If I Were a Park Ranger

by Catherine Stier, Patrick Corrigan (Illustrations)

Imagine serving as a park ranger for our U.S. National Parks!

If you were a national park ranger, you'd spend every day in one of the most treasured places in America. You'd wear a special uniform, a hat, and a badge―but sometimes you might also need snowshoes or a life jacket. Maybe you'd track the movements of wild animals. You could help scientists make discoveries. You might even be part of a search and rescue team! You'd have an amazing job protecting animals, the environment, and our country's natural and historical heritage, from the wilds of Denali to the Statue of Liberty.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature, Childrens, Travel, Outdoors, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2019

Reviews

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Blue Media for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

IF I WERE A PARK RANGER is a perfect book for kids wondering what a career in the National Park Service would be like. As our family has traveled to many national parks over the years, each time our kids are inspired by the work of the park rangers and have wondered aloud what it would be like to do their job.

This book makes it sound pretty awesome! Learn science, protect natural spaces, care for animals, work on computers--there is no limit to the type of job you can perform as a park ranger.

I appreciated that the illustrations depict the park rangers as diverse children inspiring others with their love of the outdoors. And I loved the illustrations of different national parks throughout! Some of our favorites are here, including Yellowstone, Yosemite and Glacier.

This book has me excited for our trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park this summer! It's a winner!

[Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. It not only highlights the amazing national parks from across America, but also highlights those that protect, help and educated within those parks. I loved the illustrations, they really helped bring the parks to life and create a curiosity of travel, exploration, conservation and the joy of being outside for readers both young and old. I just adored this book and know that readers will be amazed by the beauty that lies within these parks, plus they will understand that these parks need our protection. A great book for home and school!

[Laura Perdew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book introduces readers to national park rangers' wide variety of tasks and responsibilities, while at the same time introducing many parks across the country. It's a great book to inspire kids to treasure our parks and the plants and animals that live there. Hopefully it even inspires some to become park rangers themselves!

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick overview of the job of park ranger with various children posing as park rangers in the colorful artwork. When it comes to the National Parks, I prefer photography. I would have given this book more stars if it had included that..

[Kevin Hodgson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely introduction into the work done by park rangers at our extensive and vibrant National Park Service system, and the ways ecology and preservation work together. The book is great for younger readers, as read aloud, and could be complimented with research or travel.

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A love letter to the Park Rangers who manage our nation's National Parks and Monuments.

I enjoyed the glimpses of different parks I've visited in the past, and it got me started planning my next trip!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Camping-themed storytime. Really cool illustrations of lots of the different national parks. I might skip a few pages that get into some nitty gritty details, since it's for preschool, but it'll be a cute way to wrap up storytime!

[Margaret Boling · Rating 3 out of 5]

5/18/2020 ~ I appreciated that this book highlighted a less well know career choice, but overall, it felt a bit didactic.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. I majored in RPTA in college so it was very fitting for me. Read in August 2021

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute, loved seeing the parks & diverse kid rangers

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book, but not a favorite.

[Bridget Arnold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uniforms weren’t even close to accurate.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice survey of park sites and the many jobs that park rangers do. Definitely made me think of my friend, Ken Kyburz, a pretty awesome park ranger.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so they had me at Catherine Stier. I love her book, If I Ran for President (among others), and the fact that this latest title was about national parks and monuments was a bonus. Within the pages she covers many of the duties and some of the various locations that a ranger might be assigned to. Whether it is Mammoth Cave or Canaveral National Seashore, rangers in each location wear a uniform and have important duties like protecting the land and animals or helping to conduct research. Major figures in the history of the National Park Service are introduced with a portrait gallery layout and brief descriptions of their roles. The types of skills and academic fields important to prepare for a career in the park service are also covered.



Corrigan's illustrations show many of the locations and daily activities. The rangers are a diverse group and so are the tourists and other characters pictured. The final illustration of the group of rangers looking at Mount Rushmore is a strong image for readers to take away as their last impression. Helpful captions name each location making it easier for readers to identify them. A helpful author's note in the back offers more details about STEM and art in the parks and what it takes to become a ranger.



Perfect for families and classes preparing for a visit to a national park, monument, or historic site - or for classes doing a unit on careers or national parks. I won a copy of the book in a giveaway.

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! In honor of National Parks Week, our book today is If I Were A Park Ranger, written by Catherine Stier and illustrated by Patrick Corrigan, a tribute to both our nation’s great National Parks and the people who work for them.

Told in first person, the story follows a group of six children as they imagine what life might be like if they became park rangers. First detailing how such a career can be achieved, as well as the special uniform rangers wear, the reader is then swept along through a dizzying array of the things park rangers do: conservation, protection, education, outreach, safety, expedition, and so much more. In each new calling, the illustrations show the equally diverse parks, monuments, and historical sites that rangers are charged with maintaining and protecting; a world of natural and manmade wonders that we all share, thanks to park rangers.

Very cool! Highlighting a profession that is far less often glamorized in kidlit, Stier and Corrigan do a fabulous job of introducing little ones to the world of park rangers and the places they are found. Corrigan’s bright, lush parkscapes are helpfully labeled for readers with their name and the state they are located. The text is straightforward and simple, yet carries the necessary tone of excitement and passion, encouraging but not patronizing – a good balance for the subject. The length may be more suited to slightly older bookworms, but JJ and I l comfortably made it through to the end, and she adored the cheerful characters and scenes of nature. For those looking to learn more about a unique career, or about the parks and what they feature, this is absolutely the book for you. Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by a representative of the author in exchange for an honest review.)

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Aeicha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Park rangers help take care of some of the most important places in the USA- our national parks- and in If I Were A Park Ranger, author Catherine Stier introduces young readers to all the fascinating, amazing, and necessary work park rangers engage in on a daily basis. 


From leading tours, educating guests, keeping wildlife safe, taking part in important scientific work, and more, park rangers do so many things to help maintain and protect our national parks, and If I Were A Park Ranger does a superb job of explaining these tasks to young readers in accessible and captivating ways.  Patrick Corrigan’s colorful, detailed, and engaging illustrations wonderfully bring various national parks to life and perfectly capture Stier’s text. 


A beautiful and enthralling celebration of park rangers and national parks, If I Were A Park Ranger is the perfect way to celebrate National Park Week and get young readers excited about America’s national parks and the people who take care of them! 

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great informational text about National Parks and the park rangers that take care of them! The text did a wonderful job introducing not only the National Parks and all the different ones throughout the country but also all of the amazing things that park rangers do to take care of these national treasures. I was most impressed by how it was all inclusive of all the different types of jobs that keep the parks going as well as all the different types of parks that can be visited. The text, filled with information, along with the colorful illustrations bring it all to life for the reader and keeps them engaged in a way that other non-narrative informational texts struggle with sometimes.

Full review: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=1...