Step into the underground world of Carlsbad Caverns and discover how millions of years of chemistry have built one of the most spectacular cave systems on Earth. Follow the drip of mineral-rich water as it slowly constructs stalactites, stalagmites, and formations too strange to believe, and learn how hundreds of thousands of bats navigate the darkness with nothing but sound. Through poetic verse, vivid illustrations, and fascinating real-world facts, this book reveals the science of speleogenesis, echolocation, and the surprising ecosystems that thrive without sunlight. A celebration of darkness and depth, it invites readers to see what the Earth has been quietly building all along.
Author and educator Neil Rosen is passionate about the transformative power of books on children and their families. He writes books that unite families and empower parents, caregivers, and children to impact their community positively. Neil's latest project, Can You Read Nature? encourages families to spend more intentional time outdoors to nurture future generations of environmental stewards.
Can You Read Nature? is designed for the entire family. From curious 5-year-olds on their first hike to grandparents rediscovering the natural world, our books enhance every natural experience. Read before you go, see ten times more when you are there.
Museum-quality illustrations, by professional artists from around the globe, make every page worth lingering over, the young attracted by the bright colors, the experienced drawn to the incredible detail in the artwork.
Books in the Junior Adventurer series are crafted for early readers and young explorers, with reading and science levels perfect for ages 5–10 and clearly marked on the cover. All other guides are written for families, hiking buddies, and nature lovers of any age, layered so that children grow into them and adults never outgrow them.
Can You Read Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
Can You Read Carlsbad Caverns National Park?
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Meet the Illustrator - Cassian Grove
As an autodidact (self-taught) artist, I’m always eager to learn how to draw new subjects, and this was no exception. In my previous work, I’ve mostly focused on character-centric art with minimalist backgrounds, so I had to develop my style in order to capture the beauty and complexity of Carlsbad Caverns.
I did a lot of research to find reference images of the caverns and the animals that live in them, and focused on my lighting and texture techniques to evoke the atmosphere and blend real places and animals with my cartoonish style. It’s always a good idea to find references when drawing new things before you stylize them—it pays to know the rules before you break them!
With Carlsbad Caverns, I hope to share my interest in natural features with future generations, and draw attention to the places and animals that often get overlooked because they have a reputation for being “creepy.” Bats and bugs need their time in the limelight, too!