ABOUT THE BOOK
Mount Desert Island residents Richard Johnson and Ruth Gortner Grierson have produced a children’s alphabet book that focuses on the wonders of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park.
The hardcover book, A is for Acadia, features vibrant color photographs by Johnson that highlight the island's natural beauty. It includes, among others, images of harbor seals and barred owls as well as landscapes such as Sand Beach and Bass Harbor. Grierson's text accompanies each image. Overall, the book is slightly more sophisticated than many ABC books with roughly 140 words per image. While it is aimed at 3- to 10-year-olds, it is fun and informative and should appeal to residents and visitors of any age. The "letter" topics range from Acadia to lighthouse to nuthatch to zoophtye.
REVIEWS "Mr. Johnson's color photographs of the flora, fauna and vistas of MDI are stunning – sure to elicit "Wows" and "Awws" and "Oohs" from all ages of readers."
– Bar Harbor Times
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Richard Johnson, 65, moved to Bar Harbor in 1996 from Hershey, Pennsylvania, after retiring from Lifetouch Inc., where he worked as manager of the school photography business. He frequently vacationed on Mount Desert Island with his family and became enamored with its beauty. The photographs he took during his many treks across the island form the foundation and the idea for A is for Acadia, his first book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ruth Gortner Grierson, 79, of Bass Harbor is a former music teacher and well-known local naturalist. She has written four books about the island's wildlife, including The Wildflowers of Mount Desert Island, and has written a weekly newspaper nature column for more than 30 years. Grierson also entertains regularly as the violinist in the local Teahouse Trio.
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
ABOUT THE AUTHOR