Book: Park Scientists

With fascinating factoids and captivating pictures, Park Scientists: Gila Monsters, Geysers, and Grizzly Bears in America’s Own Backyard (Houghton, Milton, Harcourt, $19) will enthrall any child interested in science or curious about wild creatures. Author Mary Kay Carson and photographer Tom Uhlman take an in-depth look at the work of scientists in three national parks and highlight how important these places are to the field of science. From the grizzlies and geysers in our back yard, to the reptiles and cacti of Arizona’s desert, to the salamanders and lightshows in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee, Park Scientists details unique aspects of Yellowstone, Saguaro, and Smoky Mountain national parks. The pictures draw the reader in as if he or she were alongside the scientists, feeling the warmth of the geyser or the mists of the mountains, while the writing is crisp, clear, and informative. Once you are able to put down the book, go out and get involved, as Carson and Ulhman highlight the need for children and adults to contribute to “citizen science” in the study of our national parks.