Travel journalist Joe Yogerst shows young readers that the United States is a land ripe for exploration through a diverting and informative combination of facts, maps, definitions, and pictures in Explore! America's Journeys. In this installment of the Explore! America series, Yogerst charts road trips for kids and their families.
Historical information is concisely combined with recommended geographical pit stops throughout the West, Southwest, Northeast, Midwest, and South. Suggested recreational activities are subtly imbued with educational context; Yogerst notes that Big Sur's state parks and the Santa Cruz Mountains have groves of old-growth coastal redwoods, "the planet's tallest trees. One of the region's largest and oldest is the Colonial Tree in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, which is 31 feet around its base and an estimated 1,100 years old." Modes of transportation for exploration are a focus of the title, in which arriving at the intended destination is merely the first step. Upon arrival, visitors have an array of mini excursions curated by Yogerst that they can embark on by bike, boat, car, foot, train, horse, and more. Additional practical tips (likely most helpful for caretakers) such as budget-friendly accommodations, photo-worthy locations, packing essentials, and noteworthy landmarks fill the pages.
Illustrators Hannah Bailey (Explore! America's Wildlife) and Nic Jones (Earth Clock) create a vast array of landscapes, maps, activities, and families and depict native plants, wildlife, and monuments for each of the locations. Bailey and Jones's art helps keep Yogerst's travel guide dynamic as the reader pursues their visual journey from region to region. --Rachel Werner, author and teaching artist at The Loft Literary Center and Lighthouse Writers Workshop