THERE'S A MOUNTAIN IN THIS BOOK

Shaped gatefold flaps add further detail to visits through mountainous habitat zones and up slopes on four continents.

Dubbing any mountain (redundantly) an “interconnected ecosystem,” Elliot invites readers to take particular note of local flora and fauna as she leads expeditions up Kilimanjaro and generic slopes in the Rocky Mountains, the Alps, and the Himalayas—highlighting at each stop just one of its four habitat zones, from foothills to snowy summits. Using expansive landscapes as backdrops, Lacroix superimposes images of journal pages with sketches of a skimpy assortment of plants and animals sharing space with brief nature notes; on select spreads, contoured gatefolds open to add closer looks or to peek beneath the surface to reveal lake and cave life or the deep structures of volcanos and other mountain types. Guidelines for young explorers and warnings about changeable mountain weather will make these imaginary journeys more immersive, as will a closing calendar recommending the best times of year to scale major peaks in several parts of the world. Human figures are rare; some appear to be people of color.

Stimulating fare for armchair mountaineers.