I Am Made of Mountains

Omg! This book is so beautiful inside out!
I love the lush illustrations so much! Forget the young readers, I am more motivated to go outside and start trekking or camping right away at a nearby hilly side!

Love the footnotes. They do provide so much reliable information. It’s a pleasure to enjoy amazing cute calming illustrations alongside singsong writing and news-flash like titbits that actually says a lot about what we are reading about.

A big thumbs up to the team!

Thank you, Charlesbridge, for the advance reading copy.

This is a lovely rhyming children’s book about national parks in the US. I was really looking forward to reading a little bit about all of them but it only covers some. Each one has a double page spread and short poem along with a small blurb.

The illustrations are diverse with different ages and pretty good representation, including at least one person in a wheelchair. I also really appreciated the ending where they talked about more problematic parts of national park history such as removing Native people and the residents of the Shenandoah mountains to create many of the parks.

All in all a wonderful book, though I really wish more parks were included. Recommended.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book via NetGalley.

This is a beautifully made educational children's book about the National Parks. There is a wonderful diversity of people (culture and disability) enjoying the outdoors while the narration is from the first person perspective of nature, enticing us to visit and enjoy what the outdoors have to offer. The illustrations are beautiful with wild colors. On each 2 page spread there is an illustration, a fun fact about that specific National Park, and the narration of "nature". As someone who is a huge fan of our National Parks I enjoyed learning things I never knew about them. I didn't even know about Cuyahoga Valley!
My favorite line was when nature was describing it's tide pools. "I welcome pools of friends, protect them when the tide shifts."
The only thing I didn't like was the white space under the text. It felt off in comparison to the rest of the color filled page. The red font of the National Park names on the stark white background also threw me off.
Thank you again to the publisher and Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs for allowing me to preview this beautiful book!

This is a pleasant picture book acquainting the reader with sixteen National Parks in the United States. Vivian Mineker's illustrations are pretty and fun, containing many children. They are quite inclusive, showing multiple ethnicities, ages, and even a child in a wheelchair. The book is written in two-sentence verses about the park with an additional box of facts about each, most of which can likely be understood by the target audience of four- to seven-year-olds or easily explained by an adult. After the main story, the author has included two pages of more detailed information about the National Park Service. This includes a general overview, a history, and a section on "Troubled Beginnings" which details two instances of people being removed from their land for the Park Service to form a National Park on that site. The section also talks about the Park Service today striving to be more mindful and respectful of communities for whom the park sites are meaningful, in part by attempting to preserve the cultural histories of indigenous people displaced by the forming of National Parks.
"I am made of Mountains" contains a nice sampling of United States National Parks from coast to coast. There is a map showing more National Parks and highlighting the ones from the book.
I found some of the verses a bit forced and the end material is tailored for adults. However, even these last pages could be discussed with a younger audience. Overall, an informative and entertaining book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Charlesbridge Publishing for the ARC.

I think that this is a wonderful illustrated book highlighting sixteen of our US National Parks. Each park has a paragraph on its history and geography. The book ends with the history of the park system with some of its faults and a hint at the ecology. I loved it and so will the grands!
The illustrations by Vivian Mineker are fun, simply delightful, colorful, and evocative of the very essence of nature as preserved by the US National Parks.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school or your public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Charlesbridge via NetGalley. Thank you!

I am honestly torn in two, trying to review this book. I love hyping up the parks for the kids, but the history lesson at the end was a bit much.

On one hand, it's a beautiful review of a handpicked sixteen of the US National Parks. I loved hearing about the different offerings, and getting a little bit of trivia about each one.

But then I got to the afterward, where it speaks of the origin of the National Parks. While not technically part of the children's rhyming and fun illustrated section, it's still there and IT IS GRIM. Hey kids, let's give you some dark and violent history on how the parks came to be. Did you know Yosemite actually means "they are killers", in the language of the Native Americans who were terrorized and literally burned out of the location so the white people could come and say "how pretty"? Or how about the people who were given awful stereotypes and forced to abandon their homes to create Shenandoah National Park?

Then the very next page has cute quotations from little kids upon visiting a national park. I mean, yeah, that's what the book offers, but holy crap, guys. Fun, cool, SUPER DARK, then adorable, all in one book?

I think I just wanted to know ahead of time. I got slapped in the face and shocked by it, so you don't have to.

This beautiful book has rhyming text, but also has fact boxes filled with interesting tidbits about each state park mentioned. This would be a perfect book for studying US geography.

Alexandra's book about National Parks is a perfect way to blend poetry and facts about the beautiful world in which we live. Portions of the book are perfect for younger readers who want to see pretty pictures, but with facts and further discussion on the history of the parks for older readers.

A must-read for nature lovers.

I Am Made of Mountains highlights National Parks in the United States. It was informative, and the illustrations were captivating. While the main text celebrations National Parks, the material at the end discusses the negative impact of these parks. It seemed like a contradiction to the main text which might confuse young readers.

Thank you to the author, illustrator, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Although I wished more parks had been detailed, this is a lovely introduction for children to our nation's national parks. My only real quibble with the book is a personal one. Those of us who grew up with puzzles and maps depicting Alaska and Hawaii everywhere but where they are truly located would probably understand my rolled eyes. Okay, off my soapbox.

The parks selected are each illustrated with a colorful, simple but representative drawing depicting the parks showcase views. There's a short, poetic/lyrical included for each, plus a more detailed information box. The various park visitors shown are diverse not just in race but age, plus one shows a child in a wheelchair enjoying the park. While some parks are genuintely are easier to access than others, that was a nice, subtle reminder that our national parks are for everyone. I enjoyed illustrator Vivian Mineker's artwork.

Finally, at the end, there is even more detailed information provided, ranging from efforts to make the parks more available, to some of their less PG past, ie "Troubled Beginnings". My hunch is this info was for parents/adults but could easily lead to interesting discussions. Finally, a page made up of comments made by children who have visited various parks. My favorite was from the 8 year old who noted that the parks give the sky a break. "Huh?", you ask? They continued to explain it was from the almost overwhelming presence of artificial light, allowing all, including the animals who live there, to experience the sky more vividly and naturally. Well, they didn't use those words but that was the gist of it all.

Bottom line, a nice intro to our national parks. I couldn't quite catch the lyrical rhythm of the verse at times but overall it worked nicely. Thanks #NetGalley and #Charlesbridge for allowing me to take this virtual trip around our park system.

I adored this picture book. The text is lyrical and the pictures are lovely. I also enjoyed the additional facts about each of the parks on the pages. This is a must have for all lovers of the national parks, especially parents of young children. I highly recommend.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I cannot even put into words how much I love this book! I will definitely be buying it! Loved the illustration and the fun facts about each National Park! It makes me want to jump in a car or plane to check them out for myself. I loved seeing that the illustrator included someone in a wheelchair, inclusion is so important. This book was just perfect in every way!

I felt the text could be more engaging, especially as it is aimed at children, but I loved the subject matter. It was a nice summary of things that each national park is known for and the illustrations were beautifully done. Lots of inclusiveness in the images.

In I Am Made of Mountains, 16 national parks use their own voice to share what makes them special and differentiates them from all the others. Highlighting interesting facts and the diversity of the parks through lyrical prose, this book educates young readers⸺both orally and visually⸺about the offerings in national parks, while challenging them to think about what makes them and others unique.

Diversity is at the heart of this book. Written as a series of rhymes laced with the facts, this picture book highlights the differences in landscape and location of each park featured; diversity in the activities offered to park-goers; and, diversity in races and abilities of individuals exploring the parks. One of my favorite parts of I Am Made of Mountains are the open-ended questions the author leaves readers to contemplate on their own.

Whether you’re interested in introducing your child to national parks or exploring the theme of diversity, I Am Made of Mountains is a great addition to your bookshelf.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Cute cover on this book!

"I Am Made of Mountains by Alexandra S.D. Hinrichs" is a beautiful and inspiring picture book that celebrates the beauty of the National Parks across the United States. This lyrical book takes readers on a journey through sixteen different parks, exploring their diverse landscapes and highlighting their unique features.

The illustrations are colorful and cute, perfectly capturing the spirit of each location. The expansive artwork complements the text beautifully, making each page an immersive and engaging experience for readers of all ages.

One of the best things about this book is its inclusion of fun little facts about each park. These snippets of information add depth to the narrative and help kids learn more about the great outdoors.

Overall, I Am Made of Mountains is a splendid gift for any nature-loving young one. It's a beautiful celebration of America's National Parks that will inspire readers to get out there and explore all that our country has to offer.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

This book is a lyrical appreciation of some of our national parks. It is written very simply and includes a brief description of the parks featured. I wish it was more in depth so that it would be more interesting for older children. However, it would be a great introduction for older children and easily accessible led to younger children as well.

This is so cute! I loved reading the rhymes and the little vignettes about the different places. The inclusive drawings are fabulous and show that anyone, no matter who you are, can go and visit these places and enjoy them. There are a lot of things you can do with this book in the classroom.

Beautiful, playful, & educational!
As a family who has visited many national parks, we love this book!
We are huge nature lovers (we got married in a national park!) and we have been blessed to show our children a handful of parks! T
his book was a mix of playful & educational. The artwork in this book is breathtaking, inclusive & phenomenal.
If you are a national park family and want to add another book to your bookshelf, this is the one for you!

WHEN I TELL YOU HOW I WEPT THROUGHOUT THIS BOOK, I AM SO SERIOUS.

It was absolutely stunning. The story! The illustrations! The love for the National Park System! UGH! It moved me so, so greatly. I thought it was absolutely magnificent and I want everyone I know to own a copy.

This lyrical picture book celebrates the beauty and nature of our U.S. National Parks. I Am Made of Mountains features sixteen national parks, with a different child visiting each. From Maine to Hawaii, the rhymes and beautiful illustrations highlight the awe and wonder that keep visitors returning to the parks again and again.

The pictures in this book really are the star as far as I'm concerned. Paired with the lyrical quality of the writing, I Am Made of Mountains draws the reader in immediately. Each layout contains a good amount of writing without being overwhelming. This book would make a wonderful addition to a states or parks study, or as a fun read aloud for a summer road trip.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

In this informational picture book, sixteen national parks are celebrated in rhyming text, accompanied by sidebars in smaller print that spell out facts about that park. The rhyming text is in first person from the park’s point of view and would make a great readaloud: “I am made of groves; I tower, stretch, and sweep. Heart rushing like a waterfall, one loud and daring leap.” The author’s note at the end spells out how many park lands were acquired by force from the Indigenous people who had lived there for centuries or were subject to Jim Crow laws. The full-color, digitally created illustrations depict significant aspects of each park and feature human visitors of all ethnicities. The endpapers contain a map of the U.S. showing the locations of the parks.

A love song to America's beloved national parks. This book introduces young readers to a wide array of national parks across the country with lyrical text and engaging facts. The book also includes extensive backmatter. The art is colorful, bold, and beautiful, showing the rich variety to be found throughout the parks.

The bold colors of the artwork in this book are perfectly matched to the vibrancy of the national parks it praises. This is not a naturalistic style, but instead captures the broad strokes of natural scenes. One quarter of each 2-page spread, at maximum, is preserved as whitespace for the text, to make it easier to read. However, this quarter often also has some decoration, which helps to break what would have been a monotonous design. Plants, water, and even animals overflow the borders, showing off another untamed part of the parks.

The text has two main parts: a little poem, which goes through the whole book (excepting the informational section at the end) and a more detailed paragraph describing a natural phenomena in each park.

The book ends with a text-heavy two pages on the history of the national park system, and I was pleased to see that a bit of criticism was included, highlighting the racist policies used to exile native people (and, later, vilified immigrant groups) from their homes to establish the parks.

This would be a great starting place for a classroom unit on the parks, before assigning each child a park to research. Also a good pick for reading before your own trip into nature!

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

An awesome picture book that gets kids to understand the importance of the America's beauty and nature. By using the Natural parks that are apart of our country.