In his latest work, author and illustrator Jason Chin not only demonstrates his meticulous research on the Grand Canyon (Roaring Brook, $19.99), but also his inventive use of the page. Chin augments the simple narrative of a father and daughter’s hike through the canyon by illustrating the biodiversity and complexity of the majestic park through visual layers, with landscape paintings, diagrams, and topographical maps overlapping each other. Camouflaged die cuts invite readers to peek into the geological history of the park’s varied terrain, and even the page margins form a directory of plants and animals found throughout the Canyon. While unearthing fossil footprints, ancient rock deposits, and ecological communities, Chin’s characters are transported back in time to observe the breathtaking evolution of “the grandest canyon on Earth.” Ages 8-12.
