America's National Parks: A Pop-Up Book    by Don Compton, Bruce Foster & Dave Ember Order:  USA  Can W.W. West, 2013 (2013) Hardcover      Reviewed by Bob Walch America's National Parks: A Pop-Up Book is written by Don Compton, paper engineered by Bruce Foster, and illustrated by David Ember. This trio of creative talent has created a beautiful volume that is filled with three-dimensional scenes that celebrate 18 of the country's most popular parks. Six of these parks (Everglades, Great Smoky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier and Yosemite) are highlighted in double spread, pop-up pages featuring the art style of 1930s WPA posters. As you might expect, the Yellowstone section includes a rendering of the Old Faithful Geyser that erupts when the page is opened. In the foreground of the iconic geyser and off to the side are two additional pop-ups featuring a collection of wild creatures found in the park. A small, five page booklet nestled in the corner delves into the history of Yellowstone, which was established as a national park in 1872. There's also information about Old Faithful and the Minerva Terrace, an everchanging rock sculpture that is adjacent to the geyser, and the Norris Geyser Basin and a picture of its Lower Falls. Although all of the pop-up sections are beautifully designed and engineered, the most intricate and breathtaking are the ones depicting the Everglades, Yellowstone and Yosemite. The parks that are not featured with pop-ups are discussed in special sections divided by area of the country (West, East, etc..) For example, you'll learn that the Channel Islands National Park is known as the Galapagos of North America for its 145 species of rare plants and wildlife that are found nowhere else. The first national park established east of the Mississippi River in 1919, Acadia National Park in Maine, offers a 27 mile Park Loop Road which is one of the most scenic drives found in any of the national parks. Three years in the making, this exquisite book is a fundraiser for the National Parks Conservation Association. The hope is to raise $100,000 for the NPCA, and $8 from every copy sold will be donated to achieve this goal. Whether you collect pop-up books or are just interested in the national park system, this unusual book is worth purchasing. It's a tad pricy, but consider the fact that you are also making a donation to the NPCA, and that makes it money well spent. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews