The Great Outdoors

I love to be outdoors.

Whether taking bike rides in the hills around my home,
hiking to waterfalls rushing with recent snowmelt, participating in dinosaur digs, or tagging along with a crew for storm chasing, I am awed by nature.

Perhaps my books will remind you of some of your great adventures in the outdoors.

Cave Story

Tim started feeling claustrophobic. Panic set in. He tried to turn around but there wasn't room. It was too tight and narrow. "Calm down," he told himself. He took a few deep breaths. Then he slid backwards using his hands and knees. Cave Story is an adventure story that interweaves fact and fiction. Readers will learn about cave exploration, etiquette, geology, and wildlife as they follow the exciting adventures of a young boy who is lost in a cave.

56 pages,  Published by Perfection Learning
Hardcover  ISBN 0-7891-2145-0
Paperback  ISBN 0-7891-2145-X

Danger in the Narrows: Adventures with the Parkers
Bryce & Zion, Book 1

Join the Parkers as they embark on their first national park adventure.  Twins, Morgan and James, explore the natural wonders of Bryce and Zion, journeying among the hoodoos and sleeping beneath the stars.  But the trip takes a turn for the worse in the treacherous Zion Narrows- can they rescue Dad from a dangerous fall?

94 pages,  Fulcrum Publishing
ISBN 978-1-55591-532-2

Dinosaur Canyon

Mito and his father go into dinosaur canyon for a photo shoot. Mito isn't prepared for the effects the famous canyon seem to have on the toy dinosaurs they are taking pictures of. Mito sees strange and wonderful changes, will he and his father make it out of the canyon safely?

40 pages,  U.S. Published by Harcourt Achieve Inc.
ISBN 0-7578-9858-0

Dinosaurs?

A flash flood in the canyon leads to a dangerous moment for Jodie and Ben.  But soon they make a surprising discovery in the walls of a streambed.  After days of digging, the mystery is solved and Jodie gets an idea for her science project.

32 pages,  U.S. Published by Harcourt Achieve Inc.
ISBN 0-7578-6936-X

Eye of the Grizzly: Adventures with the Parkers
Yellowstone, Book 4

Join the Parkers as they explore the wonders of America's first national park, Yellowstone.  Twins Morgan and James marvel over the geysers, thermal pools, and the vast array of wildlife.  But when they come face to face with a grizzly, what will they do?

94 pages,  Fulcrum Publishing
ISBN  978-1-55591-568-1

Fossil River Adventure

Terrance Chang and his family are off to explore Fossil River National Park, a great place to search for dinosaur fossils.  Terrance loves dinosaurs, but his dinosaur science fair project didn't win a prize as he had hoped.  His dad thinks this family trip will be the inspiration Terrance needs to improve his project, and maybe win a prize next year.  Who knows what Terrance will discover on this adventure?

92 pages,  Published by Rigby
ISBN 0-7578-2028-X

Harrowing Ascent of Half Dome

The Parkers hit the trail once again, this time in Yosemite, one of the country's most popular parks.  Ten-year-old twins James and Morgan take in the beauty of the sequoia trees and attempt an ascent of the cables.  Will they make it to the top of the infamous Half Dome?

94 pages,  Fulcrum Publishing
ISBN 978-1-5591-609-1

Rock Climbing

Have you ever wondered about rock climbing?  What skills and techniques are needed to climb safely?  Do you know who some of the most famous rock climbers are?  What is it like to climb the cliffs, crags, and spires of Yosemite National Park?  Find out the answers to these questions and learn other exciting facts in Rock Climbing.

56 pages,  Published by Perfection Learning
ISBN 0-7891-6043-9

Tail of the Scorpion: Adventures with the Parkers
Grand Canyon, Book 2

The Parkers are back for another adventure in the Grand Canyon.  Morgan and James brave a steep twenty-one mile hike from rim to rim.  As they face heatstroke, exhaustion, and even a run-in with scorpions, they wonder, "Can we make the grueling climb to the top?"

94 pages,  Fulcrum Publishing
ISBN 1-55591-533-7

Tornado! The Strongest Winds on Earth

Tim heard the faint sound of the loudspeaker- "Ladies and Gentlemen!  A tornado has touched down near Elm Street, just a few blocks south of the school..."  Tim panicked.  Elm Street!  His neighborhood!  His house!

56 pages,  Published by Perfection Learning
Hardcover ISBN 0-7807-7860-X
Paperback ISBN 0-7891-2871-3

Two Makes One

Simon and Monty have been rock climbing for years. But Simon can't walk and Monty can't hear well. How do they get up that rock? How do they work together and communicate as a team?
And this time, when they climb, Simon discovers that there is more to the cliff they are scaling than the guides know about.

32 pages,  Published by Thomson Learning Australia
ISBN 0-17-011697-2

Underground Adventure

Floating in a stream, deep underground, is a vacation adventure for Nina and her parents.  They marvel at the glowworms in the caves and paddle through the eerie tunnels.  But then Nina gets separated from the rest of the group.  Alone in the dark, she wonders if she will ever get out.

32 pages,  U.S. Published by Harcourt Achieve Inc.
ISBN 0-7578-6937-8

Whale Rescue

Two teenagers wake up early to catch some waves.  They head to their favorite beach right at sunrise to be alone at sea.  Today, to their surprise, their little cove is inhabited by a stranded whale.  The surfers spring into action.  Can they save the whale?

40 pages,  Published by Educators Publishing Service
ISBN 0-8388-3342-X

Wolves

"Wolves don't live in this park any more.  They were hunted to extinction in this area over 80 years ago"...  While camping out in Glacier National Park, Kaitlyn and her dad notice some very odd things- paw prints, half-chewed animal bones.  It all points to wolves.  But there haven't been wolves in the park for a long time.  So what's been doing all that howling at night?

32 pages,  Published by Rigby Education
ISBN 0-7578-6892-4