Yellowstone National Park

By: Janet Piehl
Publisher: Lerner Publications
Pubication Date: January 2010
ISBN: 978-0761344551
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: March 2010

Many families choose Yellowstone National Park as a vacation destination, but just how much do you know about the park? The park is a haven for wildlife such as bison, elk, and bears, but there is something even more fascinating to see. One of the “wonders” of the park that you will see is the “boiling hot water and steam” that shoots out of the ground. When this water comes to the surface of the Earth and shoots up into the air, the stream of water is known as a geyser. If you are heading to Wyoming, where most of the park is situated, you will want to read this book to find out about its “natural wonders” and why there are so many of them.

Thousands of years ago, a huge eruption spewed “hot ash, lava, and rock” from the volcano’s center. The hot mixture hardened and “became mountains and rocks.” Beneath the ground there is still “hot, melted rock” that continues to boil and is what heats the spring waters, warm water that many people love to swim in. Glaciers also added to the shaping of the park. Their movement “cut holes in the ground” that became the “canyons, rivers, and lakes” you will encounter. In this book you will learn about the first inhabitants of the park, you’ll learn about the explorer, John Colter, you’ll learn why and how it became a national park. You will also get a glimpse at Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs, you’ll learn about stone trees, the mountains, animal and plant life, and more!

This is a nice basic overview of Yellowstone National Park for the young student who’d like to travel or write a report. The pace of the book is easy, welcoming and the numerous photographs are enticing, especially ones like the stone tree. Many of the pictures are accompanied by captions that point to a section in the photograph being discussed. In the back of the book is a map of the Yellowstone National Park area, a section of “Fun Facts,” a glossary, an index, and additional recommended book and website resources.

Quill says: This is one in the “Famous Places” series you might want to consider adding to your library or classroom shelves!