"My grandparents went to Pacific Grove and all I got was this wonderful coloring book."
The latest prize from Joyce Krieg, author, and Keith Larsen (artist) is a delightful journey we take along with a brother-and-sister team of Monarchs who have come to Pacific Grove seeking the fabled Monarch Sanctuary. Full of history notes (for example, do you know why "Jewell Park' is allegedly misspelled?) the books are lavishly illustrated with Larsen's drawings from around town and include an extra treat: the second volume is actually a coloring book and children are invited to pick it up and color it, using the first volume as a guide.
The children's books introduce us to Mari and Posa as they search the town for clues as to where the Sanctuary might be and how Monarchs find it each year. (Spoiler alert: There's no definitive answer.)
They meet up with otters and children playing with Sandy the Whale. They visit the statue which is dedicated to grandfathers, located at the office of the Chamber of Commerce.
As they near the Sanctuary, they pause at Lovers Point and the Lighthouse and other interesting landmarks and learn more and more about Pacific Grove history. Did you know that the Higuera family has run the Grove Market since 1969?
Mari and Posa attend the Farmers Market and they learn about the 1906 fire which destroyed Pacific Grove's Chinatown.
Luckily enough, they come upon the annual Butterfly Parade and follow it to the Monarch Sanctuary. The annual parade takes place on the first Saturday in October and includes a day filled with Monarch-related fun.
Included in each the books is information on Monarch viewing etiquette and information on ways youngsters can help the Monarchs.
"Welcome to Pacific Grove, Butterfly Town U.S.A., and the Mari & Posa Coloring Book are available at local and online booksellers.
Pacific Grove Books are published by Park Place Publications which gives proceeds from book sales to the Friends of the Pacific Grove Library, another place Mari and Posa visit. They published a number of other books about Pacific Grove which are described at LifeInPacificGrove.com.
