The Daily Booktalk: Fact Friday: National Geographic Kids National Parks Guide U.S.A.

National Geographic Kids National Parks Guide U.S.A.: the most amazing sights, scenes & cool activities from coast to coast! 176 p. National Geographic Society, March, 2012. 9781426323140. (Review from copy borrowed from public library.)

It's Fact Friday folks! Today's feature is National Geographic Kids National Parks Guide U.S.A: the most amazing sights, scens & cool activities from coast to coast. I can't remember what prompted me to search the BCCLS catalog for National Parks earlier this summer, but I sure am glad I found this gem of a guidebook. As with any Nat Geo publication, it is beautifully designed, contains spectacular full-color photographs and is very kid-friendly. It was published to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Parks Services. President Theodore Roosevelt, aka The Conservation President wanted to preserve the beauty of wild places in the United States to ensure that generations of Americans could enjoy them. Roosevelt established 5 National Parks and 18 National Monuments before leaving office. Starting with Acadia National Park in Maine, readers will traverse the country, including Alaska and Hawai'i. Most of the parks get a four-page treatment, featuring maps, ranger tips, places for the best views, information about activities from relaxing to extreme and tidbits about the animals that make their homes in these protected place. But the National Parks Service is much more that wilderness preserves. Information about other National Parks Service preservation projects are scattered throughout the book, such as the USS Constitution in Boston, Ellis Island in New York, and the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The plentiful backmatter includes a list of National Park Properties by state or territory, a glossary, six websites for further information and an index. This guide is a wonderful way to learn about our national treasures, inspire road trips and, hopefully advocate for preservation.

I am purchasing this title for my own library as well as my school's library. While I have visited quite a few National Parks Service properties, the wilderness parks are places I'd like to explore some day.