National Public Lands Day on Sept. 26 gives Americans a chance to say thank you to our many parks. Held every year on the fourth Saturday in September, it’s long been recognized by the National Park Service as “the nation’s largest single-day volunteer effort.”
By volunteering as a family, parents model the need to protect and care for green spaces. Every act, no matter how small, makes a difference. The American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes the importance of green spaces to children’s physical and mental health. Sharing them as a family allows kids to experience the sense of peace and wonder that can be found there.
You can learn more about volunteering on Sept. 26 or regularly, through the National Park Service and the National Environmental Education Foundation, which organizes this annual event.
These books showcase many of our nation’s greatest natural treasures — our National Parks. You might visit one that’s nearby — perhaps Rock Creek Park or Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, both in Washington, DC — or plan a family adventure to Florida’s Everglades or Alaska’s Denali.
Celebrate natural wonders for tots to age 8
“You Are Home”
By Evan Turk
Atheneum, 2019, $18.99
Evan Turk’s stunning pastel illustrations and lyrical text convey the beauties, large and small, of our magnificent National Parks. Kids will linger over Shenandoah’s sleeping chipmunk and thrill to Biscayne’s “teeming reefs of the ocean floor.” They will gasp at Zion’s vast sandstone cliffs and Hawai’i’s volcanoes. This is truly a book of the heart for Turk. His author’s note mentions fond memories of childhood visits to sites with his dad, who was in the Park Service. And he did much of the book’s art on location at the 20 parks depicted. Turk’s note ends with praise for those, now and in the past, whose grappling with “pollution, climate change and politics” protects the parks for the future.
“Natural Wonders”
By Kathryn Benson, Meg Cook and Marianne Murphy
edclub, 2026, $12.99
Talented authors immerse youngsters in the park experience by centering a child character (rather than a knowledgeable, more objective adult). Kathryn Benson, Meg Cook and Marianne Murphy deftly weave intriguing facts into a narrative about Hazel’s various adventures. She spots elk in the Great Smoky Mountains, explores Kentucky’s dank Mammoth Caves and marvels at Sequoia’s giant trees. Cheery art augments the text’s tone of playful wonder and the learning through visual details. In the back, multi-sensory activities extend the fun and invite thoughtful investigation.
Celebrate natural wonders for Tweens
“Magic Tree House: #35 Camp Time in California”
By Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Ag Ford
Random House, 2021, $13.99
Now 40 books strong, the bestselling Magic Tree House series continues to work its time-traveling magic. Central to all the books is the tree house portal to historical events for two contemporary siblings. This time, Jack and Annie find themselves in Yosemite, an unspoiled wilderness in the early 1900s. They soon join the camping trip of a jovial cowboy and an older man called John of the Mountains. On the expedition, the kids brave a snowstorm and sketch squirrels, butterflies, huge trees and stars. At the end of the book: surprise! Their adult companions are revealed as President Teddy Roosevelt and the great naturalist John Muir. The kids discover, too, that they have helped in the preservation of Yosemite as a national park. As they prepare to return to modern America, Jack and Annie hear something amazing. “More and more sounds filled the evening air…the strange, whirring voices of all the living things of Yosemite. The wind stirred the voices together, blending them into one timeless, wordless song.” It is “Nature’s song,” an incredible gift.
“History Comics: The National Parks”
By Falynn Koch
First Second, 2022, $19.99
Ever wonder how certain national parks came to be? This lively graphic novel offers a fascinating peek behind the scenes at key figures and the politics involved. A bald eagle and a Sasquatch serve as good-humored guides throughout. They spotlight the women-led preservation of Colorado’s Mesa Verde in 1906 and the creation of the National Park Service in 1916. They highlight the contributions of African American Buffalo Soldiers and backcountry chef Ty Sing to the early care of the parks. And they explore ongoing issues, including the unmaking of parks and the need to protect endangered predators such as wolves. While researching this unique take on history, author/artist Falynn Koch visited 48 national parks.
“Rock Creek Park A to Z”
By David Swerdloff and Lorraine Swerdloff
Swerdloff Books, 2016, $18.90
Want to explore one of the oldest national parks? This family guide offers an alphabetical tour of D.C.’s 1,754-acre Rock Creek Park. Readers might wend through “A” (Animals) and “B” (Bridges) or skip around to “O” (Olmsted), “S” (Sports) and “Z” (Zoo). Along the way, they learn about barred owls, Eastern painted turtles and Dunbarton Bridge and its bison statue. They discover the key role played by Frederick Law Olmsted and his landscape architect sons in Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo. And they might even make plans to hike, bike, run or ride horses on the park’s many trails. For years, David and Lorraine Swerdloff, the husband-and-wife creators of the book, lived adjacent to this oasis in the city. Their love of the park is evident in their careful research, spirited writing and array of photos, maps and illustrations.
Celebrate natural wonders books for Teens
“National Parks Guide U.S.A.”
By Sarah Wassner Flynn and Julie Beer
National Geographic Kids, 2016, $14.99
Glaciers, hot springs, stone hoodoos — all can be found in national parks and in this comprehensive guide. Well-designed spreads and sidebars provide information on park location, when established, size, unique features, fun facts and what to do. Full-color photos capture majestic views (snow-covered mountains, waterfalls) and wild denizens (bighorn sheep, California condors). Maps give a sense of scale and key locales, to help with planning.
Mary Quattlebaum lives in Washington, DC and is the author of 30 award-winning children’s books, most recently “Queen Elizabeth II,” an early reader biography. She teaches in the graduate program in writing for children at the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a popular school and conference speaker. maryquattlebaum.com
