Taking your family to a National Park this summer? Whether you’re off to see the Grand Canyon, the Redwood forest, or Yosemite, take the time to teach your kids just how special these places are before you go. While the time you spend together as a family out in the glorious nature of the parks will be impressive on its own, exploring the idea behind the creation of our National Parks system will bring even more meaning to the trip. I recommend starting with The Camping Trip that Changed America and then taking time to introduce your kids to some of the important historical figures who had a role in protecting our country’s natural beauty like John Muir and Ansel Adams. This list of books about the National Parks system is perfect for kids of all ages. Grab a few from the library during your next visit and they’re sure to inspire you to visit the nearest National park to you! P.S. If your family is interested in natural wonders, don’t forget to look beyond the National Parks. For example, the caves in Ohio would be an awesome family destination, too.
More Travel Books for Kids
I love to read picture books about traveling with my kids. We look for books about the places we’ll go and the things we’ll see before we even pack a bag! The outdoors is but a wonderful opportunity to explore and see Mother Nature and the environment as it is — beautiful! Through a rhyming story and charming illustrations of an Asian-American family on a hike, this book is a great and simple way to introduce and encourage young children into the world of hiking, trail walking, and sightseeing. This story weaves fascinating facts about the Sequoia Forest into a beautiful tale of nature, leadership, and community. Included with every book is a page of amazing Sequoia Forest fun facts. The Tree Guardian is the first book in the Road Trip Tales series. Each book teaches interesting facts about an amazing landmark through a story that captures your heart and imagination. From Acadia’s seaside cliffs and coves to Zion’s enchanting red valleys, take a journey through the United States’ most spectacular and exciting landscapes with America’s National Parks from Lonely Planet Kids. With awesome facts, photos and illustrations on every page, you’ll discover erupting geysers, exploding volcanoes, howling wolves, soaring eagles, mountains, glaciers, rainforests and more throughout the continental USA, Hawaii, American Samoa and the US Virgin Islands. America’s national parks are bursting with gasp-worthy wonders: the world’s largest tree with branches stretching 400 feet into the sky; the planet’s grandest canyon 6,000 feet deep; a crystal-clear lake deeper than the Empire State Building. Meet the animals roaming each park, including gators, bison, gray wolves, spotted salamanders, great horned owls, bald eagles and grizzly bears, and find out the best activities, like snorkeling, white-water rafting, hiking, winter sports, exploring ghost towns and geyser watching.
