M is for Majestic: A National Parks Alphabet [Hardcover]

David Domeniconi (Author), Pamela Carroll (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up | Series: Sleeping Bear Alphabets

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. California travel writer David Domeniconi masterfully includes each of the more than 50 National Parks in this A-Z pictorial. Illustrator Pam Carroll's keen attention to detail makes this title one for everyone across the land to read and enjoy.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-5-Using rhymed couplets, Domeniconi presents a glimpse of United States national parks from A to Z. For example, "A is for Acadia,/where the mountains meet the shore,/and the forest stands silent/beside the ocean's roar." Carroll's dramatic paintings bring the subjects to life. Paragraphs along the margins provide additional information about the site plus others that begin with the same letter. These places are depicted in smaller "snapshot" paintings that are arranged on the larger work to create the look of a scrapbook. A map identifies the locations of all the parks. Although the verse sometimes plods along, the illustrations will encourage browsing and hold a group's attention. The book could serve as an introductory resource to pique interest in the topic.
Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Using rhymed couplets, Domeniconi presents a glimpse of United States national parks from A to Z... Carroll's dramatic paintings bring the subjects to life...the illustrations will encourage browsing and hold a group's attention. The book could serve as an introductory resource to pique interest in the topic."
--School Library Journal (December 2003) (School Library Journal ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press; 1st edition (October 31, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1585361380
• ISBN-13: 978-1585361380
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 11.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #492,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only 26 letters but all 50 of our National Parks in this illustrated Alphabet, April 22, 2006

By 

Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: M is for Majestic: A National Parks Alphabet (Hardcover)

Here are our national parks
In an alphabet from A to Z,
Places of beauty and wonder
That belong to you and me

If you get to see one tenth of the national parks we have in the United States, then you are ahead of the game. When you go to see a national park chances are that it is something in your neck of the woods or one of the most famous parks, like Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. In "M is for Majestic: A National Parks Alphabet," writer David Domeniconi and illustrator Pam Carroll touch on what national parks are out there, both big and small, for young readers to convince their parents that the family should go and visit. Today there are over fifty national parks, with new ones being established from time to time, all created with the same idea of preserving forever our natural wonders. More importantly, every one of those fifty national parks is worked into the pages of this book.

The national parks are arranged from A to Z, and before we get that far there is a two page ma p of the country showing you were all of them are, and one look tells you that living in the western half of the country is a big advantage, because that is where most of them can be found. Alaska has seven of them, which are going to be beyond the reach of most Americans, even those living up there. Then again, if you want to talk about a national park in the west, trying visiting the one in American Samoa on the front door of Australia.

That is one of the three parks we see under "A", although officially "A is for Acadia" National Park along the coast of Maine. Acadia gets the main painting, but there is also one of the Flying Foxes (bats) of American Samoa and one of the defining features of Arches National Park in Utah. Yes, there has to be some creativity to account for all 26 letters: "F" is for Kenai Fjords National Park, "Q" is for the Queens Chamber at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, "T" is for Grant Teton, "U" is for the Upheaval Dome at Canyonlands National Park in Utah, and "X" if for Long X Trail at Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota.

The result is a nice little introduction to those fifty national parks, which should spark some interest in young readers wanting to find out more about them and eventually getting to actually go see some of these places. I have made it to one more than ten percent at this point, but my new goal is to get to double figures by the end of this decade (two of them are actually in this neck of the woods, so that would be a start: go back to the map and see what the closest parks are to you). "M is for Majestic: A National Parks Alphabet" is one off a series from the Sleeping Bear Press' Discover America series. This includes "A is for America: An American Alphabet," "E is for Empire: A New York State Alphabet," and "G is for Golden: A California Alphabet."

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging and Warmly Illustrated, September 29, 2004

By 

DMR (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: M is for Majestic: A National Parks Alphabet (Hardcover)

Lots of information is packed into this richly illustrated book about our national parks. A great read for young and old alike. A definite addition to our son's storybook collection.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Majestic Alphabet Book about the National Parks, February 2, 2009

By 

Lynn Ellingwood "The ESOL Teacher" (Webster, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: M is for Majestic: A National Parks Alphabet (Hardcover)

I found this book a very nice book about the national parks. It covers the most popular parks and some that many people may not be aware of. I worked in Yellowstone National Park and loved being there for a whole summer. I really recommend it to anyone with a summer to spare and enjoy! Afterwards I traveled home visiting many national parks along the way. This is a great book to help introduce the concept to children and reinforce why there are national parks. I use it in my classroom.