Perhaps it took a trip to the Grand Canyon with your family to learn that we have President Theodore Roosevelt to thank for the preservation of that world wonder. But did you know that naturalist John Muir also played a part?
When he was sworn in as the 26th president after the assassination of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, 42, was the youngest to hold the office. This exuberant picture book suggests that Roosevelt, a huge fan of the outdoors, was inspired by naturalist John Muir's books and his cry for help to save the wilderness. Roosevelt asked Muir if he would guide the president through California's Yosemite wilderness. In a glorious vertical two-page illustration, Caldecott Medalist Mordecai Gerstein (The Man Who Walked Between the Towers) shows the majesty of the giant sequoias in the Mariposa Grove, towering over the two men on horseback, while a two-page horizontal spread lays out the stunning vistas from Glacier Point. No wonder the nature-lover in the young president was called to action.
Barb Rosenstock (Fearless: The Story of Racing Legend Louise Smith) demonstrates how one person's passion and commitment can be contagious to those with the power to effect lasting change. A detailed author's note lists the magnitude of what Roosevelt marked as land to be preserved and protected by the U.S. government, and says that the two men remained lifelong pen pals. --Jennifer M. Brown, children's editor, Shelf Awareness