Wonderland of Wind and Sand: Poems and Photographs of the Great Sand Dunes (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781735704517)

Through poetry and photography, Wonderland of Wind and Sand celebrates the extraordinary and awe-inspiring Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in southern Colorado. Sweeping views of the sand dunes are counterbalanced by finite details such as beetle tracks in the sand. Award-winning photographer Jean E. Sidinger's photos and her heartfelt poetic messages enhance each other with the turn of every page.

Forty-four down-to-earth poems vary from inspiring, to playful, to thought-provoking. They take the concept of the park beyond the visual to a personalized articulated interpretation. Readers will climb High Dune as they read "The Ascent," sense euphoria over the bold autumn leaves against a cobalt sky as they visit the island or explore the Montville Trail, and be moved to empathy for creatures facing blizzard conditions.

Sidinger made repeat visits to the park over a period of more than forty-some years-visits that included every season and contact with its lesser-known aspects. The diverse poems and over one hundred photographs created during those years make Wonderland of Wind and Sand a unique and invaluable treasure for both novices and those who know the park well.

A portion of the proceeds from this book will benefit the Western National Parks Association.