I've just purchased this book and I'm more than *delighted*! The photographs are ultimately enthralling, and the narration is so honest. I work for a non-profit striving to protect more public lands in Washington permenantly as Wilderness, and books like these that reach a large public audience and tell it like it is help us along our path to success... I love to hike and I love to see the areas that I hike in stay put! It's nice to be able to see which areas are protected and which are not before even exploring on one's own. BUY IT!

Sure, Harvey's opinionated, but it's excellent stuff. Nice, quick background on these amazing places, why they are still wild and protected, and just enough detail to get you in and out without giving away all the surprises. The best guide out there.

The interesting thing about the 100 Hikes series is how well it integrates with Fred Beckey's books. Ira and Harvey get you to the base of the peak; Fred gets you up it. The series go hand-in-hand. Some of the most valuable information in the whole series comes in the form of the forewards and introductions. While opinionated, the views expressed are those of someone who has spent a lifetime exploring, protecting and enjoying the areas treated by the books. The route descriptions are accurate (more or less), and the small maps are clear and understandable. If you don't have this book, go get it. You would do well, in fact, to get the whole series. NOTE: hikes 10, 14, 33, 70, and 79 are awesome.

"Bill Park is creating his own genre. The Alpha Search, the second book of his 'Franciscan Trilogy', is a smart, original adventure that has his friars in a dangerous search for one of history's most important manuscripts."

"Great Fun! And I'm only on page 35."

"I started to read The Alpha Search one evening and fell asleep at 3 AM. The next evening I continued and finished the book at 2:25 AM. I couldn't put it down! I've got my bags packed to go in search of 'The Missing Hair Shirt.' (Volume III of The Franciscan Trilogy.)

When I read this book, it made me remember when I was just a little kid. All the times I had been too little for things that other bigger kids could do, yet I never forgot all the things that I could do because I was little. Things such as the book said, getting a piggyback ride down the stairs, crawling under my bed, and being able to ride in a stroller everywhere. All the younger years that were so easy and yet went by so fast. This book lets me remember all the good times that I had when I was that age. Especially all the times I will never forget, for one, when I would go to weddings or other big things, and be able to dance on my daddy's feet. Or when I would play with my older cousins and they would swing me around and I was so small it would make me feel like I was weightless. Yet now I am too big to do most of those things and I miss that feeling, but I have learned that being older brings great things such as responsibility. So if someone asked me if I knew a good children's book, I would have to say Am I Big or Little? by Margaret Park Bridges.

Written over the course of one night under a reportedly chemical-induced trance with Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" as aural accompaniment, Margaret Park Bridges put the psychedelic literature world on it's gnawed-off ear when her visionary "Am I Big or Little?" hit the bookshelves. Basic in it's premise yet terrifying in it's deeper complexities, Bridges posits bold existential questions rooted soundly in everyday conventions.

Scholars have noted the link between "Am I Big or Little?" to both the works of Lewis Carroll and Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Kubla Khan." These comparisons are futile, however, as the obvious chemical backdrop of these works bears little resemblance to Bridges' use of the chemical as explicit vehicle to increased mental scope. This is territory previously mined by Aldous Huxley in "The Doors of Perception." The proceedings aren't a hallucination per se. Rather, the hallucination is as much a character in this book as Icarus, Richard Nixon, Andre the Giant, and of course the still undead ghost of soccer great Pele. Plus, since we see the mother spike her own coffee and her daughter's Strawberry Quik long before her daughter's crazy straw find it's intended target, the reader knows that the story flow could lack convention once the deliciously sweet milk has been fully ingested. Particularly unnerving is the mother's first assessment of the girl's size: "You're bigger than a Glock 33 subcompact .357 pistol, but smaller than an LGM-118A Peacekeeper missile armed with 10 Avco MK 21 warheads,way way way smaller." Tracy Dockray's fascinating illustration on this page evokes both the mind-expanding comfort of the mushroom and the terrifying panic of the mushroom cloud. This is obviously material with some weight to it as I found out the first time I read it as a bedtime story to my suddenly very awake three and a half year-old son.

What is the message that Bridges is trying to convey in "Am I Big or Little?" It's impossible to say, and I would say that Bridges herself can't answer this question herself, nor would she want to. Read for yourself and to your young ones and establish scary new frontiers of knowledge and philosophy of your own.

This is a terrific book that doesn't just talk about the sizes, big and small, but the possibilities. The child has a enormous amount of fun being both big and little, with the story focusing on the things that she can do. The book is written as a conversation between the child and her mother. It reminds me a little of "The Runaway Bunny". The conversation is not as protective but the love shows through. It also reads smoothly so it is a good book to read aloud.

Just to add on. To see more great scenic shots, see books by David Muench, Galen Rowell, Art Wolfe, among the very best nature photographers/writers out there, not to mention many others.

Wildlife photography? See them. Arthur Morris, Tim Fitzharris

Angel Lee had already said most of the great features about this book so I will just add on it.

Breathtaking shots on America's national parks, I bought it along with Spectacular China, and Spectacular Ireland, books from the same series. A very general book on the national parks of America, and so do not expect many shots on each area. My favourite would be the canyon shots, but there are too few, and none too surprised. A companion book would be Spectacular Alaska, which I find a real essential to get hold of.

It's been said and I'm going to say it again, the real treat is the fold-out panoramas (about 3 x A3 paper length). With the wide-angle view, one can almost imagine standing right in front of the parks, not to mention the other full page shots. At this price, it's a fairly good deal, with all the panaromas you can hardly find elsewhere, you would just need to get dedicated books on individual national parks, especially those of Colorado and Grand Canyon, among the best nature can offer I would say.

Ths is the best one among the Spectacular series, China is another great book, with panaroma shots of the Great Wall, as well as her scenic valleys and mountains. The whole series is Highly recommended for coffee table (though the shots in Spectacular Ireland seems so murky and out of focus) and to inspire you to get off the couch and see them for yourself....

This is an absolutely breathtaking book on national parks and a must have for anyone who loves nature. There is information and beautiful photography for over 50 different parks across the United States.

The book opens with a brief history of the development of our national park system. A map showing where each is located in also included. About two to four pages are then devoted to each of the parks.

The history and features are then described along with the spectacular photographs. There are many diverse landscapes including lush forests, desert vistas, magnificent mountains, huge glaciers, pristine lakes, & mysterious caverns.

Several 3 page fold-out panoramas are the highlight of the book. It almost makes you feel like you're there. I could go though this book a thousand times, discovering new things each time.

The national forest's trails and wonders are revealed by authors who've hiked the trails most of their lives. 100 of the most scenic, strenuous hikes are described in a guide which requires strong walking skills and access to North Carolina wilderness region.

This is an execellent book that provides helpful descriptions of each trail and how to find them. Especially helpful that it uses USGS maps instead of printing their own. I highly recommend this book.

This book details some wonderful hikes in the North Carolina mountains. Experienced hikers and casual strollers alike will find ample adventures mapped out in this excellent book. The authors, all natives of NC, have certainly put much time and energy into creating a book that would reflect their love of the outdoors and their special fondness for the western section of NC. I highly recommend this guide. Enjoy!

As a native Floridian who has lived as far south as the FL Keys and as far north as the Pan Handle, I turned critical eye on Johnny Molloy's "The Best in Tenting Camping:Florida". I was delighted to see included some of my favorite destinations as well as places other locals have long prized as remnants of the "real Florida". As an experienced kayak camper I particularly appreciated Mr. Molloy's inclusion of information on paddling opportunities. He has provided new information on put-in destinations as well as coaxed me into my many new trail hiking experiences. I find this book accurate in it's assesements and helpful in it's suggestions. When in Florida, keep your sunscreen, fishing pole and copy of "The Best in Tent Camping: Florida" close at hand.

Thanks Johnny for teaching a local few new tricks!

Planning a trip through FL can lead you through an overwhelming amount of where to stay options. Fortunately,"The Best in Tent Camping Florida" is the perfect guide to help you sift through all your choices and narrow down your search for that perfect place to stay. He has a great rating system for each campground and it is based on beauty, site privacy, spaciousness, quiet, security and cleanliness. He even gives advice on interesting sites worth seeing while you are there. He has really picked out the best of the best Florida has to offer for us "tenters".

The person that wrote this book would make a great campground neighbor! He gives a frank review that allow realistic expectations for the prospective camper. Also suggests site #'s that would be less likely to be placed next to a noisy RV. I use this book along with Campers Guide to Florida (2nd Edition), by Mickey Little before I take any camp trip. The Tent Camping book has all the information, but the Campers Guide has campground maps. Makes a great combination!

Many cookbooks are tempting to read but impractical to cook from every day. This one on the other hand is full of fast, easy, and delicious recipies that are great for kids and adults. I have never made anything from this book that didn't dissapear at the table; the microwave carmel corn is especially good. This is an outstanding book to get for your self or to give as a gift to any mom or dad.

All I have to say is I love this book! It is so easy to follow and the ingredients in every recipie are so practical. Most cook books have 5o ingredients and are so complicated. This one is simple, to the point and great for kids and adults alike. And most of the recipies take less than an hour!!

I flipped through a copy of this book at one of my MOPS meetings, and went right out and bought it. That night I decided to "doggie-ear" the corners of the pages of the recipes I would like to try! There were only about 10 recipes I didn't!! Everything I have made from this book has been what my husband calls a "keeper". There are also practical solutions on how your child can help you prepare meals, and what to do about picky eaters, etc. I HIGHLY recommend this cookbook.

I just returned from a mountain biking vacation to Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve, and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area and this guidebook proved indespensible. It contains almost all information necessary to plan your trip and somehow manages to be both concise, thorough and readable.

Story introduces each chapter with a brief description of the geography and history of the park. Then Story lists several rides within the park, each accompanied by detailed descriptions (including technical and aerobic difficulty, best time of year to ride, overall length of trail, etc.) and maps. Though some road bike routes are included, most trails are for mountain bikes. Each trail I rode was accurately described. Each chapter also contains boxes describing the fauna (animals) and flora (plants) you'll likely encounter within each park.

This book isn't just a cycling guide, it contains virtually all the information you'll need to plan your trip. Story concludes each chapter with information about local lodging, camping, bike shops, grocery stores, and restaurants (his recommendations are first rate). He also provides helpful contacts (park visitors centers, etc.) which should be able to provide any other information you might need. Story has also eliminated the extraneous elements so many other cycling guidebooks seem to contain (elevation maps might be visually enticing, but let's face it, they aren't necessary).

What is really remarkable about this book is Story's terse, engaging writing. The abundance of information this book contains is presented in readable, often witty language. He doesn't just describe, he gives the reader a feel for each park and the surrounding communities (when applicable). Unlike most guidebooks I've read (which usually contain flat, predictable humor), Story's humor actually works; it isn't "laugh-out-loud" funny, but wry, witty humor that always relates to and never detracts from the subject matter.

The only improvement I would suggest for future editions is to provide a general map of each National Park. The trail maps only feature a small segment of the park where the trail is located. It is sometimes impossible to decipher where each trail is located within the entire park itself. This is particularly difficult for visitors not familiar with the area (like me). It was sometimes impossible to tell from the maps where the most convenient place to stay (closest lodging to the trails) is. The next edition should provide a map showing where each trail is located relative to the entire park. Before visiting a park, you should obtain a complete map from the National Park Service (Story does tell where to obtain these).

Story has set high standards with this guidebook, the first in the "Bicycling America's National Parks" series. It's the kind of book you'll enjoy reading even if you don't plan to hit the trails anytime soon. Story's writing is so engaging that finishing the 300-pages is effortless (300 pages may sound long, but it really isn't). This book is a must read for any cyclists interested in visiting the National Parks of California. I can't wait to read the subsequent guidebooks for other states.

This book must be the first of its kind--a guidebook about bicycling in the national parks. The author shows that the common misperception that bicycling is not allowed off-road in national parks is just that-- a misperception. This book features some outstanding road rides as well as mountain bike rides. I think the descriptions of the parks themselves and the rides therein are well-written and clear. The author gives the kind of information you'd want to know before setting off on a ride, and does it in a colorful, sometimes very deadpan funny way. There's also some cool trivia about the parks and good, useful information about where to buy supplies, repair your bike, do laundry, take showers, camp, and other stuff like that. I think this is a book that shows you how to take part in the most fun sport in the world (bicycling) and do it in some of the most spectacular places in the world (the national parks of California). A must for any travelers to the national parks who want to get out of their cars and explore. (By the way: it's not just for hardcore bicyclists--there are numerous family and beginner-level rides as well.)

What a great book! It helps you to explore American National Parks in every detail. Wonderfull guide to american natural wonders, which you can discover on your bicycle every day. By the way, I have never been in the US, but who knows...? The book is so tempting that one day I will certainly make a bicycle trip through the US.

I live in Texas, and I have so for all of my life, but it is sure is surprising to find out how big Texas exactly is. In this book you get, in detail, a listing of state and national parks and forest for the 4 regions of Texas. Being that Texas is so big, each region tends to have all different types of camp sights compared to some of the other regions. The nice thing about this book is it gives you information about OTHER parts of Texas, perhaps that you haven't visited yet. I love to camp but tend to stick to those areas near me, or that I visited as a child. This book should give you enough information to maybe visiting some new sights.

I operate a year round therapeutic camp for teen boys. The camp goes on many trips, from day trips to extended trips. This book by Mickey Little is an invaluable resource in planning the trips for my staff and 30 boys. Lots of maps, descriptions on campsites and group sites, and of course, activities for the kids once we get there. I would'nt plan a trip without Mickey.

Although it includes many commercial campgrounds also, this book is superb for selecting, contacting, and describing the many state parks in Texas...we have found no better!!

If I'd seen this book in a store, I don't think I'd have felt compelled to buy it. It doesn't look that different from countless other children's books on the shelves... Yet it IS different. It was given to me as a gift, and I'm so glad it was. My son was fascinated by it. He was 8 months old, and it was the first book he ever took an interest in. Months later, it is still his favorite. It makes him smile every time, guaranteed.

Jan Pienkowski's "Zoo" uses a simple format to appeal to the youngest children. The book introduces the reader to 14 different animals that you would see at a zoo: crocodile, hippopotamus, toucan, gorilla, and more. Each page combines a one-word caption with a colorful illustration.

The pictures are particularly appealing. Bright and colorful, these illustrations combine an iconic quality with realistic touches. From the grandeur of the peacock's tail to the charm of a koala mother and her baby, each picture is delightful. This is a fun book for both child and caregiver.

I bought this book for my son when he was 7 months old. He is now one and still chooses it over all of the other books we own. He loves the illustrations! He took his first step to get this book off of a table and he said his first word when we turned to the lion page. He now says "Yion" each time we read it!And he's learned to roar!