Torke, Kyle. Hiking the Grand Mesa: A Clementine the Rescue Dog Story (Published in 2020 by Loving Healing Press, 5145 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48205). Two young boys, Coover and Conrad, go with their Grandma and their mighty rescue dog, Clementine, on a desert adventure. They hike through the southern Colorado Dobies, a series of steep hills made from adobe clay that formed as the nearby volcanoes, now extinct, eroded. Their goal is to explore one of the most unique landscapes in Colorado–the Grand Mesa. At first, Coover seems a little sad and lonely at the apparently barren and solitary landscape, but Grandma introduces him to the rich wildlife, both plant and animal, around them, and both boys go tramping through an imaginative journey. What will they see? Where will they go? And what will they do?
Hiking the Grand Mesa is a nature lover’s dream. Beginning readers will be fascinated by the vivid history of the area as described in author Kyle Torke’s clear, detailed text, and by the beautiful scenery depicted in illustrator Barbara Torke’s gorgeous watercolor paintings.
This fun and insightful story is a wonderful, challenging reading experience with vocabulary development, contextual learning, and the encouragement of imagination. From woodpeckers and toads, to cattails and sunflowers, youngsters will be awakened to a whole new world. The first book in the series is Ice Breaking: The Adventures of Clementine the Rescue Dog.
Amy Wilinski-Lyman
Amy Wilinski-Lyman lives in Michigan with her three awesome children: Zach, Drew, and Kendall; and her big fluffy orange cat, Marshall. Lucky G and the Melancholy Quokka is her second book. The first, Lucky G and the Sunbeam Girl, was published in 2019. Amy became a mental health warrior in 2016 after she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Through her books and online presence (www.facebook.com/luckygbookseries), she wants to show parents and children living with mental illness that there is hope. A good treatment plan can be game changing. A fantastic support system is also extremely helpful. Amy credits her family’s love, encouragement, and patience with helping her to reach her goals. Readers can email the author at amylynnlyman@gmail.com.
![Lucky G and the Melancholy Quokka [HC]](https://i0.wp.com/d2j6dbq0eux0bg.cloudfront.net/images/11280610/1760671316.jpg?w=900&ssl=1 "Lucky G and the Melancholy Quokka [HC]")
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