The Weird, Whacky and the Wonderful. Mind-bending short stories, poems and teasing thoughts. Funny, scary and strange. But each one pushes the boundaries of storytelling to the Outer Limits.

Around the world, Washington, DC, is known for its powerful government, majestic monuments, and world-renowned museums. Secret Washington, DC: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure reminds us that the fabric of the city isn’t solely embedded in its callous political parties, exhausting lawmaking policies, and rampant tourism. Rather, it’s woven through its rich and complex history, mysterious relics, underground societies, forgotten and abandoned buildings, and controversial scandals. From the assassinations of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and James Garfield and Francis Scott Key’s son, to crimes of passion and rage at the US Capitol, Secret Washington, DC uncovers many of the dark and untold truths of how our nation emerged. At the same time, it shines a bright light on the capital’s numerous signs of creativity and innovation through the exploration of quirky art installations like Foamhenge and Barbie Pond on Avenue Q, to oddly shaped and decorated homes like the Mushroom House and the Vanadu Art House. Local author and educator JoAnn Hill will introduce you to the other side of Washington, DC: a treasure trove of mystique, peculiarities, and hidden history just waiting to be explored.

A playful, read-aloud exploration of all the different thoughts we have every day and their role in our lives. “Sharks rule!” “That’s gross.” “I love tofu.” “Is she from Montreal?” Whether our thoughts are happy, sad, scared, excited, or worried, they come in a constant flow. Through playful rhyming text and vivid, fun illustrations, Just a Thought introduces kids 4–8 to the way our lives are shaped by our thoughts. The story helps to teach self-awareness by recognizing negative self-thought and recurring thought patterns. Regardless of whether you have happy, weird, or mean thoughts—they are all just thoughts, and no single thought can define you. The magic of mind is that it's a space where anything is possible!