National Monuments of the USA

by Cameron Walker, Chris Turnham (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Showcasing the most iconic monuments, from their location on a map to their history and construction, this is a meticulously researched and vibrantly rendered compendium perfect for anyone eager to see the landmarks this world has to offer.

Travel through America’s incredible history and amazing wild places, visiting the National Monuments that celebrate the most iconic and majestic landscapes and locations in the USA.

*2023 School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, Nonfiction*

Packed with maps and fascinating facts about the history, architecture, flora, and fauna in some of the most visited National Monuments in the United States, this gorgeously illustrated book showcases the nation’s most historically important and amazing places.
 

• Marvel at some of the world’s most famous landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty.
• Discover lesser-known but just as breathtaking sites such as the Aniakchak volcano caldera.
• Read about geological wonders like the John Day Fossil Beds.
• Learn about places of solemn historical significance, such as the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument.

Divided into eight chapters covering the breadth of the US, pictographic maps locate each of the monuments explored, while double-page, poster-worthy scenes convey the beauty of the areas featured.

Monuments covered include Statue of Liberty, Stonewall, Katahdin, the National Mall, Forts of the East, Jewel Cave, Pipestone, Pullman, Grand-Staircase Escalante, Chiricahua National Monument, Bandelier National Monument, Rainbow Bridge, the Dinosaur National Monument, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, Colorado National Monument, the Devil’s Tower, Muir Woods, Golden Gate Bridge, Tule Lake, Mount St. Helens, John Day Fossil Beds, Admiralty Island, the Misty Fjords, Aniakchak, Papahānaumokuākea, Marianas Trench, Rose Atoll, and more!

Spot artworks and captions give important historical context for the memorial sites, as well as scientific information about the animals and plants found in the precious natural habitats.

The perfect armchair escapism for adventure-hungry kids, readers will marvel at the fantastic sights to be seen throughout the United States of America.

Brimming with facts, activities, and beautiful illustrations, the National Parks of the USA series of books immerses young people in the wonders of America’s outdoors. Learn about the wonderful wildlife, stunning scenery, and rare plants that inhabit these precious outdoor spaces. Celebrate these beautiful and rare locations, and be awed by the diversity and grandeur of the national parks’ living landscapes.

Also in the series: National Parks of the USA and National Parks of the USA Postcards.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780711265493
Publisher:	Wide Eyed Editions
Publication date:	06/13/2023
Series:	National Parks of the USA Series , #4
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	19,943
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 12.10(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Cameron Walker is a writer based on California's Central Coast. She works on features and essays (and some fiction on the side), with a focus on science, nature, and curiosities in and around the Pacific. Cameron's work has won awards from the American Society of Journalists & Authors, and from the American Institute of Physics. In 2019, she won the Tamaqua Award from Hidden River Arts Press for her essay collection, Points of Light. Cameron is a part of Scilance, a group of science writers who have been together since 2005. She also writes regularly for the science blog The Last Word On Nothing.Chris Turnham is an illustrator and printmaker based in Los Angeles. He's worked as an artist in both feature and television animation and has contributed illustrations to publications and children's books.

Table of Contents

Contents
East
Central
Southwest
Mountain West
West
Alaska
Tropics

Editorial Reviews

"Informative but also beautifully written... An integral addition to all collections."—School Library Journal, Starred Review

"A glorious monument to the national monuments."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

★ 09/01/2023

Gr 3–6—What is a national monument? This question is answered right at the start of this comprehensive study of America's diverse monuments. Divided into eight regional chapters, pictographic maps pinpoint each of the monuments explored, while spreads describe the areas featured. It's full of intriguing facts to keep young historians' interest such as: $6 million of the money needed to renovate the Statue of Liberty in 1980 came from money raised by schoolchildren across the country; June Pride Month is in honor of the uprising on June 28, 1969, at Stonewall to fight for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. Walker's text is informative but also beautifully written. He casts the monuments in a positive light but also shares the darker past some of them have. Walker speaks often to readers, inviting them to uncover more about these monuments and seek inspiration to work toward a better world. There are no photographs, but Turnahm's artwork clearly depicts each monument; it is visually appealing to have all the pictures drawn in the artist's style. VERDICT This updated look at new and old U.S. monuments stands out because of its examination of the monuments from an equitable lens. An integral addition to all collections.—Heidi Dechief

School Library Journal

2023-03-14
The national monuments get their due.

Walker briefly recounts the history of the monuments (thank you, Teddy Roosevelt). Instead of the usual glossy photos, the text is paired with copious subtle watercolors, harmoniously arrayed with text on generous double-page spreads. Sparkling descriptions invite reader participation: “Imagine it’s 1892, and you’re arriving” in New York Harbor. “What will you see in the [pipestone] rocks?” Many monuments are in sites of superb natural beauty, but unlike the national parks, they must have historical, prehistorical, cultural, and/or scientific interest. Readers will find information on dinosaur fossils, geology, flora and fauna, and places important to Indigenous people, significant in history (Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, Stonewall National Monument, the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument), and/or connected to American leaders like Cesar Chavez. Fascinating facts are interspersed (the Washington Monument is held together through friction and gravity rather than mortar; the Pullman workers’ 1894 strike helped establish Labor Day). Regional maps throughout indicate the locations of the various monuments, divided by area: East, Central, Southwest, Mountain West, West, Alaska, and Tropics. A calm, subdued palette and geometric-based forms that use washes rather than line allow for a maximum of information without fussiness and, with help from typography, evoke classic WPA posters.

A glorious monument to the national monuments. (index) (Nonfiction. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews