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Wauer brings nature to life as he transports readers from one national park to another while providing an in-depth glimpse of what makes each unique. Through scintillating pictures, not only can readers understand just how deeply immersed the author is in nature and wildlife, but they can also learn the stories of these parks and their residents. That, at its core, is what makes Wauer’s work stand out. The work is incredibly informative for all ages, but the storytelling that accompanies it transforms it into a must-read.
As Wauer states early on, coincidences—incredible ones at that—are the norm in his life. Perhaps the most glaring one would be during his time at Big Bend National Park when the tent for one of the naturalists he hires ends up being the same tent the man lived in during his deployment in the Korean War. The author describes how close he was to following the same path of enlisting before calling an audible and going the naturalist route. It was almost as if nature and destiny itself course corrected because Wauer was needed in the parks.
Whether it’s running into a lady looking for aliens in the sand dunes of Death Valley National Park or setting eyes upon the spectacular pictographs of Cave Valley in Zion National Park, every moment is exhilarating, creating a thread with nature vicariously through Wauer. Readers will become privy to the author’s own life, his early days adventuring with his family—especially the tree climb while dodging a cow moose—and how nature and nurture brought out his inherent instincts to be around wildlife. Ultimately, Wauer possesses three decades plus of knowledge of national parks and the gems they hold. How he pours all of that knowledge into his stories through his words and pictures makes for an enthralling read.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review