Full of beautiful illustrations and easy to read stories! This is a gem for any outdoor loving family. I can picture parents or grandparents sitting with children gathered to read each story and plan their adventures. As an avid National Park visitor with a teenager, I still found myself fascinated by this book’s contents and reminiscing about the ones we have visited. I would happily display as a coffee table book.

Thank you NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group - Wide Eyed Editions, author Stephanie Pearson, and illustrator Madeline Kloepper for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. “50 True Tales from Our Great National Parks” is expected to be published September 3, 2024!

We absolutely love learning about the National Parks and this book did not disappoint.

Beautiful illustrations with fun stories that give you lesser known facts about the National Parks. Easy to read and information was presented in a fun way.

I loved this book. First know I’m really into the National Parks and am trying to hike my way through all of them - so the topic alone interested me. But the illustrations were great and I love the short, sweet amount of history I learned about each park. Short enough to read in one sitting, but concise enough to read park by park as you want. If you’re into the NP system or American history, this would be a good book for you.

50 True Tales from Our National Parks by Stephanie Pearson, illustrated by Madeline Kloepper, is a richly illustrated journey through America's national parks, from the Great Smoky Mountains to Yosemite, from Haleakala to Denali, and many fascinating places in between. As readers explore the geography and history of each park, they also learn about the Native Americans who first inhabited these lands and the later visitors who explored and cherished them. Each account features a significant person, community, animal, plant, or event that has shaped the park's unique story, offering a personal vantage point on each place. The book doesn't shy away from the difficult truths about the government's acquisition of land, including the way people were treated. By including these human stories, the book provides an engaging, honest, and inclusive narrative that deepens appreciation not only for the geographic complexity and diversity of the parks but also for the human experiences intertwined with their histories.
Madeline Kloepper's gouache and colored pencil illustrations capture the essence of each park's natural features, showcasing the vibrant colors of saguaro cacti, the rugged texture of redwood bark, and the earthy tones of brown bears. Her deft use of color and clean design elements allows the landscape's diversity to shine through. By employing a controlled palette, she effectively conveys the varied landscapes, flora, and fauna without overwhelming the pages. Art teachers could find this book a valuable resource for discussing Kloepper's thoughtful decision-making process in selecting her palette and how she relies on the text to determine which details to include and emphasize. The illustrations are not only beautiful but also serve their purpose well, complementing and enhancing the text.

Pearson’s writing style is clear, employing language that simplifies the rich history of each park without oversimplifying, thus allowing readers to stretch their vocabulary as they read. The descriptions enable readers to picture the colors and landscapes of each place vividly. The tone informs and entertains in equal measure, and the pace of two or three pages per park creates an enjoyable and even restful cadence. Kloepper’s illustrations beautifully harmonize with the text, enhancing the reader’s ability to understand and enjoy the prose.

The breadth of information in the book reflects extensive research, yet the text remains enjoyable, memorable, and meaningful, rather than dense or overpowering. 50 True Tales from Our National Parks is an engaging page-turner, perfect for reading aloud to pre-Kindergarten through first grade children or as an independent read for second grade and up. It makes a lovely read-aloud as part of a morning or evening routine, with each chapter being just long enough to help a child transition from one part of the day to the next.

I give this 50 True Tales from Our National Parks 5 stars for its ability to educate, engage, and entertain young readers while providing a deeper understanding of the human and natural stories that shape our national parks.

I really enjoyed reading through this book of our national parks. The tales told in this book offer a side to our national parks that is not often discussed. The illustrations are gorgeous and very eye-catching for children of all ages!

This book is beautifully illustrated and includes awesome maps and the nicest looking California Condors you’ve ever seen (IYKYK)

The parks are described with great detail and care but don’t overwhelm little minds. The glossary in the back is an added touch to create even more learning.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Wide Eyed Editions for this eCopy to review

50 True Tales from our Great National Parks is a great treasury of stories from across the USA, they feature a range of types from animals and nature to pioneering people all beautifully illustrated. This is definitely a book to get lost in and may be one day I'll be lucky enough to have visited all 50 parks.

The stories are only a few pages long so this is perfect for bedtime reading and you'll loads of fun facts along the way

I enjoyed this interesting and informative book about National Parks. I of course turned first to parks in my own state and found new to me stories, although I’ve visited the parks many times. Some stories are about the land or animals, others include pioneering people who may have been the first to climb or discover something new. I didn’t know that John Wesley Powell's sister was a botanist and discovered new unknown plants in Capitol Reef NP, that are named for her. I like that this is the kind of book that you don’t need to read straight through but can look for parks you’ve visited or ones that may be in your future travel plans. I can easily see this is my school library for older grades and up.

🏞️ If you’re looking to squeeze in one last adventure this summer before the kids head back to school, I highly recommend exploring the beautiful National Parks in the U.S.A!

🏜️ And guess what? This is a fantastic book that will complement your park adventures perfectly! It’s written for children aged 7 to 11, but honestly, it’s packed with such fascinating information that anyone would enjoy it.

⛰️ Readers will dive into captivating stories about animals, natural features, and the people who have shaped these incredible landscapes. Plus, they will learn how our national parks were established and the ongoing efforts to protect these precious ecosystems… and so much more!

🌋 Even if you don’t have a trip planned, this is still an interesting and informative book that I highly recommend. I’ve visited more than half of our National Parks and I still learned a few things from this book… and you will too!

Thank you @Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group / @WideEyedEditions for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Kids who have visited or hope to visit some of the National Parks will enjoy this beautifully illustrated title. The stories are wide ranging and interesting as the book shows the many parks in their glory. Start with a look at the map of the U.S. Personally, I did not know that there were sites in Texas, North Dakota, South Carolina and more. I also didn’t know that there are sixty-three parks in all (info on those not featured can be found at the back of the book).

In these pages meet people important to the parks. Find out about the animals that make the parks their home. See and enjoy the natural beauties. Jump in anywhere and explore.

Here is a treasure trove to joyfully explore. I recommend this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

A wonderful guide for the curious kid and adventure seekers of all ages. Beautiful illustrations accompany entertaining and interesting stories from all of the United States National Parks. A must read for those planning a trip to see any of these beautiful locations and for those of us struck with wanderlust.

Explore a bunch of USA's National Parks. Each page features a colorful illustration alongside a short story. Some stories are about natural phenomena, some are about animals, and some are about special people or events that are connected to that park. Each story is simple and cheerful, celebrating and treasuring each unique park. While this isn't a great book to read all in one sitting, it's a fun one to pull out for daily story time or bedtime. It combines history and science in an attractive way and doesn't skimp on fun facts. It's written to appeal to early elementary students, and I suspect many in second or third grade could successfully read this book on their own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Beautiful illustrations go along with short stories. Most of the stories are 1-4 pages with plentiful, colorful pictures supplementing the text. Children will enjoy the images and the transportive stories. Adults will enjoy reading this on their own, using as a coffee table book, or sharing with a little one. It's the kind of book that encourages conversation and sharing one's own memories.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I will purchase this for my library where I'm sure it'll do well.

This is a beautifully illustrated collection of short stories featuring 50 of the National Parks. This would be a great coffee table book for any age.

Thank you to NetGalley and Stephanie Pearson for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a nice addition to all the National Parks books that have been released in the last few years. The book shares stories of the early explorers to the various parks and some of the history behind them. These stories are particular helpful for some of the lesser known and visited parks. Everyone has heard stories about Yellowstone but maybe not the Channel Islands. This book is great for young and old if they enjoy the National Parks and if you visit a lot of the National Parks. Having some background information before you go is great. I think this is a book for everyone not just children.

Thank you for the ARC! We loved the beautiful illustrations and how much detailed information the author included on each park. Learned about many parks and animals we had not even heard of before. Would recommend this to children young and older that are interested in learning about animals or families looking to explore somewhere new.

I can not even begin to talk more highly about this BEAUTIFUL book! It was phenomenal. I was so engulfed into the book from the first page to the very end. It was beautifully done.

This is a really lovely book. I liked all the illustrations and the stories about the National Parks. I have been to a few of them, but it's so nice to see these stories and read about more of them. Can't wait to purchase a copy.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

The set up of this book gives the feeling of a child-friendly coffee table book - filled with beautiful pictures and easy to read stories. The illustrations are wonderfully done and each National Park story is filled with interesting facts and pieces of the park’s history. The best part though is that it covers a wide range of National Parks - from the more commonly known parks, like Zion and The Great Smoky Mountains, to lesser known ones, like Isle Royale and Cuyahoga Valley. After finishing this book, I added quite a few more destinations to my must-see list! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy for review!

A fabulous book for the whole family with engaging stories related to 50 U.S. national parks. I loved the clean design, colorful illustrations, and facts shared. Buying for my home library and as gifts for my park-loving family.