Thematic Lists

Take a tour of America's great outdoors and discover the beauty and diversity of its most iconic and majestic national parks. Explore Florida's river-laced Everglades, travel down the white water rapids of the Grand Canyon, trek across the deserts of Death Valley and scale the soaring summits of the Rocky Mountains with this book that brings you up close to nature's greatest adventures. Packed with maps and fascinating facts about the flora and fauna unique to each park, this fully-illustrated coast-to-coast journey documents the nation's most magnificent and sacred places--and shows why they should be preserved for future generations to enjoy. With maps and information about flora and fauna found in each of the 21 icon parks portrayed, this is a fantastic celebration of the great outdoors

Mighty mountains, wild rivers, fiery volcanoes, huge glaciers, vast forests, tropical islands -- all part of our National Parks, belonging to you and me. This magnificent ABC book showcases each of America's National Parks from Acadia and American Samoa to Yosemite and Zion.

Award-winning author and illustrator Evan Turk showcases the beauty and importance of the National Parks in this gorgeous picture book that takes readers on an amazing tour across the United States.
Beneath the soaring doorways of stone, and peaks that pierce the ceiling of clouds, from every river, star, and stone comes the eternal refrain: you are home.
In simple, soaring language and breathtaking art, acclaimed author-illustrator Evan Turk has created a stirring ode to nature and nation. From the rugged coast of Maine to the fiery volcanoes of Hawaii, You Are Home reminds us that every animal, plant, and person helps make this land a brilliant, beautiful sanctuary of life.

From the high peaks of the Rockies to the lows of Death Valley, from the Statue of Liberty in the East to the redwood forest of the West, and from the panoramic views of the Grand Canyon to getting up close and personal to wildlife in Yellowstone, Basher invites you to take a journey through some of the United States' most spectacular national parks, recreation areas, and preserves--and take in a few national monuments while you're at it! Paddle a canoe through the Everglades, zip down gypsum dunes at White Sands, and count the brown bears at Katmai. There's no end to the natural wonders you'll see.

Rivers wind through earth, cutting down and eroding the soil for millions of years, creating a cavity in the ground 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and more than a mile deep known as the Grand Canyon. Home to an astonishing variety of plants and animals that have lived and evolved within its walls for millennia, the Grand Canyon is much more than just a hole in the ground. Follow a father and daughter as they make their way through the cavernous wonder, discovering life both present and past. Weave in and out of time as perfectly placed die cuts show you that a fossil today was a creature much long ago, perhaps in a completely different environment. Complete with a spectacular double gatefold, an intricate map and extensive back matter.

Long before its establishment as a national park in 1872, Yellowstone was home to the gray wolf, as well as other large predators. But the relationship between human and wolf has always been a tense and complicated one. Predator control programs were developed and, by the mid-1900s, wolves had almost been entirely eliminated from the region and even the lower United States. The removal of even one strand of an ecosystem's complex web can have a ripple effect, though. Using the structure of "The House that Jack Built," science writer Mary Kay Carson shows the interconnectedness of the wildlife that lives in a place and how the presence (or absence) of a single species can impact an ecosystem so that the physical landscape itself is altered. Engaging text and colorful detailed artwork make the natural science understandable and accessible to young readers. With so many of Earth's ecosystems under threat by climate change, pollution, and loss of habitat, this is a critical and timely topic. Back matter includes information on the Yellowstone region during the wolves' absence and after their reintroduction.

Conservation biologist Martin Jenkins and acclaimed fine artist Vicky White expertly guide readers into the complex ecosystem of Malaysia's Taman Negara. Conversational prose and photorealistic black-and-white artwork--punctuated by four jaw-dropping full-color spreads--evoke the whir of cicadas and the low call of a pheasant. Pages fill with ants and elephants, leopards and hornbills, gibbons and bats, as animals spread and fertilize seeds to help maintain a magnificent old-growth forest. Every living thing in the rain forest is interconnected, and a dazzling full-color index guide at the end of the book challenges readers to circle back and marvel at animals they may have missed in the dense foliage. Meticulously researched and visually arresting, this creative tour de force is a young conservationist's dream: the ecotour of a lifetime.

Nobody could get Frederick Law Olmsted to sit still. He was filled with energy, adventure, and dreams of changing the world. As a boy, he found refuge in the peace and calm of nature, and later as an adult, he dreamed of designing and creating access to parks for a growing and changing America. When New York City held a contest for the best park design for what would become Central Park, Olmsted won and became the father of landscape architecture. He went on to design parks across America, including Yosemite National Park and even the grounds for the United States Capitol. This scenic biography is lavishly illustrated by Becca Stadtlander, and National Book Award finalist Elizabeth Partridge brings her renowned lyricism and meticulous research to the visionary who brought parks to the people.

There are zero reasons for Theo Ripley to look forward to his family vacation. Not only are he, sister Laura, and nature-obsessed Dad going to Big Bend, the least popular National Park, but once there, the family will be camping. And Theo is an indoor animal. It doesn't help that this will be the first vacation they're taking since Mom passed away. Once there, the family contends with 110 degree days, wild bears, and an annoying amateur ornithologist and his awful teenage vlogger son. Then, Theo's dad hits him with a whopper of a surprise: the whole trip is just a trick to introduce his secret new girlfriend

Marjory Stoneman Douglas didn't intend to write about the Everglades but when she returned to Florida from World War I, she hardly recognized the place that was her home. The Florida that Marjory knew was rapidly disappearing--the rare orchids, magnificent birds, and massive trees disappearing with it. Marjory couldn't sit back and watch her home be destroyed--she had to do something. Thanks to Marjory, a part of the Everglades became a national park and the first park not created for sightseeing, but for the benefit of animals and plants. Without Marjory, the part of her home that she loved so much would have been destroyed instead of the protected wildlife reserve it has become today.

In the far west of India, in Gir National Park, dwells one of the rarest big cats on Earth: the Asiatic lion. Known for its distinctive belly flap and the bushy tassels on its tail, the Asiatic lion once roamed from the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Bengal. But human hunting and expansion into their territory eroded the lions' numbers, until only twelve remained alive. Now more than six hundred lions stalk the forest and savannahs of Gir -- thanks in part to the work of the "Lion Queens," a team of female rangers who specialize in caring for the Asiatic lions. Join Rashila and her friends on a journey around the park as they visit the lions in their habitats, monitor the web of life that encompasses all of the animals, and work with local villagers to preserve harmony between the human and animal populations. Readers will discover not only the many factors that influence the lions' lives, but what they can do to help ensure the lions' survival. Illustrated throughout with compelling photographs, The Lion Queens of India is an inspiring portrait of the lives of these female rangers and animal conservation efforts across the world.

Follows a bear from the time she emerges from her den in April after four months without food, through months of eating fish, ants, and huckleberries, to midwinter when the arrival of two cubs interrupts her long winter's rest. Includes facts about brown (grizzly) bears of the Yellowstone National Park/Glacier National Park region

The true story of a Chinese American mountain man who fed thirty people for ten days in the wilderness--and helped inspire the creation of the National Park Service. Tie Sing was born in the mountains. The mountains were in his blood. But because he was of Chinese descent at a time in America when to be Chinese meant working in restaurants or laundries, Tie Sing's prospects were limited. But he had bigger plans. He began cooking for mapmakers and soon built a reputation as the best trail cook in California. When millionaire Stephen Mather began his quest to create a national park service in 1915, he invited a group of influential men--writers, tycoons, members of Congress, and even a movie star--to go camping in the Sierras. Tie Sing was hired to cook. Tie Sing planned diligently. He understood the importance of this trip. But when disaster struck--twice!--and Tie Sing's supplies were lost, it was his creative spirit and quick mind that saved the day. His sumptuous menus had to be struck and Tie Sing had to start over in order to feed the thirty people in the group for ten whole days. His skills were tested and Tie Sing rose to the challenge. On the last night, he fed not just the campers' bodies, but also their minds, reminding them to remember and protect the mountains.

Imagine a U.S. president on a camping trip! It seems unlikely today, but in May 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt dismissed his Secret Service men to go camping with John Muir, the world-famous naturalist. For three glorious nights and four days in California's Yosemite National Park, the two men talked about birds, giant sequoia trees, glaciers, as well as the importance of preserving wilderness for future generations. They slept under the stars, built blazing campfires, and enjoyed the beauty and the uniqueness of the area. Setting aside new national parks and monuments became one of the cornerstones of Roosevelt's presidency and was a direct result of this camping trip. Author Ginger Wadsworth and illustrator Karen Dugan carefully researched this true story, relying on primary documents and working closely with experts in the field.

Caldecott medalist Mordicai Gerstein captures the majestic redwoods of Yosemite in this little-known but important story from our nation's history. In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt joined naturalist John Muir on a trip to Yosemite. Camping by themselves in the uncharted woods, the two men saw sights and held discussions that would ultimately lead to the establishment of our National Parks.

In this collection of original poems, acclaimed anthologist Lee Bennett Hopkins brings together fourteen selections that celebrate through poetic imagery some of the amazingly diverse places in our nation. These include Denali National Park, the Oneida Nation Museum, San Francisco's Chinatown, the Grand Canyon, the Ringling Circus Museum, Harlem, the Liberty Bell, Fenway Park, and more. The poems as a whole take readers on an exciting multiethnic travelogue around the United States and encourage a positive appreciation of our country's historical, environmental, and cultural heritage.

Cynthia Moss was never afraid of BIG things. As a kid, she loved to ride through the countryside on her tall horse. She loved to visit faraway places. And she especially loved to learn about nature and the world around her. So when Cynthia traveled to Africa and met the world's most ENORMOUS land animal, the African elephant, at Amboseli National Park in Kenya, she knew she had found her life's work. Cynthia has spent years learning everything she can about elephants and sharing these fascinating creatures with the world. She is a scientist, nature photographer, and animal-rights activist, fighting against the ivory poachers who kill so many elephants for their tusks. This lyrical and accessible picture book gives kids a glimpse of what scientists do in the real world and inspires them to dream of accomplishing BIG things.

America's National Parks are protected places and have become living museums for as many as 270 million visitors per year! In addition, researchers are able to perform long term studies of a wide number of subjects from salamanders the size of thumbnails to gigantic geothermal geysers. These parks are natural laboratories for scientists. Did you know that Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming sits on top of an active (and very large) volcano? This volcano is monitored and studied on a daily basis, not only as a means of protection (though it seems a long way off from erupting) but also as a way of understanding how the environment changes and influences what goes on deep underground. The scientists profiled in The Park Scientists also study grizzly bears in Yellowstone, the majestic Saguaro cacti in Arizona, and fireflies in Tennessee -- and suggest many ways for the average reader of any age to help out. The emphasis here is twofold: the great science that happens every day in these important, protected spaces, and the fact that you can visit all of them and participate in the research. It's backyard science at its biggest and best!

This heartwarming book is filled with photos of many of the chimpanzee babies, toddlers, and young adults that live in the Gombe National Park in Tanzania, where the Jane Goodall research center of is located. Dr. Goodall has campaigned unceasingly for the protection of the chimpanzee-now an endangered species-and this moving, personal account will educate readers about the many threats to the animals in the wild and inspire readers of all ages to join in her vital work.

From John Muir pushing a president and a nation into setting aside vast preserves--including Yosemite, Sequoia, Mt. Rainer, and the Grand Canyon--to Julia "Butterfly" Hill saving a 1,000-year-old redwood while bringing to light the devastation of our old-growth forests, Friends of the Earth chronicles the efforts of the men and women who dedicated their lives to protecting the United States' natural heritage. Other notable profiles include John James Audubon, who introduced the study of birds to North America; Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who worked to conserve the Florida Everglades; and Rachel Carson, who opened the world's eyes to the dangers of pesticides. Together, these environmentalists' inspiring life stories tell the history of American environmentalism, from its inception to the present day. In this comprehensive resource, children also learn how to put their concerns into action. Step-by-step instructions on how to build a birdfeeder, conduct a water quality survey, start a compost pile, create their own recycled paper, and test for acid rain are included, as well as a timeline of historic milestones and a list of popular parks and sites to visit or explore online.

The buffalo, an American icon once nearly extinct, has made a comeback. This stirring picture book tells the dramatic story, following bison from the Plains Indians to the cowboys, Teddy Roosevelt to the Dust Bowl, and from the brink of extinction to the majestic herds that now roam our national parks.

Two renowned children's book creators teamed up to make this stirring picture book that tells the story of how, over a century, wolves were persecuted in the United States and nearly became extinct. Gradually reintroduced, they are thriving again in the West, much to the benefit of the ecosystem. This book will teach a new generation to appreciate the grace, dignity, and value of wolves as it promotes awareness of the environment's delicate balance. Paired with gorgeous paintings by landscape artist Wendell Minor, Jean Craighead George's engaging text will inspire people of all ages to care about the protection of endangered species.

Yellowstone National Park's majestic geologic wonders and remarkable wildlife draw millions of visitors each year. But there was a time when these natural treasures were in great danger, all because after years of unrestricted hunting, one key piece of the puzzle had been eliminated-the wolf. Now, more than a decade after scientists realized the wolves' essential role and returned them to Yellowstone, the park's natural balance is gradually being restored. The informative dual-level text and spectacular full-color photographs show the wolves in the natural habitat that was almost lost without them. Readers of all ages will be inspired by the delicate natural system that is Yellowstone.

In a place called Congo, in the volcanic mountains of Vigunga National Park, a young female Mountain Gorilla named Miza was orphaned when her parents were killed. Miza, who had no one to protect her or teach her how to live, was rescued by a young Silverback Mountain Gorilla named Kabirizi and his family of twenty-seven Mountain Gorillas. It's almost unheard of for a gorilla family to take in an orphan. Experts and the people who care deeply about these gorillas are thrilled and hopeful. Mountain Gorillas face an especially uncertain future. Not only are they an endangered species, but the delicate and harsh political situation in Congo has put them in grave danger. The amazing Congolese Mountain Rangers, for no pay, risk their lives every day to protect these majestic creatures, but it will take more than their protection to keep Miza, her family, and other Mountain Gorillas safe. Filled with lush photographs by award-winning photographer Peter Greste, Looking for Miza is a powerful call to action. The fate of Mountain Gorillas is in our hands. It's Miza's story and it's our story, too.

Discusses the history and purpose of national parks and describes some prominent examples including Denali National Park in Alaska and Saguaro National Park in Arizona

In the middle of the Australian continent, a huge sandstone rock rises more than a thousand feet from the flat desert floor. Formerly known as Ayers Rock, this imposing landmark is now called Uluru, the name given to it by the Anangu, the Aboriginal people who live on the land around it. A site of ongoing geological processes and exceptional beauty, it is unlike any other place in the world. In her signature concise and accessible style, award-winning author Caroline Arnold discusses Uluru's role as a sacred site for the Anangu and how the plants and animals that are part of its natural environment are an integral part of their traditional way of life. She describes the geologic processes that formed the rock's distinctive shape and red color, the land and climate of the central Australian desert, and how wildlife has adapted to the extreme conditions. Arthur Arnold's dramatic full-color photographs highlight the unique features and rich colors of the landscape. The area is protected as a United Nations World Heritage Site. In recognition of the rock's significance to the Aboriginal culture, the Australian government has created the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which is visited each year by thousands of people from all over the world.

Describes the formation of a vernal lake in Alaska's Denali National Park and the various creatures that make their homes in and around it

Describes the physical features, vital statistics, and history in letters written home by a young person traveling through our nation's most scenic wonderlands. First person text with "captioned snapshots" of the trip's highlights provides a unique way to learn about different parks.

Follows an urban park ranger as he tends to the ponds, fountains, plants, and animals in his care and teaches people about the parks that form an exciting outdoor classroom.

This book teaches students to not only read graphs, tables, and charts, but also how to interpret and draw conclusions about the data they observe. Includes charts of endangered and threatened animals of the Everglades, pie charts displaying the food habitats of local animals, and line graphs illustrating the average rainfall in the Everglades.

Describes the Florida Everglades, the evolution of this unique area, and the impact humans have had on its once-abundant life forms.

With more than 80 activities in each book, these valuable resources will enrich your curriculum. For each activity, literature links promote reading, while Internet links encourage the best use of technology. Individual and team projects for K-5 classrooms, connected to NCTE standards.
Includes activities entitled "Grand Canyon National Park Anniversary" and "Learning About Our National Parks Day"

These selected articles from the NSTA journals, Science Scope and Science and Children, were gathered because of the value of informal science education. With its potential for engaging student interest, this book aims at encouraging more students to enter academic fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Includes an article entitled "Hot spot at Yellowstone"

Authors Page Keeley and Laura Tucker give you 32 engaging questions, or probes, that can reveal what your students already know-- or think they know-- about core Earth and environmental science concepts. Armed with those insights, you can use the probes' teacher notes to adjust your approach and present the science in grade-appropriate ways so students will learn the content accurately. If you' re among the thousands of educators who love the Uncovering Student Ideas in Science series and crave probes specifically about Earth and environmental science, you' re in luck. The probes are organized into four sections: land and water; water cycle, weather, and climate; Earth history, weathering and erosion, and plate tectonics; and natural resources, pollution, and human impact.
Includes a section entitled "Grand Canyon"

Traces the birth of the national park idea in the mid-1800's and follows its evolution for nearly 150 years. Using archival photographs, first-person accounts of historical characters, personal memories and analysis from more than 40 interviews, and what Burns believes is the most stunning cinematography in Florentine Films' history, the series chronicles the steady addition of new parks through the stories of the people who helped create them and save them from destruction.

Chronicles the work of elephant expert Cynthia Moss, who has spent over thirty years studying the matriarch Echo and her herd in Kenya's Amboseli National Park

These 36 half-hour lectures are your initiation into the geological world that lies just outside your door. "The Nature of Earth: An Introduction to Geology" introduces you to physical geology, the study of Earth's minerals, rocks, soils, and the processes that operate on them through time.
Includes a lecture entitled "Hawaiian Islands and Yellowstone Park"