and famous memorials and monuments. Visit Apollo 11 at the Air and Space Museum, find out how Bills are printed at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and visit the Capitol Building and see where Congress meets, in this alphabetical tour from best-selling author Laura Krauss Melmed. Fascinating facts about historic people and places complement Melmed's lively, informative verse, and Frané Lessac captures the unique brilliance of the city with her detailed, accessible, folk-style artwork.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books, Childrens, Travel

48 pages, Hardcover

First published December 24, 2002

Reviews

[Sydnee Gann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book takes you on a journey through Washington D.C, our nation's capital. Filled with history and facts, you will learn everything from the size of the White House, who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and some of the animals housed at the Washington Zoo!

I honestly love this book-it is so informational. I've never been to Washington, so to learn these facts through a book is awesome to me.

I would use this book while covering a lesson concerning the presidents or Washington D.C. in general; I think I will find a use for this book in my classroom as I feel it is packed with useful information. I think students who have never been to the capital will feel as I did-almost transitioned there through the pages of this book.

[Megan Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes the reader on a tour of our nation's capital, Washington, D.C., using the alphabet A to Z. Starting with A (Air & Space Museum) and ending up at Z (National Zoo), this book is filled with information about various buildings, monuments, and even the Capitol building in Washington, D.C..
On every page, there are more facts about each subject from A to Z, and it ends with a layout map of everything discussed in the book.
I really liked this book! It was very creative to use the alphabet and share information about places and things in Washington, D.C.. I have been to our nation's capital, so I was familiar with most everything that was mentioned in the book! The illustrations were very well done, and the book was a lot of fun to read.
I could definitely use this book in a classroom for history because it mentions so much about people, buildings, monuments, etc., in Washington, D.C.! It would be a good book to take one letter at a time and read a few pages at a time (because there is a lot of interesting information).

[Elisa Pereyra-Molina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a long read for 3-5th grades not easily completed in one sitting especially if you want a child to retain the information. I would not recommend this book as a read aloud as that is what I hoped it would be good for. It is historically valuable and non-fiction. It is a picture book and therefore works well in a classroom library for elementary students but in my opinion would be best utilized as research material for a social studies lesson. It is interesting learning about the Air Space Museum, FBI, and other institutions or places of interest to visit in Washington DC. I would recommend reading this book prior to visiting our Nation’s Capital in order plan and familiarize your child with the city’s hot spots in ABC order.

[Collin Powell]

This Is a non-fiction book that presents historic places in Washington D.C. arranged by the alphabet. The places include the Declaration of Independence, the Kennedy Center, the Pentagon and the White House. At the end of the book there is a map that shows where to find all the sites listed in the book.
Each page has a different look and illustrations which cleverly used each letter of the alphabet to lead into the historic place being presented.
I liked it and thought a slightly older child (2nd or 3rd grade) would enjoy reading it just out of interest or in preparation for a trip to the Capital.

[Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why I love it: There is so much information in this book one can’t just sit and read it in one sitting. Each page is crammed pack full with info of bits and pieces of facts related to the Letter Icon the author has chosen for it. For example for the letter “A” she has chosen the Air and Space Museum. The explanation for the letter is in verse and surrounding that is a plethora of items in the museum with facts relating to that specific artifact. One could just enjoy the verse on each page or dig deeper into the illustration and the facts she has delegated to them.

[Ted Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it alphabetically catorgorized various places and people that were significant to Washinton D.C. and our nation as a whole. It would serve many social studies purposes throughout the school year.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great alphabet book all about things you would see in Washington, D.C.

[Mas5thgrade2012 · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a great book it told all i could from a to z. literally!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of details and cool views like a cut-away of the White House interior. Some of the double spreads work better than others.

[Elizabeth Boggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laura Krauss Melmed takes readers on a tour of the nation's capital from A to Z. This book is filled with information and history of our nation. With each stop the reader will be learning more about the capital and America. This book is great for American history! The pictures are fun and it contains so much information. I really liked it but it was a long read because it has so much to go along with each stop. But it would still be something that I would use for a lesson and have inside my classroom.

[Jc · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read New York by the same author and enjoyed it so I thought this book would be equally as good and it was.

[Ethan & Isaac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tremendous. I'll use this to plan our next family trip to DC.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an A to Z tour of some places in Washington, DC. Most are well known, but a few are not. Strange that the “I” is for the Islamic Center.

[Tracy Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this ABC book for older children. It is packed with facts and information about Washington DC, and all that is housed there. This is another book necessary for our study on US symbols. There is so much to learn from this book, one read is simply not enough.