A full color children’s book written and illustrated by three time artist-in-residence in Death Valley National Park. With a lot of science and natural history woven into the adventures of two shiny black ravens, it is a great way to have fun while learning!As two ravens, Ravenna and Ramón, explore the desert from on high, we learn about alluvial fans, virga (rain that doesn’t touch the ground) and Panamint daisies. But that is only the surface plot. Underneath the facts expected by parents and teachers is a landscape animated by a mystic’s consciousness. This is Agnes Pelton style transcendence disguised as a children’s book.The raven duo tumbles in and out of Badwater Basin (“shiny blackness against the white salt”) and explores Telescope Peak. Meanwhile the mountains shift. The sky flares. Everything is in motion.A belly dancer and former arts therapist who worked with cancer patients, Morgan has a feel for the forces just under the surface of the natural world. Ravenna and Ramón–and the reader by extension–become part of the swirling, exploding colorful desert. “It hums and rattles and caws,” Janet says of Death Valley. The same could be said of her book. Ann Japenga of www.californiadesertart.com"Death Valley has many faces, but this is one deeply thought and profound!" - Kurt Diemberger, Mountaineer_ Artist and writer Janet Morgan, of Art & Adventures kindly sent The Raven her latest children's book, "Welcome to Death Valley!"Through observant and clever Raven eyes, Ravenna and Ramón give us a guided tour, from the lowest point in Death Valley, Badwater Basin, the salty playa 282 feet below sea level, to the highest point, Telescope Peak, at 11,043 feet; past Zabriskie Point and Gower Gulch, over the spectacular Sand Dunes, through Desolation Canyon, Mosaic Canyon, and Ubehebe Crater.The Ravens also share other things not as well known: the secrets of the night life in the sand dunes; the special colors of Death Valley in different light; the geology of the mountains and alluvial fans and valleys and ancient waterfalls and lakes, now dry; and, in one of the hottest and driest places on earth, hidden oases with precious water.Janet has created art around the world and spent much time exploring Death Valley and visiting with Ravens. Her bright and colorful illustrations demonstrate the beauty of Death Valley that the Ravens live in and see every day.It's not just a children's book. It's also a Raven book, and it's a collector's work of art!_ author Merri Melde, writer on horses and ravens"Your paintings are beautiful and offer a quality of imagery rarely found in children's books. The time, effort, and thought that you have invested in this project are readily apparent." - Tim Hopkins, Editorial Assistant, Heyday Books."What a pretty book and your explanations and activities are enjoyable." - Karen Fisk, Children's Books, Tilbury House Publishers. "I just went through it. You blew me of my socks! The idea of Ravenna and Ramone is great and your paintings and drawings are just superb. Incredible colours! What a feeling! And I knew you were just a fun story teller, bringing a good mix of fun and facts and history." - author Ireen HoubenIn her small - 29 page- brilliantly self-illustrated volume, artist Janet Morgan, by means of two ravens, Ravenna and Ramone, who spend the day soaring over Death Valley, offer up a cornucopia of natural history that should inspire most any child to appreciated the many wonders of the area. A frequent visitor to Death Valley, including three stints as Artist in Residence, Morgan is well-versed on the National Park. IN addition, her us of water color is quite remarkable. Even if your child of grandchild isn’t interested in nature, perhaps Morgan’s creative artwork will inspire him or her in the field of painting. Better still, maybe the volume will provide inspiration in both subjects. - Desert Sage Magazine, Sierra Club Desert Peaks Section, Jan/Feb 2013