Penelope Dyan
You can travel over rail trestles, and go through a very beautiful redwood forest over narrow-gauge railroad tracks to a place called Bear Mountain (and back) with the Roaring Camp railroad, as the conductor narrates the way and tells you how in the 1880s narrow-gauge steam locomotives were used to haul giant redwood logs out of the mountains. Now things are quite different as just a few people had the foresight to save these redwoods for all of the future generations, so we could truly see the forest through the trees! And this is why the redwood forest in Felton, in the mountains above Santa Cruz, California, is here today for us to enjoy! This is also why this redwood forest is a 'Comeback Kid!' The trees here were initially saved because one man, Joseph Welch, decided he would build a resort rather than let the trees be cut, proving one person really can make a difference in this world. Later, the redwood preservation movement really began when Mr. Welch refused to let Andrew P. Hill take photographs of the trees without paying for the privilege. This upset Hill who got together with a group of friends and worked hard to make sure the trees would be saved for everyone to enjoy, meaning one man can (again) make a big difference. A public park was created where the trees could be enjoyed by all. Finally, the son of Henry Cowell donated the remainder of the land to the state, providing that the state park be named after his late father, once again proving one person can make a difference!. Written by award winning author, attorney and former teacher, Penelope Dyan, with photographs by John D. Weigand, this book gives you a brief look through the eyes of a kid at a part of the great redwood forests of America. Look for the video that goes along with this book on the YouTube Bellissimavideo channel, and remember you CAN make a difference. We all can!
