Campfire Stories - by Dave Kyu & Ilyssa Kyu (Hardcover)

About the Book

"If you want a chunk of quick reads, Dave and Ilyssa Kyu have compiled writings by diverse voices about [six] different national parks that are perfect for telling out loud. The snack-sized readings in Campfire Stories include Terry Tempest Williams' musings about Zion, Isabella Bird's letters to her sister after becoming the first woman to climb Colorado's Longs Peak, and Wabanaki poems about Acadia. It's a great summer skimmer." -Outside Online

Book Synopsis

"An engaging, entertaining, unique and simply fascinating read from cover to cover" -- Midwest Book Review

Our national parks are beautiful and unique places, often serving as an introduction to the outdoors and inspiring an appreciation for nature and wilderness. Similarly, stories and storytelling can serve as an introduction to other places and foster a powerful emotional connection to nature. Campfire Stories brings together tales about our national parks; some are by well-known writers such as John Muir, Bill Bryson, and Terry Tempest Williams, while others are from pioneer diaries or have been passed down through generations of indigenous peoples.

Co-editors Dave and Ilyssa Kyu spent six months traveling and researching the stories collected here. They gathered the best materials from public libraries, historical societies, arts and cultural organizations, museums, research centers, and national park archives. Park rangers, historians, artists, curators, educators, and local residents all offered guidance and suggestions. The goal was to discover entertaining, diverse, and engaging writings that reflect each park's essence--as well as just fun to share. Campfire Stories focuses on these six iconic national parks:

• Acadia National Park
• Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Rocky Mountain National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Yosemite National Park
• Zion National Park

Each story includes an "About this Story" reflection, offering insight into how Dave and Ilyssa discovered the tale, why they selected it, and some background about its writer. Dave and Ilyssa also share their own thoughts on each of the parks they visited, as well as tips on how to be a compelling storyteller.

Review Quotes

An engaging, entertaining, unique and simply fascinating read from cover to cover, "Campfire Stories: Tales from America's National Parks" is exceptionally well written, organized and presented, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to community, college, and university library collections, as well as the personal reading lists of anyone who has ever experienced America's national parks for themselves -- or would like to!--Margaret Lane "Midwest Book Review"

Focused on six of our most iconic National Parks, the myths, legends, historical accounts, and essays compiled in [Campfire Stories] are perfect for reading aloud, preferably around a campfire. This well-rounded book presents the spirit of these lands.--Terry Tempest Williams, author of The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America's National Parks

A lovely mixture of poetry and prose. Some [stories] are daring tales of rescues, others are relaxed musings on the power of just being in nature's beauty. The book really does belong around a fire. It even begins with tips on how to tell great campfire stories that will captivate your audience. Bring it on your next trip, and read aloud.--Jessi Loerch "Washington Trails Magazine"

Campfire Stories: Tales from America's National Parks is a perfect book for, as the title says, telling stories (and poems) in the outdoors around the campfire.... This book truly would make a nice gift for those who love to go camping and for those who enjoy stories. The book is cloth-bound, gift-quality, and will surely be appreciated!--Anne "Kelly's Thoughts on Things"

Dave and Ilyssa Kyu's collection of essays, poetry, short stories, and songs, Campfire Stories: Tales from America's National Parks (Mountaineers Books, $21.95), brings together the work of well-known writers like Bill Bryson, Terry Tempest Williams, John Muir, and Isabella Bird with pieces from the oral tradition of indigenous people, and lesser-known chroniclers of nature and adventure.--Erin H. Turner "Big Sky Journal"

For those who enjoy stories and the great outdoors, this collection is going to be a real gift. The writing throughout is engaging and the selection of works is diverse and rich.--Rosi Hollinbeck "Tulsa Book Review"

If you want a chunk of quick reads, Dave and Ilyssa Kyu have compiled writings by diverse voices about six different national parks that are perfect for telling out loud. The snack-sized readings in Campfire Stories include Terry Tempest Williams' musings about Zion, Isabella Bird's letters to her sister after becoming the first woman to climb Colorado's Longs Peak, and Wabanaki poems about Acadia. It's a great summer skimmer.--Heather Hansman "Outside"

The very fetching hardcover Campfire Stories: Tales from America's National Parks ($22) catalogues great stories from parks-goers present and past (many are culled from pioneer diaries, or have been passed down through generations of Indigenous adventurers) with engaging and entertaining things to say about the legends, histories, fauna, and heroes of beloved parks including Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, Zion, Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. It's the perfect present for the giftee who loves a good campfire, a good tale, and unique insights into the parks they love.--Katie O'Reilly "Sierra"

This is a lovely, well put-together gem of a book. It is not just another collection of ghost stories or tales of killer bears, meant to terrorize youngsters around a campfire, but a mature, reflective look at six of our national parks.--Patrick Cone "National Parks Traveler"

This remarkable book is a rousing celebration of our shared heritage as people of the land.--James Edward Mills, author of The Adventure Gap and founder of the Joy Trip Project