Adventures with the Parkers
Now, the entire series has become part of the Accelerated Reader Program ! 
 

Fulcrum Publishing

Adventures with the Parkers
An Adventure Series in the National Parks

Summer vacation has never been this fun!

   Join the parkers, an intrepid family of four, as they adventure into the national parks.  Twins, Morgan and James, explore the natural wonders of Bryce and Zion, the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Yellowstone.  Adventures with the Parkers- a series for kids- is packed with action as well as facts about nature, outdoor safety, environmental issues, and much more.

2008 Finalist One Book Arizona Kid's Selection

2007 Teachers' Choice Award, Learning Magazine

2006 Finalist Best Children's Fiction Category, USABooks.com

Danger in the Narrows: 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?

ISBN 978-1-55591-532-2
94 pages

"My wife and I recently took our 3rd grade daughter on a trip to Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks. We found 2 of the "Parkers" books in the Zion Visitor's Center and got them for our daughter. After she finished the first book, she very excitedly came to her mother and I to tell us about how good it was!!! Very high praise indeed...She also informed us that this author should be one that her school invites to their annual Literacy Festival where the school invites a couple of authors in with their works to speak to the kids. The school principal let me know this is the first time a kid has suggested a particular author. High praise indeed." Amazon Book Review, G. Williams, Sandy, UT

"...will inspire kids to learn about natural science and engage them in stories that involve rescues and danger." Sandy Meagher, K-8 Teacher

Tail of the Scorpion: 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?"

ISBN 978-1-55591-533-9
94 pages

"I have been talking about hiking the Grand Canyon with my 9 year old grandson. (His mom did the hike with me when she was nine) This book is great in it's detail about what adults and youngsters both see and experience when doing the hike. What children imagine the hike is like and what actually transpires are not exactly the same. It's not as easy as they imagine! But the rewards are worth the effort!" Amazon Book Review, C. Murphy

"This is a great book to entertain children while learning about America's National Parks. The family interaction within the book is loving and caring." Amazon Book Review, J.S. Sanford, Los Angeles, CA

"A fun book for older children or for parents to read to their younger children.  Great story, educational value, and visuals!" USABookNews.com

Harrowing Ascent of Half Dome: Yosemite, Book 3

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

ISBN 978-1-55591-609-1
94 pages

"This adventure story is filled with interesting information about the parks, pictures, maps, and diagrams that help explain the landscape, climate, and topography of the area.  An appealing array of nature sketches and depictions of the Parkers in action also appears throughout."  Delia Carruthers, School Library Journal

Eye of the Grizzly: Yellowstone, Book 4

Join the Parkers as they explore the wonders of America's first national park, Yellowstone.  While in Yellowstone, 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?

ISBN 978-1-55591-568-1
94 pages

"The author came to visit our 8 year old's class (in Nevada) during Reading Week. Our son raved about the book being read, so we bought it. We found the book to be exciting and kept our son's attention all the way through. He enjoyed the descriptions about the animals and the national park. When he was finished, our son said he wanted to visit the park and all the national parks. (It doesn't get better than that!). We then bought all the other books in the series and read them all (Tail of the Scorpion (Grand Canyon), Harrowing Ascent up Half Dome (Yosemite), and Danger in the Narrows (Zion/Bryce). The books weave in themes about the environment, protecting the environment, and how people with disabilities use our parks. Highly recommend this series. We are waiting for the next one to come out!" Amazon Book Review, Barbara Buckley, Las Vegas, NV

"A dramatic family adventure through the only national park equal to its fame: Yellowstone.  Visiting burbling geysers and viewing wildlife galore create lots of things for the Parker twins to write about in their journals.  But it is their family backpack trip into the backcountry that brings them face to face with Mother Nature and the eyes of a grizzly bear.  Great writing by Mr. Graf put me on the edge of my seat." Marsha Holland, literacy coordinator, Garfield County Volunteer Center, Tropic, Utah

Touch of the Tide Pool, Crack of the Glacier: Olympic, Book 5

Join the Parkers as they journey to Olympic National Park in the Pacific Northwest, where they explore the tide pools along the coast, hike through Olympic's dense rain forest, and experience the famed alpine scenery and immense glaciers.  Treacherous mountain terrain could stop them in their tracks.  Could it prove to be ultimately too dangerous?

ISBN 978-1-55591-627-5
94 pages

Ridge Runner Rescue: the Great Smoky Mountains, Book 6

With their great-grandfather's journal as their guide, Morgan and James head east to the most visited national park in the country: the Great Smoky Mountains.  The twins and their parents backpack twenty-six miles along the Appalachian Trail, learning the park's unusual history and experiencing its amazing diversity- spotting both the synchronized fireflies and the world's largest salamander.  But will the adventure end when Morgan comes down with a mysterious illness?

ISBN 978-1-55591-628-2
94 pages

The following are links to reviews for Ridge Runner Rescue:
Review by Terri Schlichenmeyer
Review by Diane Chen

Peril on Longs Peak: Rocky Mountain, Book 7

In the seventh book in the Adventure with the Parkers series, the family heads to Colorado to visit the high peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park.  When the snow clears, the parks many famous sights are on display: Trail Ridge Road, spectacular wildflowers, elk, waterfalls, and unique alpine tundra.  The family's big adventure?  A hike up Longs Peak, a Colorado "fourteener."  But afternoon storms begin to pelt the family during their training hikes, and they begin to question the wisdom of a nighttime summit ascent.

ISBN 978-1-55591-667-1
96 pages

Going to the Sun: Glacier, Book 8

In the eighth book in the Adventure with the Parkers series, the Parkers visit Glacier National Park in Montana. As they enjoy the waterfalls and uniquely sculpted mountains while the park's glaciers glimmer above them, the Parkers learn that because of global warming, the glaciers may not last that much longer.  During their family hikes they encounter a lot of wildlife, including moose, mountain goats, and grizzly bears, but the smoke and flames of summer fires may thwart their vacation plans.  Will Dad be able to bike over Going-to-the-Sun Road in celebration of his fortieth birthday?

ISBN 978-1-55591-671-8
96 pages

Additional Links:
National Park Classroom Activites http://www.nps.gov/heho/forteachers/upload/National_Park_Fair.pdf