Mike Graf

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a nice informational picture book from a series that covers six other national parks. I love that the cover of the book give a map of the U.S. with a star highlighting where the park is located. This is a detail I appreciate because it tell you something important and may draw a reader in just by its inclusion. The table of contents tell you the whole story for this book. The table of contents included how the Smokies formed, animals, plants, and park show more activities. I liked this book and its a great introduction to national parks, mountain ranges, and conservation. I like that this book included a map activity. It give the reader something to think about and interact with.
The pictures are bright and have nice detail that give you another way to understand the information. The picture of the salamander caught my attention since I would've expected a more popular animal. But, I'm now intrigued by the Smoky Mountains diversity. I liked this book because it was a quick read and a good introduction to this area of the country. show less

Great Smokey Mountains by Mike Graf
We have visited this area but wish we had read this book before going.
There were so many more places we did not see. Love hearing about the wildflower national park during a few months out of the year. Hated hearing of the tick bite as I suffer from Lyme Disease.
Loved hearing as always about the synchronizing fireflies.
Especially like hearing of the CCC and their work in AT.
So much to see and do there, loved hearing of the chimney tops. we had seen a few show more other places that we enjoyed and would go here again.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). show less

Peril on Long's Peak: Rocky Mountain National Park Adventures with the Parkers, by Mike Graff
Story of a family who head to the CO national park and how the weather finds them.
This is the first of this series where the family explores a new national park. I'll have to get more of these as I may not get to them all.
Each of the members write a journal or other form of notes about animals, fauna, flowers, sea level height, temperature and other important facts.
Love tips about elevation hiking. show more Learned so much on this audio book, along with snow knees.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). show less

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, ridge runner rescue by Graf_ Mike
1940's and we find the family at the great smokey mountain national park. The twins and parents backpack 26 miles and we learn all about the animals they encounter.
The girl comes down with a disease and they are not sure what it is or how to cure it. Love all the places they visit on their journey and yes we've been to several.
Loved learning about the different forests in the park and how elevation determines what grows show more there in each.
Loved hearing of the other national park books in the series and can't wait to read all of them as we have visited quite a few of them.
Really good advice about dangers of walking and other hiking tips.
Loved that the mother had her father's journal when he worked at the mountains with CCC in 1930's
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device). show less