Midnight Forests: A Story Of Gifford Pinchot And Our National Forests [School & Library Binding]

Gary Hines (Author), Robert Casilla (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4–When Pinchot entered Yale in 1885 with the intention of becoming a forester, few Americans had heard of the profession, and he had to pursue his practical training in Europe. After successfully demonstrating the benefits of tending forests by managing the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, Pinchot spread his message throughout the country. As head of the newly formed Forest Service, he trained others to tend public lands. However, his most enduring legacy came in collaboration with President Theodore Roosevelt when the two men carried out a plan to set aside huge forest reserves in the West. Without the work of this conservationist, the U.S. landscape today probably would include far fewer trees today. The full-color illustrations adequately portray the events described in the text. With ongoing debates about forest conservation and logging issues, this clearly written picture-book biography provides a timely introduction to the work of an important pioneer. Students who want to learn more might read Peter Anderson's Gifford Pinchot (Scholastic, 1996), which includes period photographs.–Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. This picture-book biography introduces Gifford Pinchot, a wealthy young American who studied forestry in France and returned home to put his knowledge to good use in his own country. Appointed Secretary of Agriculture in 1898, he later joined forces with Theodore Roosevelt to turn 16 million acres into national forests, now known as the "Midnight Forests" because of an eleventh-hour executive order. Mirroring the quiet prose, the dignified pencil-and-watercolor illustrations depict Pinchot at work and in quiet contemplation. Primarily for larger collections, this large-format picture book will make an effective choice for Earth Day displays. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Pr (April 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563971488
• ISBN-13: 978-1563971488
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,061,071 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A DREAM AND HARD WORK MADE IT HAPPEN, April 29, 2005

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Midnight Forests: A Story Of Gifford Pinchot And Our National Forests (School & Library Binding)

Today, most of us take our National Forests for granted. We assume that these beautiful places where we can hike, climb and backpack have always been as they are today. Not at all so as we learn in this educational and entertaining biography of Gifford Pinchot.

It was the year 1885 when young Gifford Pinchot set out for Yale University. His father had suggested that he might want to be a forester as the elder Pinchot had become concerned about the destruction of our forests. Well, Gifford only knew that he loved the woods. After his time at Yale he had learned a great deal about geology and biology but nothing about the management of trees. His next step was to study at a forestry school in France.

At last, Gifford was the first American to ever be trained in forestry. He knew what he wanted to accomplish, but how to do it? Fortunately, he would eventually find a staunch ally in President Theodore Roosevelt. The two men had many common interests - the outdoors, hunting, fishing. Then, in 1905, with the aid of his friend the President Gifford took charge of all federal forests, and named his department the Forest Service.

Thanks in large part to the dedication and determination of one man the National Forests exist today for all of us to enjoy. From this story youngsters will learn how much we owe to those who came before us, and what can be accomplished with a dream and hard work.

- Gail Cooke

5.0 out of 5 stars Good reading skills for grades 3-4 lend to learning about Pinchot's time spent in the woods, December 14, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Midnight Forests: A Story Of Gifford Pinchot And Our National Forests (School & Library Binding)

Few biographies for kids survey Gifford Pinchot and his role as the father of the conservation movement in this country, which makes Midnight Forests: A Story Of Gifford Pinchot And Our National Forests all the more important. Robert Casilla provides an excellent survey here: good reading skills for grades 3-4 lend to learning about Pinchot's time spent in the woods, his political influence, and his vision for preservation.