Government Book Talk

GPO Summer Travel Series: Discover the Grand Canyon

GPO Summer Travel Series: What to Do and See in Washington DC

Don’t forget to check out our latest catalog America The Beautiful.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

Find more than a million official Federal Government publications from all three branches at www.govinfo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Cat Goergen is the PR Specialist in GPO’s Public Relations office.

Leave a Comment » | Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Park Service, Travel and Tourism, U.S. History | Tagged: : Freedom Trail, Charlestown Navy Yard, Lowell, Salem, USS Constitution | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

GPO Summer Travel Series: Seeing Stars

July 24, 2018

A kid in foggy goggles yells BELLY FLOPPP!, the sound of the lifeguard whistle blows, the smell of Chlorine fills the hot air, and suddenly, nostalgia has made her way to us. What are some of your best summer memories? Maybe it’s chasing after the ice cream truck, cannonballing into the lake, catching fireflies in jars, or selling lemonade to the cars that pass by. All make for a pretty epic summer break. But what about stargazing at a National Park? If you have children in your life, it’s essential you add stargazing to their list of favorite summer pastimes! And hey – you’re never too old to create a new memory yourself.

Midwest National Parks of the United States offer a sanctuary of natural darkness, making them perfect stargazing sites. Head over to one before the summer is over – many parks actually have night sky programs. Pick the park of your choice and ask the folks at the visitor center about the program. Thank your lucky stars (and your national park ranger) for the opportunity because that giddy summer’s here feeling you had as a kid is about to return.

Before setting off for your stargazing adventure, order Junior Ranger Night Explorer, an activity booklet from the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior. To start off, the booklet will guide you through smart stargazing, including what items to bring with you so you can see all the planets and star clusters up close and personal. With Junior Ranger Night Explorer, your little rising stars will learn how to find the North Star, track phases of the moon, learn about galaxies, and use all their senses to explore the night environment at a national park.

What’s perhaps even cooler is that right inside the booklet are some stargazing tools! Cut out the planisphere (also known as a star wheel) and holder provided in the booklet. Then turn the wheel until the date appears above the time that you are out at night. The constellations visible at that time will appear in the window. Next, hold the planisphere above your head and look up at it to see where each constellation is located in the sky.

If you notice that some stars appear to be different colors than others, it’s because they are! The colors of stars indicate what temperature they are. For example, blue stars are hot, while red stars aren’t so hot. The sun is yellow, which means it’s a medium temperature. By studying the color of a star, astronomers can learn about its birth, life and death. That’s right! Just like us, stars are born, alive for some time (about ten billion years that is), and eventually die.

Creative Junior Night Explorers can even make up their own constellation story. The Big Dipper was known to Native Americans and Greeks as a big bear, but farmers in England knew it as a plow. Their differing ways of life actually influenced what they believed the shape to be – pretty incredible, right? Now grab your handy dandy Junior Ranger Night Explorer activity booklet and draw your own constellation!

You can now add stargazing to your list of favorite summer activities. Stay tuned to Government Book Talk to see what’s written in the stars for next time, our devoted travelers!

More from our Summer Travel Series:

GPO Summer Travel Series: Cave Dwellers, Fossil Finders and Dinosaurs Galore

GPO Summer Travel Series: Beach Health and Safety

GPO Summer Travel Series: California, Here GPO Comes

GPO Summer Travel Series: Discover the Grand Canyon

GPO Summer Travel Series: What to Do and See in Washington DC

Don’t forget to check out our latest catalog America The Beautiful.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Cat Goergen is the PR Specialist in GPO’s Public Relations office.

Leave a Comment » | Children, Department of the Interior, Family, National Park Service, Science & Technology | Tagged: astronomy, night explorer, planisphere, stargazing, Stars, telescope | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

GPO Summer Travel Series: Cave Dwellers, Fossil Finders and Dinosaurs Galore

July 20, 2018

Is it just us, or is the thought of dinosaurs roaming … and ruling … the Earth pretty mind-blowing? If you’re as captivated by the early days of Earth as we are, you’re going to love this next destination in our GPO Summer Travel Series. But first, all the prehistoric talk has got us feeling prehistoric ourselves. Let’s stop for some coffee. You’re going to want to be awake for this expedition … we’re on our way to Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Nebraska!

Before we get there, order your Official National Park Handbook Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Nebraska. It provides a glimpse of what life was like in North America 20 million years ago, long before the arrival of man, when now-extinct creatures roamed the land that we know as Nebraska. The handbook, brought to you by the National Park Service and Department of the Interior, explains why this land became part of the National Park System, what fossils are found there, and where this monument is located. It includes tips to visitors, a reading list, and information on other sites in the National Park System. The most numerous fossils found at Agate were the remains of the pony-sized rhinoceros Menoceras. The site is also known for fossils of the gazelle-like camel Stenomylus and the early horse Miohippus. The handbook provides sketches of and information on these early animals. In addition to fossils, the park has an extensive collection of Plains Indian art and artifacts, including a shirt from the famous Sioux chief, Red Cloud, who lived on the land in the 1800s.

Have we got you eager to find more fossils? Lucky for you, there are more than 230 other national parks that preserve fossils today! Junior Paleontologist Activity Book includes a map of those parks that preserve fossils across the United States. So take a look! Fossil finding adventures may be closer than you realize. This booklet also helps children ages 5 and up dig for clues as Paleontologists do. They’ll learn about ancient life, complete fun activities, and explore just some of the national parks that offer a look into the past. Play a game to learn about how fossils form and discover different fossil types such as vertebrate and invertebrate fossils. Plus, interested to know when the first fish or flower appeared on Earth? Read fascinating descriptions of the eras of geological time, all the way from the Precambrian to the Cenozoic Era.

Did you know caves are ideal places to preserve fossil remains for thousands or even millions of years? Grab your headlamps and helmets and get ready to be amazed by stalactites, stalagmites and cave-dwelling creatures. With the Junior Cave Scientist Activity Book, you and your family will explore a fascinating and fragile underground world, learn about the values of caves and karst landscapes, and complete fun educational activities. Etiquette isn’t just for the dinner table. Before your big cave expedition, read through this book so you (and your junior cave scientists) know how to practice proper cave etiquette. Yes, it’s a real thing! As the booklet points out, it’s important to never disturb the fossils you find while on a caving adventure. The book also provides useful tips on being cave safe. The National Park Service recommends going into a cave with not one, not two, but three reliable sources of light. It really is as dark as it seems in a cave!

Thanks for coming along the road to fossilization. Rest up and we’ll see you back here again for more summer travels.

More from our Summer Travel Series:

GPO Summer Travel Series: Beach Health and Safety

GPO Summer Travel Series: California, Here GPO Comes

GPO Summer Travel Series: Discover the Grand Canyon

GPO Summer Travel Series: What to Do and See in Washington DC

Don’t forget to check out our latest catalog America The Beautiful.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Cat Goergen is the PR Specialist in GPO’s Public Relations office.

Leave a Comment » | Children, Family, National Park Service, National Park Service, Travel and Tourism | Tagged: Agate, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Cave, Dinosaurs, fossil, Nebraska, Paleontologist | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

GPO Summer Travel Series: Beach Health and Safety

July 17, 2018

If you’ve been following our summer travel series thus far, you know we’ve been busy sightseeing, hiking, and exploring National Parks all across the country. Phew, we are exhausted. You’ve earned a break! It’s island time. That is, time to bury our toes in the sand, embrace the ocean breeze, kick back and relax before heading off to our next destination. Make sure you’ve got your flip flops, plenty of sunscreen, a good book and your boogie board. It’s back to the beach for us, our trusty travelers! But first, let’s make sure we’re equipped for a safe and healthy trip.

While the boogie board isn’t a requirement for good times by the Oceanside, that sunscreen sure is! Did you know there’s actually a right way to apply sunblock? And even with sunscreen on, those tricky UV rays can still get through to your skin! According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer, and the number of skin cancer cases has been on the rise. In fact, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Protect the little beach bums in your life and teach them healthy habits while they’re still young! It’s true. Applying sunscreen can be a messy drag. But GPO and the American Cancer Society are here to tell you this: it really doesn’t have to be all that miserable. Prepared with the support of the American Cancer Society, Mission: Sunwise Activity Book from the GPO Bookstore provides puzzles and pages to color about how to be safe in the sun and how to use sunscreen. It will be so worth it when you avoid that terrible sunburn … owiee … and can keep building as many sandcastles, hunting as many ghost crabs, collecting as many seashells and bobbing over as many waves as you want!

And while it’s important to keep ourselves safe and healthy at the beach, it’s also equally as important to make sure the ocean itself stays safe. According to thankyouocean.org, marine debris is defined as “any man-made, solid material that enters waterways directly through littering or indirectly through rivers, streams and storm drains.” Included in debris are plastic food wrappers, plastic bottle caps, grocery bags, plastic straws, plastic bottles, soda cans, balloons, glass bottles, cigarette butts, and fishing nets. All of these items, and many more, can potentially harm marine life. How? Animals often become entangled in the debris, causing them to have trouble eating, breathing and swimming. Many birds and fish also may mistake the debris for food. For example, plastic bags floating in the water strongly resemble jellyfish. This poses a major problem for the sea turtle, who often mistakes plastic bags for one of his favorite meals! What’s just as gross? This debris can even transfer up the food chain to humans, as we often enjoy fish and other seafood from the ocean. Help children learn about this very serious issue and become passionate about saving our marine life. Understanding Marine Debris is an activity booklet from the Department of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries Service. A booklet for all ages, it contains an assortment of puzzles, brain-teasers and coloring activities to help children understand the problem of marine debris while having fun at the same time.

With its salty air, crashing waves, ocean spray and wild sunsets, the beach has the potential to create the absolute best memories. But it’s important to protect ourselves and our beaches and oceans while we can. Make your beach vacation a positive experience for the entire family with these publications from the GPO Bookstore. Rest up for now … under the protection of an umbrella, of course. There’s more summertime to come and more adventures to be had.

More from our Summer Travel Series:

GPO Summer Travel Series: California, Here GPO Comes

GPO Summer Travel Series: Discover the Grand Canyon

GPO Summer Travel Series: What to Do and See in Washington DC

Don’t forget to check out our latest catalog America The Beautiful.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Cat Goergen is the PR Specialist in GPO’s Public Relations office.

Leave a Comment » | Children, Environment, Family, National Cancer Institute | Tagged: beach, beach safety, beaches, marine debris, ocean, Skin cancer | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

GPO Summer Travel Series: California, Here GPO Comes

July 10, 2018

We’re having the best summer ever traveling the country with you, and we can’t wait to make it to our next destination. It’s home to warm weather, palm trees, movie stars and surfer dudes. Not to mention, it’s also a great place to experience some of the most beautiful National Parks in the country. Oh man, we knew the movie star hint was too obvious. Yep, you guessed it – California, here GPO comes!

Our journey begins in the southern part of the Golden State in Joshua Tree National Park. Here, two desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together. This park is filled with Sacred Datura, cacti, Brittlebush, and the quirky Joshua tree whose limbs twist and turn every which way, forming wishbone-like shapes. While in the park, put your little Junior Rangers to work. The Joshua Tree National Park Junior Ranger Official Program and Activity Booklet from the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service offers challenges for kids ages four and up who are visiting Joshua Tree National park. Activity booklet in hand, these Junior Rangers will be on wildlife watch and scavenger hunts throughout the park which contains about 800,000 acres of unspoiled desert.

Next we’re headed to the far northwest part of the state to Redwood National and State Parks. It’s a little bit of a hike, but we promise your breath will be taken away once you’re transported to this endless world of wistful redwoods. Towering high above their admirers, these trees are so full of nobility and grandeur that you won’t help but feel humbled by them. Make sure to bring along Redwood: A Guide to Redwood National and State Parks, California for an introduction to the parks and the movement to preserve redwoods, which are world’s tallest trees. This handbook explores redwood natural history, the work of restoring logged lands, and North Coast Indian culture. Get lost while meandering beneath billowing trees, beside trickling streams, and across wooden bridges. We didn’t mean literally get lost! Pull out that handbook. It includes a travel guide and reference materials for touring the parks. And don’t forget entertainment for the kids! Junior Park Ranger Redwood Activity Book Ages 4 and Up helps children on the trip earn cool badges while exploring the parks. Activities incorporate important tips on poison oak, beaches, wildlife safety, and much more.

All aboard! It’s time to hop on the California Zephyr, a long train that travels daily between San Francisco and Chicago, through the heart of the Rockies. Have your cameras ready because this train ride is considered one of the most beautiful in all of North America. The Zephyr route contains over 2,400 miles long of overwhelming scenery and takes about 52 hours to complete. Junior Ranger California-Zephyr: An Explorer’s Activity Guide Onboard AMTRAK provides an opportunity for children ages 8-18 to test their skills at researching places, identifying unusual animals and reading about great cities and local experiences along the way.

We came, we saw, we conquered California and beyond. But there’s still much more to see and conquer! Stay tuned for GPO summer travel destinations to come.

More from our Summer Travel Series:

GPO Summer Travel Series: Discover the Grand Canyon

GPO Summer Travel Series: What to Do and See in Washington DC

Don’t forget to check out our latest catalog America The Beautiful.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Cat Goergen is the PR Specialist in GPO’s Public Relations office.

Leave a Comment » | Department of the Interior, National Park Service, National Park Service, Travel and Tourism | Tagged: California Zephyr, Joshua tree, Joshua Tree National Park, joshua tree park, National Park, parks, parks in california, Redwood, summer, summer travel, travel, U.S. Parks, us parks, us vacation, vacation | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

GPO Summer Travel Series: Exploring the Everglades

July 2, 2018

Visiting the same old summer vacation spot year after year can become mundane. So GPO’s Summer Travel Series is bringing you a new and different sanctuary like you’ve never experienced before. This isn’t a beach retreat. Nope, it isn’t a mountain resort either. Today we’re equipping you with resources for a subtropical wonderland excursion. Ladies and gents, spray the bug repellant, grab your favorite outdoor hat, pack the poncho, and don’t forget the camera … we’re heading to the Everglades in South Florida!

If you’re a fan of vegetation and wildlife (and yes, the wet), prepare to be amazed by Everglades National Park. Abundant in plants and animals, the Everglades includes both tropical species and species from the Temperate Zone. It’s a paradise where wildflowers bloom year round, lily pads lazily float down the river, trees form canopies, and algae paint the water a vibrant green. Birds, mammals, reptiles and orchids can be spotted among the community. And keep your eye out for alligators, which are considered the keeper of the Everglades.

Eager to learn more? Go into your trip an Everglades expert. Everglades Wildguide from the GPO Bookstore presents the story of the Everglades National Park and its plants and animals, some of which can’t be found anywhere else in the United States. Read as the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service take you through what you can expect to experience at various parts of the park. And gain knowledge on the park’s history and transformation and the Federal Government’s efforts to restore its ecosystem.

If you aren’t able to take a trip to the Everglades right now, you can still get a little piece of it from GPO’s Bookstore. Created by an artist with the National Park Service, Everglades National Park poster captures the natural beauty of the Everglades in brilliant color. It is guaranteed to delight both young and old as they try to identify all the hidden animals from alligators to armadillos to bears to butterflies and birds.

You’re armed with the best resources out there. Now call your most adventurous buddies and go explore the Everglades!

More from our Summer Travel Series:

GPO Summer Travel Series: Discover the Grand Canyon

GPO Summer Travel Series: What to Do and See in Washington DC

Don’t forget to check out our latest catalog America The Beautiful.

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Cat Goergen is the PR Specialist in GPO’s Public Relations office.

Leave a Comment » | Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Travel and Tourism | Tagged: Alligator, Everglades, everglades national park, Florida, National Parks, Wildguide, wildlife | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

Light Up Your Independence Day with These Historic Posters

June 26, 2018

The Fourth of July is easily one of the most anticipated holidays in America. It’s part of what makes summertime so darn sweet. And who can blame us? What’s more fun than a day of bobbing up and down over our nation’s shining seas while the smell of saltwater and sunscreen lingers in the air? It’s a day when messy watermelon hands are welcomed and our tummies are happily full from hamburgers and hot dogs. And no doubt, nothing beats the feeling that overwhelms us as each firework shoots into the warm night air, lights up in a blinding sparkle, and gradually drips away like a chandelier in the sky.

But with all the soirees and excitement of the Fourth, it’s easy to go the whole day without really thinking twice about why we’re doing all these fun activities. So this Independence Day, order posters from GPO’s Bookstore that will help remind you of the meaning and origin of this important day. The poster Continental Soldier in the War for American Independence gives detailed information about how the infantry fought, who the army commanders were, and the nearly impossible conditions American soldiers endured. Philadelphia, 1776 offers detailed information about Philadelphia, including its intellectual awakening of the Enlightenment, its budding architecture, and its economic prosperity, during the Revolutionary War.

Give your July 4th party that little extra dash of patriotism with these two posters. You and your guests may feel just a little more grateful for your freedom when you do. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to order one for the kid in your life to hang in their room.

Let freedom ring!

The GPO Online Bookstore – Easy Access to Federal Publications

HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE RESOURCES?

Shop Online Anytime: You can buy eBooks or print publications —with FREE Standard Shipping worldwide— from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at https://bookstore.gpo.gov.

About the author: Blogger contributor Cat Goergen is the PR Specialist in GPO’s Public Relations office.

Leave a Comment » | National Park Service, National Park Service, U.S. History | Tagged: Forth of July, Independence Day, July 4, July 4th, U.S. history | Permalink
Posted by Trudy Hawkins

GPO Summer Travel Series: A Cape Cod Vacation

June 20, 2018

Our GPO Summer Travel Series is back. And let’s be honest. What is summer vacation without a retreat to the coast? So if you’re in the mood to ditch reality for colored sands, saltwater, spectacular sunsets, and communal history, consider a vacation to Cape Cod, the world’s largest glacial peninsula.

Cape Cod is the first place the Mayflower Pilgrims landed in 1620 and is where many American maritime cultural traditions, such as using carved bird decoys, were founded. The area once attracted seamen who sailed around the world hoping to bring home wealth and exotic treasures. Dating back to the 1800s, authors have been fascinated by the solitary and quaint life of Cape Codders such as lighthouse keepers and skip-wreck scavengers.

Today, the cape experiences much more activity and is one of America’s most popular public parks. But its traditional seafaring culture can still be felt by anyone who visits the destination. Full of wild inhabitants, summer cottages and colorful boats, it’s no wonder the shore attracts more than five million visits each year. And don’t miss out on majestic old lighthouses like Nauset Light, which you may recognize from your potato chip bags. The restored lighthouse is still used today to alert mariners off Eastham’s Atlantic coast.

Want to know more about this charming seashore? Order The Cape Cod Official National Park Handbook, produced by the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service, from the GPO Bookstore. Written by longtime resident Robert Finch, the handbook offers endless information about the cultural and natural history of Cape Cod. It examines the land, the sea, and recent transformations in the peninsula. Maps and a travel guide make this a great resource for those traveling to the Cape. Whether you’re interested in the bountiful sea, clambakes, or the historic attractions at Cape Cod, this handbook is guaranteed to make your Cape Cod experience even richer than it otherwise would be.

More from our Summer Travel Series: