Keep Calm and Read On: Summer Camp
By Wayne Limberg
School's out and vacations loom. It is now time to look at some good reads for kids. With high gas prices and many planning to stay closer to home, most of these books focus on Shenandoah National Park and can be found at its visitor center gift shops. Proceeds help to support the park. All of these books are available online and make great gifts.
For the infant to three set, "Hello, Shenandoah" by best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock is the story of a papa bear and cub exploring the park. They start with the Visitor Center at Big Meadows and are soon saddling up at Skyland Stables, hiking the AT, and viewing the sites along Skyline Drive. As a board book it is all but indestructible and trusted sources report it is also a good gnaw. Another book is "Good Night, Forest," which is a take on Margaret Wise Brown's classic "Goodnight Moon." Author Emily Johnson presents a soothing collection of bedtime stories and rhymes about 16 different animals as they shuffle off to sleep. Adults are likely to find their heads nodding too.
For ages four to eleven, there is Sarah Del Grande's "Shenandoah National Park: A Guide for Kids," part of a series of Grande Guides to National Parks for children. In this book, a racoon ranger named Leo takes readers on a journey to explore SNP, hiking Nicholson Hollow Trail and making stops at Corbin Cabin and Rapidan Camp as he recounts the history of the park and those who have lived and worked in it. Another pick for this age group is "Shenandoah National Park: A Fact-filled Adventure" by Juliette Felde. It’s an account of the park's human and natural history with a different approach than many other children’s park guides. It has "Pause and Think" questions at various points to test what readers have learned. Adults can use these moments to engage their listeners and learn themselves.
And then there is "Who Pooped in the Park? Shenandoah National Park: Scat and Track for Kids" by Gary Robson. Once again this is one in a series of books covering other parks. It tells the story of two kids who become frustrated by not seeing many animals while exploring SNP only to learn from scat and tracks that the animals are all around them. The illustrations are great and the book includes a quick-identification chart. From reader reviews, it’s a toss-up as to who enjoys this book more, kids or adults.
Another choice for young readers is "The Adventures of Bubba Jones: Time Traveling Through Shenandoah National Park." It is the second in a series by authors Jeff Alt and Hannah Tuohy set in national parks. In each, Bubba Jones and his sister Hug-a-Bug, having inherited time travel skills from their grandfather, go back in time centuries, even eons to explore the given parks' human and animal residents and history. In the case of Shenandoah this includes treks up and down hollows and hills. Though aimed at eight to twelve year old readers, younger kids will also enjoy hearing the tale.
Regardless of age, Bison Press' "Shenandoah National Park Activity Book" with its 45 pages of games, puzzles and brain teasers, is sure to keep kids and adults busy and happy--and off screens. They will hone their creative thinking, writing, drawing and wilderness skills, learn about park flora and fauna, history, and what rangers do. It's a good bet for kids who enjoy the parks’ Junior Ranger programs. Another choice is National Parks Books' "Shenandoah National Park Animals and Attractions" by Billy Grinslott and Kinsey Marie. It is a good introduction to the park, listing sightseeing spots and hikes with a special emphasis on younger kids, though Dark Hollow Falls, Mary's Rock, and Old Rag are included. Ginslott has a number of books on fish and wildlife to his credit and brings his expertise to bear (no pun intended) when he describes in words and pictures the park's attractions.
In every life--and many vacations--a little rain must fall. Coloring books to the rescue! Jen Racine's "The National Parks Coloring Book" covers 24 parks, including SNP. It is both fun and educational and includes drawings and information of animals and wildflowers as well as a map of all the national parks. Though aimed at ages four to twelve, adults will also enjoy it. Another choice for youngsters and oldsters is "The Art of the National Parks: Coloring Book." With its poster-sized prints drawn from the Fifty-Nine Parks series, it is an art book in itself. Each picture is a modern take on the WPA park posters of the 1930s by leading contemporary artists. All the national parks are included, as well suggestions for color choices. NPS coloring pages are available at park visitor centers and online.
The final choice, Mike Bezemek's "Mysteries of the National Parks," is for kids and adults. With 35 stories of unexplained disappearances and phenomena it's a natural for around the campfire. Did a UFO really fly past Mt. Rainier? What secrets lay hidden in Ford's Theater and along the Blue Ridge Parkway?
Do you have a page-turner? Send it along to wplimberg@aol.com. Meanwhile, enjoy the summer and keep reading. See you on the trail.