It is exciting to read stories set in the mountains! That is one of the things I have enjoyed most about our reading across America - the deep sense of place that we experience with each book. This collection taught me so much. I never knew there as a time in American history when you could mail a child through the US Postal Service.

I also loved the story of Thomas Moran and learning how his artistic ability helped Congress see the majesty of the Yellowstone National Park region. The lack of color photography meant Moran’s paintings alone gave the full understanding of the wonder of the area. The concurrent timeline of exploration and technology development is one of those small connections in history that I would not have put together without reading this picture book.

Reading books set in the Rocky Mountains makes it seem like the end of our study is in sight. Next we head to the southwestern states, and then the Pacific Ocean is just to the west!

Hope you enjoy this collection as much as we did!

Montana: Shep, Our Most Loyal Dog by Sneed Collard, Illustrator Joanna Hardly
Idaho: Mailing May by Michael Tunnel, Illustrator Michael Tunnel
Colorado: High as a Hawk by T.A. Barron, Illustrator Ted Lewin

Wyoming: Yellowstone Moran: Painting the American West by Lita Judge, Illustrator Lita Judge
Nevada: Rhyolite: The True Story of a Ghost Town by Diane Siebert, Illustrator David Frampton
Utah: An Outlaw Thanksgiving by Emily Arnold McCully, Illustrator Emily Arnold McCully

Picture Book Lists For Other Regions

New England and Mid Atlantic States Picture Book List
Southern States Picture Book List
Midwest States Picture Book List
Southwest States Picture Book List
Pacific States Picture Book List

Links provided here are affiliate links and I do earn a very small commission if you purchase after clicking.
This is at no additional cost to you.