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CHILDREN'S PICTURE BOOK

Alice and Jack Hike the Grand Canyon

Publisher: OpalAve Publishing (June 2022)

Hardcover: 48 pages

Dimensions: 8.5" x 11"

ISBN: 978-1-7363106-0-1 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-7363106-1-8 (E-book) 

Available:

- Amazon

- Barnes & Noble

Arizona Authors  2022 Literary Contest Published Picture Book Winner: https://arizonaauthorsassociation.blogspot.com/2022/11/announcing-winners-of-2022-arizona.html

Alice and Jack hike the Grand Canyon is a fictional informational picture book perfect for families with young children considering a challenging hike.  This story describes the journey of preparing for and eventually hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.  Perfect for ages 4-10.

For spring break next year, Alice and her brother Jack, along with their parents will be hiking down the Bright Angel Trail to Phantom Ranch, at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Getting ready for this hike at Grand Canyon National Park means Alice and her family have to prepare several months in advance. This is about kids valuing the preparation involved in having a successful overnight camping trip and experiencing this natural wonder of the world. 

Video from the authors and illustrator: https://youtu.be/aakGzA5yPp4

AMY GRAVES (daughter) and PAMELA SCHWEITZER (mother) are a mother-daughter author team who come from a long line of Grand Canyon hikers.  

The Grand Canyon has about 6 million visitors (second most visited national park) per year with only a small percentage (1%) that actually hike down to the bottom of Canyon (Colorado River) from the South Rim.  The authors hope this book will inspire families to plan ahead and experience more of the Canyon.

Amy lives in Arizona with her husband and children.  She is a graduate of Bowdoin College, where she studied Child Psychology and minored in Education. Amy’s first trip in the Grand Canyon was when she was 3 years old.  Amy has positive memories of hiking as a child and has now taken her own children to the bottom of the canyon.  She enjoys playing piano and is a versatile craftsperson.  

Pam grew up hiking with her parents and siblings on many of the Grand Canyon trails. She is a former assistant surgeon general and rear admiral in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service. She and her husband, Paul, have organized several Grand Canyon hikes for family and friends.  

MCKENZIE ROBINSON grew up and resides with her husband and children in Arizona. She and Amy have been best friends since elementary school days.   

McKenzie has always been a talented artist.  She is a Brigham Young University (BYU) graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. She is also a musician and vocalist, performing with her sisters in a country folk band, Firefly (@iheartfirefly).  Her hobbies include making handbound journals and hiking with her family.  

Collaborating on a book has been their dream—and this is their first one.