So here's the deal... anyone specialize in finding books for a living?? :confused:

I read this small chapter book as a child and would love to find it again. I'm going to be a teacher and as a child I would read this book over and over again! I think that it got lost with moving and what not... :(

Here are it's details...

Setting: It goes back and forth- has some time travel to the Civil War era from the Victorian Era.

Characters: If I remember correctly there was one girl and two boys... the girl was the main character. They were middle school aged.

Scenario: Okay... this is stretching the memory cells here...

I'm pretty sure that the girl is studying in here library and happens to see that the design of a lions head on the mantle of the fire place is slightly moved open. She finds a letter inside. This somehow (obviously a big gap) leads to the children time traveling back to the Civil War era and spending time with a man who does the early forms of photography. (and relative? Ehhh? I can't remember!)

I understand that this is such a stretch... but the title could have something to do with a lions head or fireplace or the letter. Ach I just can't remember and I've tried my luck with search engines...

Someone help a girl out?
Thanks everyone!
:)

Could it be "The Root Cellar" or "Civil War on Sunday"? Best of luck finding it.:) I hope that you do!