Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
Walker & Company, 2006
ISBN: 0-8027-8069-5
Ages 7 - 10
AWARDS AND REVIEWS:
2007 Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children - National Science Teachers Association
Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
Walker & Company, 2006
ISBN: 0-8027-8069-5
Ages 7 - 10
AWARDS AND REVIEWS:
CREATING THE BOOK:
I was inspired to write this book by Everett, a stuffed bald eagle who likes to travel. Everett lives in a 4th grade classroom at Central Elementary School, in Wilmette, Illinois. Every year Everett travels to different states and countries and learns about new environments, people, wildlife, and events. A few years ago Everett came to visit me in Alaska. He went dog mushing, sledding, and he flew to the base of Mt. McKinley, the highest mountain in North America. We really enjoyed showing Everett around. We helped him take pictures with his camera and write notes in his journal about the trip. Everett also went to Southeast Alaska and visited the Tongass National Forest with author-friend, Richard Nelson. Everett was lucky enough to meet some real wild bald eagles at the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.
Everett's Alaska trips gave me the idea to write a story about a wild bald eagle that travels to many of Alaska's extraordinary places. Big Alaska takes you to special places in Alaska through the eyes of a bald eagle. Jon Van Zyle did a wonderful job illustrating this book as the eagle soars to such places as Tongass National Forest, Glacier Bay, Kodiak Island, Katmai National Park, the Yukon River, Denali National Park, and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. There is lots of information in the back of the book about featured places and useful web sites.
FUN FACTS FOR KIDS:
Did you know that...
* The largest land bears in the world live on Kodiak Island in Alaska. They can weigh as much as 1,500 pounds!
* The biggest volcanic eruption ever recorded in North America occurred in Alaska in 1912. The Katmai eruption was 50 times bigger than the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
* Valdez gets the most snow of any Alaska community --- an average of 25 feet per year!
* The biggest temperate rain forest on earth is in Alaska, covering much of the southeast region of the state, known as the Panhandle.
Debbie S. Miller
It's
in Fairbanks, Alaska
