Kari Noel: 12 books

What does it take to draw a crowd? This book about Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers an answer to this question as it profiles America’s most visited park. Kids learn how stunning scenery found in a convenient location having a rich history attracts an audience.

Which came first? This is not a hard question when asked about America’s national parks. Yellowstone National Park is the oldest, with an establishment date of 1872. This book teaches kids what the phrase “an oldie but a goodie” means as it highlights timeless beauty.

Of the 59 parks America counts as national treasures, Glacier National Park is often called the crown jewel. What makes the park especially brilliant? This book magnifies for kids the natural beauty of Glacier as it examines the park’s glacier-cut landscapes and wealth of wildlife.

Artists view Yosemite National Park as a worthy subject because of its icons—granite domes, flowing waterfalls, and giant sequoias. Many try to capture these features when natural lighting adds dramatic effect. This book puts Yosemite in the spotlight for kids to ooh and aah over.

Ten mystery birds not of the same feather flock together in this book. They are gathered to test the bird-watching skills of young readers. Will kids be able to identify them correctly after limited observation? Or will one kind of bird be confused with another?

Ten mystery wild cats come together and make this book their habitat. They wonder if young readers can tell them apart. Several are spotted, but the details of their dots are different. Many have excess hair, but the extra fluff grows on different body parts.

A cat with a bad hair day, a cat without much hair, and eight other mystery furballs slowly come into view in this book. Young readers get a partial glimpse of each cat at first. Then they get a better look and learn an interesting revelation.

Mystery dogs representing ten popular breeds show off in this book. They hope young readers might recognize them by their famous features. But no matter what, they will make known what makes them stand out as special. Each one is proud to have a one-of-a-kind look.

A shark with a blunt head and a shark with a crooked smile are two predators in this shark-infested book. They congregate with eight of their relatives to tease young readers. Will kids know which shark is which just by their body parts and markings?

Ten mystery insects get to have close-ups in this book. This is new for them because they usually just blend in with background scenery. But they are magnified for young readers to study. Will kids be able to identify these bugs when not speck-like?

A fish named for a heavenly being, a fish named for a magical horse, and eight other mystery fishies swim around in this book. They are curious how much they really look like the things that inspired their names. Will young readers see a resemblance?

Ten mystery dinosaurs from different prehistoric time periods and with different appetites coexist in this book. They may be extinct creatures, but they think young readers might recognize them from pictures and other recreations. Each one has a trademark look to show and tell about.