Welcome back to Perfect Picture Book Friday!
I hope you all had wonderful summers filled with books – the ones you read on the beach, and the ones you write in stolen moments between sports and camp and picnics and fireworks and busy kids on the go!
I know some of you have been industriously posting perfect picture books all summer and I am grateful to you for carrying the torch while I attend to other things. Anyone who has books to add to the master list is welcome to add them all to today’s link list!
Title: Two Thousand Miles to Happy: Earl Shaffer and the First Thru Hike of the Appalachian Trail
Written By: Andrea Shapiro
Illustrated By: Rebecca Harnish
Publisher: Globe Pequot/Muddy Boots (February 15, 2023)
Suitable For Ages: 5-9
Themes/Topics: goals, perseverance, nature, hiking
text copyright Andrea Shapiro 2023, illustration copyright Rebecca Harnish 2023, Globe Pequot/Muddy Boots
Opening:
“The mountains called to Earl Shaffer when he was a boy.
He followed forest trails,
slept beneath starry skies,
and warmed his hands
by a glowing campfire.
In those mountains, Earl was happy.”
text copyright Andrea Shapiro 2023, illustration copyright Rebecca Harnish 2023, Globe Pequot/Muddy Boots
Brief Synopsis: [From the publisher] “In 1948 World War II veteran Earl Shaffer decided to “walk the war out of his system” and became the first person to report hiking the entire length of the Appalachian Trail in one, continuous journey. This children’s book tells the story of Earl’s remarkable journey of five million steps across fourteen states for over two thousand miles.”
Links To Resources: virtual tour of the Appalachian Trail for kids; 5 year old hikes the entire Appalachian Trail (video); hiking games and activities for kids; back matter on Earl Shaffer and the Appalachian Trail at the end of the book.
text copyright Andrea Shapiro 2023, illustration copyright Rebecca Harnish 2023, Globe Pequot/Muddy Boots
Why I Like This Book: This engaging book will have hikers and nature-lovers of all ages looking forward to their next adventure on the trail. Called by the mountains, Earl Shaffer sets out to do what has never been done before: hike the Appalachian trail from one end to the other, 2,190 miles, 5 million steps, through 14 states. The book takes us through the sites, sounds, experiences, people, weather conditions, and animals he meets through each state along the way. When at last Earl tops Mount Katahdin in Maine and accomplishes his goal, young readers will cheer his success and be inspired as well. The back matter adds some interesting details about Earl and the Appalachian Trail for those who’d like a little more. A wonderful book for anyone who has ever dared to dream!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Fascinating story and beautiful layout on the pages! Muddy Boots is an interesting publisher.
Interesting book, thanks for sharing!
It’s terrific that there’s now a book about this man! And of course it’s published by Muddy Boots, LOL. My husband’s cousins have through-hiked the AT twice, the second time with their 7 and 9 year-olds. They started in late March and chronicled their journey on a blog for the students in their son and daughter’s classrooms. And, of course, they all had trail names, LOL. Thanks for featuring this book, Susanna! And welcome back!
This PB sounds amazing! It is a “Perfect Picture Book Friday” choice. 🙂
Sounds like an amazing journey and an awesome new non-fiction picture book. I look forward to reading it!
Everything about the AT fascinates me. Definitely going on my TBR list! Thanks, Susanna!
Oh, I LOVE this book! I’ve always been fascinated by through hikers! We have the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Canada to Mexico, north to south.