Crazy about Cicadas

The book Cicada Olympics: Engaging Kids in Live Insect Activities by Dr. Cindy Smith and Dr. Richard Groover (2021) is a great resource for sparking the interest of young minds in entomology. Children often mimic the behavior of adults, so if a grownup freaks out at the sight of a cicada or any bug, kids are likely to follow suit rather than learning more about insects and possibly developing a lifelong interest in them and their place in the sustainment of our natural world.

Here are a few great cicada websites and apps where you can look up the cicada forecast and plan your next cicada reunion:

Occoquan History

Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta compiled Occoquan, an Images of America book filled with pictures and history of the town. Some of the most stunning images are those from the 1916 fire and the 1972 hurricane when floodwaters breached the dam. The town recovered from both tragedies and is thriving today. [Porta, Earnie. 2010. Occoquan (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing.]

Artistry

The character Danylo in Santa Overboard is based on real-life international muralist and street artist TakerOne. TakerOne is actually from Hungary, and he painted the mural called “The Fauna of Belmont Bay” on the parking garage of the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC), in fall 2021. Check out more of his amazing global work here:

If you liked Amanda’s jewelry and fashions described in The Cicada Spring, the character and her creations were modeled on Upcycled Designer Gemz.

Recipes

Many of the recipes at the back of Santa Overboard were shared by family and friends and may be adapted from recipes you can find online and in popular cookbooks. An important memento found in the river house by Katie and Belle is The American Woman’s Cook Book, which was first published in 1938. A number of used hardcover editions of these vintage cookbooks are available online, as well as a paperback version from Legare Street Press (2023). The editor, Ruth Berolzheimer, was a culinary trailblazer in her time.

Local Travel

Let the Potomac Shores series inspire you to travel. Here are some of the places mentioned in the books.

Attractions

Parks

Restaurants & Wineries