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The Redrock Canyon Explorer
This book for both kids and adults has something for every nature lover - especially if you're planning a visit to the redrock canyon country of the Southwest. The gripping illustrated story on the right-hand pages follows the lives of the mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and plants and their closely interconnected paths in a desert canyon. Experience a flash flood and visit the canyon potholes with the wildlife. Explore Ancient Puebloan lifeways and artifacts in the ancient sites where some of the story takes place. The pages facing the text give fascinating details and an enriched field-guide background of factual (and fun) related information. Superb illustrations illuminate every subject - from tracks and skulls and animal behavior to petrified sand dunes and dinosaur footprints. Carefully researched "information nuggets" spark insight on what's happening in the picture/story on the opposite pages. There are maps of the Colorado Plateau and the fictional redrock canyon, a great guide to the geology of all the popular parks and monuments, plus hiking and camping do's and don'ts, and an entertaining, low-impact Things-To-Do section.
112 pages, Plastic Comb
First published September 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 22, 2018
***Actual Star Rating: 2.75***
Enjoying another Irene Brady book I chose to explore other works and was happy to find this particular one. Unlike her other work this one is a bit on the unbalanced side while still finding a semblance of balance.
The book is a bit on the biggish side while the publication of it is interesting in its format. The book resembles a home-published book before Amazon came out so it has a unique touch to it but at the same time is awkward since of its format and size.
At the same time the presentation of the book is unique. Both the cover and back cover pages continue to include a bunch of information for the reader about the rock layers, the type of map that is being used and more while leading into the first few chapters that continue to educate the reader. From there the book has a dual nature with the left being dedicated more so to an educational experience about the main animal or plant, fellow animals and plants, activities, etc. On the opposite page is a small fictional account focused on the main animal and how it connects to the environment around it.
The book is full of diagrams, black and white sketches, copies of track and scat as well as full grayscale illustrations. As a result the reader doesn't lack for visual stimulation although it may have been better if some of them could have been colored such as when they were trying to give the differences between some species, especially birds who are colored-based.
Also the way that the book was presented at times there was too much of an information overload. As a result I would suggest reading this book in two separate styles - either as the nonfictional guide that it should be used as or as a fictional account, which means skipping over half the book itself. The extra pages in the back can be read or not depending upon the mood as they provide more information about nature activities that can be done, how to camp, how to record events and even how you may improve your chances of seeing wildlife in the canyon regions.
Unfortunately these activities are hypocritical, which is another reason why I gave the book such a low rating. The book insists that you shouldn't pick flowers since they are part of the reproductive system of the plant and thus necessary to the environment around them as well as possibly illegal to do so. At the same time one of the activities is to keep a journal while including parts of plants such as flowers and leaves.
All in all it was a a good book and one that would make for a good preparatory read, especially if you are planning on a hiking or camping trip in canyonland. Otherwise it can be a bit heavy and should maybe be recommended for upper elementary children or higher grades.
Enjoying another Irene Brady book I chose to explore other works and was happy to find this particular one. Unlike her other work this one is a bit on the unbalanced side while still finding a semblance of balance.
The book is a bit on the biggish side while the publication of it is interesting in its format. The book resembles a home-published book before Amazon came out so it has a unique touch to it but at the same time is awkward since of its format and size.
At the same time the presentation of the book is unique. Both the cover and back cover pages continue to include a bunch of information for the reader about the rock layers, the type of map that is being used and more while leading into the first few chapters that continue to educate the reader. From there the book has a dual nature with the left being dedicated more so to an educational experience about the main animal or plant, fellow animals and plants, activities, etc. On the opposite page is a small fictional account focused on the main animal and how it connects to the environment around it.
The book is full of diagrams, black and white sketches, copies of track and scat as well as full grayscale illustrations. As a result the reader doesn't lack for visual stimulation although it may have been better if some of them could have been colored such as when they were trying to give the differences between some species, especially birds who are colored-based.
Also the way that the book was presented at times there was too much of an information overload. As a result I would suggest reading this book in two separate styles - either as the nonfictional guide that it should be used as or as a fictional account, which means skipping over half the book itself. The extra pages in the back can be read or not depending upon the mood as they provide more information about nature activities that can be done, how to camp, how to record events and even how you may improve your chances of seeing wildlife in the canyon regions.
Unfortunately these activities are hypocritical, which is another reason why I gave the book such a low rating. The book insists that you shouldn't pick flowers since they are part of the reproductive system of the plant and thus necessary to the environment around them as well as possibly illegal to do so. At the same time one of the activities is to keep a journal while including parts of plants such as flowers and leaves.
All in all it was a a good book and one that would make for a good preparatory read, especially if you are planning on a hiking or camping trip in canyonland. Otherwise it can be a bit heavy and should maybe be recommended for upper elementary children or higher grades.
Displaying 1 of 1 review