Local History Challenge

Come spend Christmas in Colorado with Sophie, where she'll see bustling cities, sprawling ranches, ancient ruins, ghost towns, and even giant sand dunes. Oh, and lots of mountains--big ones! From a bunting in a spruce tree to 5 golden nuggets to 12 skiers swooshing, it's a mile-high spirited visit.    

During the last half of the nineteenth century, miners and prospectors flocked to the Rocky Mountains to find their fortunes. In the wake of this boom, small towns sprouted up wherever the precious ore could be found. Some of these small towns, born of the gold rush, still exist today. This, the third in a series about small-town life, once again turns the commonplace activities of townsfolk into a fascinating account of Americana. Exquisite etchings and spare text are carefully interwovento create a vivid portrait of life in a mountain town, from snow that comes all year round to Fourth of July celebrations and football games in the fall. Children and adults alike will marvel at the incredibly detailed, panoramic hand-colored etchings that communicate change and the passing of time on each page.

It's nice to be a pika perching on a rock; eating flowers, munching leaves, going for a walk! This board book introduces babies and toddlers to a very adorable animal. Playful, rhyming text takes us through a day in the life of a pika, supplemented by fun facts for parents to share with youngsters. With plenty of photographs to coo over and a gentle message of habitat conservation--it's nice to be a pika on a snowy mountaintop--this book will charm children and parents alike.

Mountains are an impressive sight anywhere in the world but those of the western mountain region of North America offer riches that are truly unique. This lavishly illustrated picture book presents snowcapped peaks, emerald lakes, tall pines and magnificent maples, and a range of birds and animals that will fill readers of all ages with wonder. The treasures and mysteries of nature are depicted in twenty-six full-color paintings, each with a line of alliterative text. Objects that begin with that letter of the alphabet are waiting to be discovered in each illustration. Complete with detailed information about each setting painted, this is a visually and mentally stimulating experience – from A to Z.

Watch where you step! Sometimes the animals in the Colorado Plateau are hard to find but you can almost always find their poop! Come along with Michael, Emily, and their family as they find poop (scat) and footprints (tracks) and discover which animal made them! An ideal tool for teaching young children about animal behavior, diet, and scat and tracks identification the perfect companion for in the car or in the field on your next trip to the Colorado Plateau of Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. Fun illustrations of the animals and their scat and tracks supplement the charming story, and a quick-reference chart at the back makes field identification a breeze! For children ages 5 to 8 Colorful illustrations Scat and track identification chart in the back Featured animals: desert cottontail, black-tailed jackrabbit, mule deer, porcupine, antelope, ground squirrel, coyote, mountain lion, gray fox, gopher snake, golden eagle.

Mountain goats reach heights few other animals can. The skilled climbers often move up 10,000-foot peaks! Their split hooves help them balance on steep slopes. And their strong legs allow them to jump between rocks many feet apart. This mountain goat profile will elevate young reader interest in nannies, billies, and kids!

As the largest member of the deer family, the nimbleness of these mammals is impressive. A male's threatening antlers can span well over six feet in length. Find out more surprising facts about these solitary animals in this informative read for beginning readers.

It's a deer! It's a moose! No - it's a Rocky Mountain elk. From alpine meadows to desert valleys, these giant herbivores migrate with the seasons. Males grow brand-new antlers each year, and elk fur even changes color in winter. Young naturalists will be enthralled with this informative title.   

These heavy mammals carry up to 30-pound horns on their heads. Even the bones in their bodies do not weigh that much! Climb through the mountains with these agile animals in this informative title.

Mountain lions live like fugitives. These predators usually keep to themselves and try to stay in hiding. Their main goal is to keep their neighbors unsuspecting. Because the time always comes for these stealthy stalkers to pounce! In this book, kids will track an animal with many aliases.