Picture book of the week

Down the Colorado: John Wesley Powell, the One-Armed Explorer by Deborah Kogan Ray
2007, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, hardcover, 48 pp.

When I visited the Grand Canyon long ago, I did wonder of the first people who were amazed by the immense beauty of the place. As Number Two is visiting it this week during her Spring Break service trip, I brought home from the library this new picture book about John Wesley Powell and his expedition down the Colorado River.

The picture book tells about his childhood military carrier during the Civil War, when he lost one arm. With war behind him, the geology professor turned back to his dreams and with his loving, supportive wife he began planning what would be an extraordinary expedition. An inspiring picture book!