Selene Castrovilla is an award-winning author! SEEKING FREEDOM is a 2023 Assoc. for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Notable Book!

Selene Castrovilla

Selene CastrovillaSelene CastrovillaSelene Castrovilla
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    • Home
    • Celebrate Lafayette!
    • History With Heart
    • about
    • Book an Author Visit
    • Upcoming Appearances
    • young adult
    • editorial services
    • Women's Fiction
    • contact
    • Finding happy
    • shop
    • Remembering History
    • Available Manuscripts

Selene Castrovilla

Selene CastrovillaSelene CastrovillaSelene Castrovilla
  • Home
  • Celebrate Lafayette!
  • History With Heart
  • about
  • Book an Author Visit
  • Upcoming Appearances
  • young adult
  • editorial services
  • Women's Fiction
  • contact
  • Finding happy
  • shop
  • Remembering History
  • Available Manuscripts
Hidden American History With Heart!

Seeking Freedom

Writer Selene Castrovilla brings American history for kids to life with her award-winning books, perfect for all social studies curriculum.


Booklist starred review!


★ " In 1861, George Scott had been living in the forest and swamp near Hampton, Virginia, for two years, hiding from those who would force him back into slavery. After hearing that Black freedom seekers were protected inside nearby Fortress Monroe, he sought shelter there."

Read Full Review

Selene Castrovilla offers virtual and in-person visits to discuss her nonfiction children's books!


Seeking Freedom is perfect for your state's social studies curriculum.

New Social Justice Books for Children, Young Adults and Educators

STARRED REVIEW

School Library Connection

★ "This is a thrilling tale of bravery and cunning, the courage of [George] Scott, and the shrewd actions of General [Benjamin] Butler...Fascinating facts combine with vivid illustrations in a truly powerful recounting of a crucial point in history."

Check out Seeking Freedom on Goodreads

How Selene found this story!

Seeking the Story of Seeking Freedom

"How could a hero from the Revolutionary War lead me to a virtually unknown story from the Civil War? Do you believe in ghosts? I do." Learn how Selene found this hidden American history for kids.


Read the full Nerdy Book Club post

The true story that saved the American Revolution!

Revolutionary Friends

★  ". . . This oversize, handsome package will introduce a little-known aspect of the Revolutionary War history through pithy words and often dramatic pictures. It respects its audience as well as the historically significant friendship it portrays."-- Booklist, starred review


A Booklist Top Ten Biography for Youth




Revolutionary Friends on Amazon

Selene Castrovilla and the "Marquis de Lafayette" display Revolutionary Friends, her tribute to him.

Award-Winning

A Society of School Librarians International Book Award Honor Book


A California Reading Association Eureka! Nonfiction Honor Book


A Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year


A Booklist Top Ten Biography for Youth


Consider this American history for kids for your social studies curriculum. One of Selene's riveting Revolutionary War books for 4th grade and up!

Find out what inspired this book

Selene Castrovilla is an award-winning author

Selene Castrovilla and "Martha Washington" meet in Virginia!


KidTime Storytime Book Read Aloud: REVOLUTIONARY FRIENDS

It's the true story of the special father-son bond between George Washington & France's freedom-loving Marquis de Lafayette formed during America's war for independence! Learn about American history for kids in a Revolutionary KidTime StoryTime, featuring one of writer Selene Castrovilla's Revolutionary War books for 4th grade & up!


Download Educator's Guide

An educators' guide for REVOLUTIONARY FRIENDS, riveting American history for kids  by award-winning writer Selene Castrovilla. Perfect for social studies curriculum! Check out all of Selene's Revolutionary War books for 4th grade & up. 

Revolutionary_Guide_5.5_X_8.5 (pdf)

Download

The treason that almost lost the American Revolution!

Revolutionary Rogues

Gravely injured and with little chance for more military honors, Major General Benedict Arnold seeks reward and recognition another way: by betraying George Washington and turning traitor against the country he swore to protect!


"The suspenseful story keeps readers on the edge of their seats whether young or old." 

Find out more on Amazon

Learn the truth behind Benedict Arnold

Critically Acclaimed!

A NCSS/CBC Notable Trade Social Studies Book
A Kansas Reading Circle Choice
A Bank Street College Best Book
Tappantown Historical Society’s Achievement Award 


"With colorful illustrations and insightful observations, books like this one make the names recorded in history much more human." - Booklist

Listen to Revolutionary Rogues on KidlitTV's Podcast!

KidLit TV Read Out Loud: REVOLUTIONARY ROGUES

Read along with writer Selene Castrovilla on this episode of Read Out Loud on Governors Island! Selene will be reading REVOLUTIONARY ROGUES, one of her history books for kids. 


Kid Lit TV taped this episode of Read Out Loud on location during the KidLit TV Children’s Book Weekend on Governors Island at a house built in the late 1800s! The island is also part of American history. The military installation on Governors Island was known collectively as Fort Columbus, and in 

1878, officers’ families moved in. This house is located next to the Admirals House in Nolan Park. 


Download Revolutionary Rogues Educator's Guide

An educators' guide for REVOLUTIONARY ROGUES, American history for kids. Perfect for social studies curriculum. Teach your students with Selene's Revolutionary War books for 4th grade & up!

REV ROGUES_POSTER ED GUIDE_1 (pdf)

Download

Selene Castrovilla signed her nonfiction picture books at the Library Of Congress! She is proud to be the author of great books for kids which show how amazing and surprising American history is.

The Library of Congress

What a surprising honor

Selene recently visited the Library of Congress Young Readers Center, where she discovered that two of her American history books were among their collection of good books to read for young people! It was a dream realized to be a writer contributing to America's library for youth. 


These books are perfect for the Library of Congress, which has special sections history books for kids and American presidents. 


Check out the beautiful card catalog behind her! Before the internet and online card searching, boxes like these were filled with typed cards, listing each book available. When you wanted to find a book you would flip through the cards. This really wasn't that long ago. When Selene was in school and wanted a book, she looked through the card catalog. It is pretty astounding to think about how technology has changed things. 


Selene  was honored to sign her books. See what she wrote below!



Signing the books for America's Library

Revolutionary Friends

Revolutionary Friends

Revolutionary Friends

What Selene wrote inside her American history book Revolutionary Friends at the Library of Congress!


This writer cherishes her career writing history books for kids!

Revolutionary Rogues

Revolutionary Friends

Revolutionary Friends

Here's the message Selene wrote inside Revolutionary Rogues, one of her history books for kids,  at the Library of Congress.


What a thrill for the American history writer!


The little known story of George Washington's finest moment!

By the Sword: A Young Man Meets War

Spurred by the cry for freedom and the blood spilled at the battles of Lexington and Concord, young teacher Benjamin Tallmadge sacrifices his career and his dreams to enlist in George Washington’s army in Revolutionary America. 

Find out more on Amazon

Empathy Inside War

A Man and his Beloved Horse

Follow Benjamin Tallmadge and his beloved horse, Highlander, at the Battle of Long Island. 


A Goodreads reviewer created this collage!

Find out more on Goodreads

Discover the amazing, brave women who founded our country. History's heroines are extraordinary and surprising!


On the cover:


--Phillis Wheatley, Enslaved Poet


--Mercy Otis Warren, Revolutionary Writer


--Martha Washington, Fiercely Devoted


--Nanyehi/Nancy Ward--Beloved Woman and Cherokee Peacemaker


The other side of history!


Zoom and in-person author visits available

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Behind the Scenes: How I work with my amazing editor!

A fun peek at the creative process behind my American history book for elementary readers:  Revolutionary Friends: General George Washington & the Marquis de Lafayette!

Watch now