Mark the Mountain Guide facts for kids
Mark the Mountain Guide is a super cool series of illustrated books for kids! They mix exciting short stories with an awesome introduction to mountain climbing. The books are written by Mark Seaton, who is a real mountain guide. The amazing pictures are drawn by Graham Philpot. These fun books are published by Boxer Books.
Contents
About the Books
How the Books Started
The idea for these books came from author Mark Seaton and David Bennett. David is a publisher of children's books. They thought of the idea while climbing a huge mountain called Mont Blanc together! David Bennett also helped create the famous Where's Waldo? books. Those books have sold over 40 million copies worldwide!
Who Endorses the Books?
A famous British mountaineer, Sir Chris Bonington, wrote the introduction for the books. Also, the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations has given their special approval. This means the technical parts of the books are accurate and safe!
Meet the Characters
The main character in the stories is Mark, who is a friendly mountain guide. Many of the other characters are fun animals! You'll meet Leo the Mountain Dog and three little Marmot Mountaineers. They all go on exciting adventures together.
Learning About Mountains
At the end of each story, there's a special section just for learning. It explains more about cool things you might see in the mountains. For example, the first book, Mark the Mountain Guide, explains what causes an avalanche. It also tells you how mountains are formed. And it even explains why stars look so bright when you are high up!
Mountain Words Explained
There's also a helpful list of mountain words from the story. This is called a glossary. It defines terms like avalanche, crampon (spikes for boots), gorge (a deep valley), glacier (a big river of ice), and mountaineer (someone who climbs mountains).
Fun Activities to Try
This learning section also gives you practical tips. It can help you start your own mountain adventures! You can learn how to build an igloo. It shows what a mountaineer wears and carries in their backpack. You can even learn how to tie a couple of useful knots! The first book even comes with a toy carabiner and a rope to practice your knots!
More Adventures in Later Books
The other books in the series follow this fun learning style. For example, the second book is called Mark the Mountain Guide and the Compass Adventure. It comes with a real working compass! It also has simple pictures that explain the history and science behind how compasses work for navigation.
Meet the Author: Mark Seaton
Mark Seaton is the author of these books. He is a British mountain guide. He lives with his family in the beautiful Chamonix valley. This is a famous mountain area in France. Mark guides climbers and skiers in the French, Swiss, and Italian Alps.
Mark's Amazing Adventures
Mark is a very experienced mountain guide. He has led many challenging climbs. In 2007, he guided his client Charles Sherwood up the Eiger Nordwand. This is a very famous and difficult mountain face! In 2008, Mark and Charles climbed Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey. This is known as one of the hardest 4000-meter peaks in the Alps.
In 1996, Mark helped Don Planner climb Mont Blanc. Don was the first blind person to reach the top of Mont Blanc! He was also the first person to climb it after having heart surgery. Mark has also guided different groups from the British army, including the Special Forces.
Meet the Illustrator: Graham Philpot
Graham Philpot is the artist who draws the pictures for the books. He is a children's artist. He is also well-known for creating the character Anthony Ant.
