John Muir: America's First Environmentalist

Quoting from John Muir’s diaries, Kathryn Lasky tells the inspiring tale of one of America’s most dedicated environmentalists, aided by Stan Fellows’s evocative, dramatic acrylic paintings.

From the meadows of Scotland to the farms of Wisconsin, from the swamps of Florida to the Alaskan tundra, John Muir loved the land. Born in 1838, he was a writer, a scholar, an inventor, a shepherd, a farmer, and an explorer, but above all, he was a naturalist. John Muir was particularly devoted to the high cliffs, waterfalls, and ancient giant sequoia trees that, through his careful influence, were set aside as the first national park in America - Yosemite. Here is the life story of the man who, moved by a commitment to wilderness everywhere, founded the Sierra Club in 1892, a conservation group that carries on his crucial work to this day.

Quoting from John Muir's diaries, Kathryn Lasky tells the inspiring tale of one of America's most dedicated environmentalists, aided by Stan Fellows's evocative, dramatic acrylic paintings.

From the meadows of Scotland to the farms of Wisconsin, from the swamps of Florida to the Alaskan tundra, John Muir loved the land. Born in 1838, he was a writer, a scholar, an inventor, a shepherd, a farmer, and an explorer, but above all, he was a naturalist. John Muir was particularly devoted to the high cliffs, waterfalls, and ancient giant sequoia trees that, through his careful influence, were set aside as the first national park in America - Yosemite. Here is the life story of the man who, moved by a commitment to wilderness everywhere, founded the Sierra Club in 1892, a conservation group that carries on his crucial work to this day.

Jane Jessell - Children's Literature

Every great man begins his life the same way, as a little boy—and Lasky begins this biography by gently revealing the pain and promise of John Muir's Scottish boyhood. Lasky chooses details of 19th century life that may be unfamiliar to 21st century children, but Fellows' lovely acrylic paintings allow each scene to become easily imagined. The scope of Muir's life is condensed to forty-one pages, and some decades are barely mentioned. Muir's exciting travels covered Scotland, Wisconsin, Canada, Florida, and California and yet only one small map is offered near the end of the story. But these are small omissions. With numerous quotations from Muir's own journals, a bibliography, and information about the Sierra Club, this book is a fine way to introduce young readers to biography. Fellows' boldly colorful, detailed drawings frame the text so that even the youngest readers will be encouraged to follow the story of this pioneer environmentalist. 2006, Candlewick Press, Ages 8 to 12.

KATHRYN LASKY is the acclaimed author of more than forty books for children, including VISION OF BEAUTY: THE STORY OF SARAH BREEDLOVE WALKER; A VOICE OF HER OWN: THE STORY OF PHILLIS WHEATLEY, SLAVE POET; INTERRUPTED JOURNEY: SAVING ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES; and SUGARING TIME, which was a Newbery Honor Book. Of JOHN MUIR: AMERICA'S FIRST ENVIRONMENTALIST, she says, "This book is a celebration of one man's imagination and prescience, as well as his capacity to live creatively in great solitude."

STAN FELLOWS studied at the Minnesota College of Art and Design and at the Art Center College of Design, in Pasadena, California. He has illustrated several books for children and has done editorial work for magazines. About JOHN MUIR, he says, "This book was an absolute delight to work on. Going to my studio each day to paint these pieces was like taking the day off to wander fields and mountains."