It may come as a surprise to tourists and even some Los Angeles transplants, but picturesque parks, sprawling trails and native animals are all in the backyard of this dense urban city. Hiking enthusiast and L.A. native Nell Cross Beckerman is sharing the joy of natural surroundings in her new children’s book “From Park to Playa: the Trails That Connect Us.”
After a decade of trekking the same hike up in Baldwin Hills, Beckerman discovered that the trail continued to another side — where she could overlook the glistening city towers of Downtown L.A. The seemingly endless trail was no accident; through her research, Beckerman learned that the 13-mile Park-to-Playa trail was all thanks to the handiwork of a team of public officials committed to connecting people to nature.
Inspired by the beauty and adventure lying outside her front door, Beckerman wrote this book to encourage children to venture out and explore their own surroundings. L.A. kids will especially enjoy recognizing the Expo line, the Sony Studios rainbow and the twinkling lights of the Santa Monica Pier, along with learning about hummingbirds, Desert Cottontail bunnies and a grunion run.
Each page of “From Park to Playa: the Trails That Connect Us” is rich with colors, shades and Sophie Diao’s lively illustrations that highlight what makes outside play and adventure so delightful in our neck of the woods right here in the city.
Check out “From Park to Playa: the Trails That Connect Us” here. Copies signed by the author are available at Children’s Book World here.
