HISTORY MYSTERY in PHILADELPHIA -With Cindy, Sammy and Friends: The Adventure of a Guide Dog Team

The reader will be hooked right from the start when the spirit of Benjamin Franklin visits Sammy requesting his assistance in a mission of national importance. But, first, they need to find Thomas Jefferson's portable writing desk. It holds the original draft of the Declaration of Independence. 

The reader is introduced to 1776 Philadelphia, the people, historical sites,

inventions, and more. The author creatively intertwines fact and fiction by using dialogue that makes the reader feel like they are in the story.

This is Cheryl's fourth book in The Adventure of a Guide Dog series. Readers will learn more commands, why a guide dog team has to do things a certain way, and there is even a diagram showing the different parts of Sammy's harness.

The anticipation builds and you'll be anticipating where they are going next. A book that adults will enjoy too.

A conversation between Brodyn, the carriage horse, and Sammy will encourage discussions of how we are all differently abled. Brodyn feels left out because he is too big to go with the group. Sammy shares a story about Cindy growing several inches one summer, making her taller than all her friends. 

After introducing the characters and Mr. Franklin's visits in chapter one, the adventure begins in chapter two when Cindy, Sammy, and friend Kelly, meet up with their friend and driver Mulligan and Brody, the carriage horse, n in front of the Old Post Office.

 They drive around back, where Mr. Franklin opens a secret passage. First, they search for Mr. Franklin's key that opens a door, then Mr. Franklin's post box, where they find his very first pair of bifocals. The glasses are magical for Cindy, who will be able to tell where they need to go next, (The skeleton key also opens the secret drawer in Thomas Jefferson's portable writing desk.)

Chapter three, The Library Company holds the old and the new, Mr. Franklin's love of books and sharing them with others. Walking through an exhibit, they discuss many of Mr. Franklin's inventions.

  When they pull up to the Liberty Bell in chapter four, they gasp at the sight of John Hancock writing his flamboyant signature all over the bell… not realizing until they go inside that he is using invisible ink. Mr. Hancock then joins them on their quest.

Along their route, a spirited fire brigade clangs and races right through their carriage, which opens the discussion of the Fire Insurance Company. Mr. Franklin talks about Philosophical Hall as Brodyn slowly walks on.

 As he continues onto Carpenter Hall, they notice Patrick Henry. Mr. Henry greets the friends with his famous quote about being an American, then disappears. Mr. Franklin shares the importance. Calling ones self an American, rather than a Pennsylvanian, New Yorker or Virginian, solidified unification.

Mr. Hancock takes them upstairs in Betsy Ross's house, where Betsy was commissioned to create the first American flag. Mr. Franklin then escorts them to a hidden parlor to meet and talk with Betsy Ross. 

After leaving Betsy's house, they have lunch at the Old City Tavern. On the way, they detour through Elfreth's Alley, the oldest, continually occupied residential street in the United States.

The friends meet George and Martha Washington at the tavern. The couple were sharing lunch with James and Dolley Madison, John Adams, and young John Quincy. Sammy lies down next to Volcan, one of Mr. Washington's hounds. Volcan 

Volcan explains why this out of favor with Mrs. Washington. Just before one of Mrs. Washington's dinner parties, he snatched an entire ham from the kitchen when cook wasn't looking. What really made her mad was that Mr. Washington laughed when the cook announced the mishap.

 Mr. Washington suggests they visit the Graff house, where Thomas Jefferson stayed when writing the Declaration of Independence. Passing the Christ church cemetery along the drive, they met Mr. Franklin's daughter Rebecca and her son Benjamin. The reader will learn about some other founding fathers buried in the cemetery.   

Thomas Jefferson is indeed at the Graff house, working. He explains his concern after he witnessed some shady characters looming around the museum display.

The spirits and friends devise a plan to scare the pants off the boys so they never think of stealing again. 

 At the museum Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock scare the boys straight. Sammy, Cindy, kelly, and Mulligan watch through peep-holes in their hiding place. Brodyn gets his opportunity to participate in the fun when the boys come screaming out of the museum, 

The story wraps up with the mission completed; the friends and spirits are parting with an open-ended goodbye for a future adventure.

 Back at the house, Mr.Franklin makes a final visit to Sammy and Cindy. Finally, in bed, Cindy and Sammy reflect, hug, then go off to sleep, wondering what their next adventure will be.

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