Books with author Pat McCarthy

Heading West traces the vivid saga of Native American and pioneer men, women, and children from the colonial beginnings of the westward expansion to the last of the homesteaders in late 20th century Alaska. In many respects, life in the backwoods and on the prairie was similar to modern life—children attended school and had daily chores, parents worked hard to provide for their families, and communities gathered for church and social events. But unlike today, pioneers lived against a backdrop of isolation, harsh weather, disease, and even plagues of locust. And for Native Americans, the westward expansion of settlers posed the most direct threat to their centuriesold cultures. But pioneer life was not all hardship. Settlers were able to build lives and communities, and experience a freedom brought on by new possibilities. Author Pat McCarthy has woven dozens of firsthand accounts from journals and autobiographies of the era to form a rich and detailed story. Readers will find more than 20 activities to help them better understand their pioneering ancestors. Children will churn butter, dip candles, track animals, play Blind Man’s Bluff, create a homestead diorama, and more. And before they finish, readers won’t have just headed west, but back in time as well.

Tracing the vivid saga of Native American and pioneer men, women, and children, this guide covers the colonial beginnings of the westward expansion to the last of the homesteaders in the late 20th century. Dozens of firsthand accounts from journals and autobiographies of the era form a rich and detailed story that shows how life in the backwoods and on the prairie mirrors modern life in many ways—children attended school and had daily chores, parents worked hard to provide for their families, and communities gathered for church and social events. More than 20 activities are included in this engaging guide to life in the west, including learning to churn butter, making dip candles, tracking animals, playing Blind Man’s Bluff, and creating a homestead diorama.

From John Muir pushing a president and a nation into setting aside vast preserves—including Yosemite, Sequoia, Mt. Rainer, and the Grand Canyon—to Julia “Butterfly” Hill saving a 1,000-year-old redwood while bringing to light the devastation of our old-growth forests, Friends of the Earth chronicles the efforts of the men and women who dedicated their lives to protecting the United States’ natural heritage. Other notable profiles include John James Audubon, who introduced the study of birds to North America; Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who worked to conserve the Florida Everglades; and Rachel Carson, who opened the world’s eyes to the dangers of pesticides. Together, these environmentalists’ inspiring life stories tell the history of American environmentalism, from its inception to the present day. In this comprehensive resource, children also learn how to put their concerns into action. Step-by-step instructions on how to build a birdfeeder, conduct a water quality survey, start a compost pile, create their own recycled paper, and test for acid rain are included, as well as a time line of historic milestones and a list of popular parks and sites to visit or explore online.

The history of American environmentalism is the history of men and women who dedicated their lives to protecting the nation’s natural heritage. Almost singlehandedly, John James Audubon introduced the study of birds in North America. John Muir pushed a president and a nation into setting aside vast preserves, including Yosemite, Sequoia, Mt. Rainier, and the Grand Canyon. Marjory Stoneman Douglas did the same for the Florida Everglades, as did Mardy Murie with the Grand Tetons and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Cordelia Stanwood, and later Roger Peterson, revolutionized and popularized birdwatching. Rachel Carson opened the world’s eyes to the dangers of pesticides, and Julia “Butterfly” Hill saved a 1,000-year-old redwood while bringing to light the devastation of our old growth forests. Together, these environmentalists' inspiring life stories tell the story of American environmentalism, from its inception to the present day. In Friends of Our Earth readers will also learn how to put their concerns into action. Author Pat McCarthy gives step-by-step instructions on how to build a birdfeeder, conduct a water quality survey, start a compost pile, study the Greenhouse Effect, make plaster casts of animals tracks, create their own recycled paper, test for acid rain, and more. It includes a time line of historic milestones, popular outdoor parks and sites to visit or explore online, and Web resources for further study.

Patrick McCarthy led a simple, unassuming life. He and his family were thrust into a world where very few have traveled. After a night spent with friends, his sixteen year old daughter was found dead in the morning. What happened? Who is responsible? Patrick seeks answers and justice for those responsible. Follow the pursuit of justice from a grief stricken father, written as events were unfolding. Current books only deal with grief. This book includes a father’s grief, the legal system with its complications and a lengthy trial with an unexpected outcome.