The Books

Amanda Flies High 

By: Vicki Childs 

Amanda Panda is going on a hot-air balloon flight. She arrives at the launch site in time to watch the crew spread out and inflate the balloon. With her friends, Vicki, Kathy, and Mary, Amanda climbs into the basket and sets off for a flight over Salem, Oregon. At the end of the flight, Amanda watches as the crew packs up the balloon for the next flight. She has taken many pictures, and can’t wait to share them with all of her friends.

The balloon ride lasted about an hour. The balloon floated over Keizer, the Willamette River, and into a park along the Willamette River. Jim took the balloon down to touch the river, and drifted on it for a short time. This is called a practice emergency water landing or a "splash and dash." The balloon flew over farmland and a large city park. Then it landed in a wheat field.

Amanda thought this adventure was a great delight. She has many pictures to share with you in a book that was published in 2004.  

Amanda on the River

By: Vicki Childs

During the spring and summer of 2004, Amanda has been riding the sternwheeler Willamette Queen.  She has been learning about how the riverboats moved people and freight along the Willamette River. Amanda will tell about this adventure in a book called Amanda on the River.

She had a great time and has many pictures to share. Amanda was looking for a new adventure. Jim suggested that she talk to Captain Richard Chesbrough about a trip on the Willamette Queen. A boat! She thought that would be lots of fun. She has been riding on the sternwheeler and learning all about how the boats helped the early settlers in the Willamette Valley. Now you can read about Amanda's adventure on the Willamette Queen. Amanda on the River was published in the summer of 2005.

Amanda really enjoyed her cruise. She took pictures along the way. She saw a cormorant, a great blue heron, and an osprey. She also saw a nutria swimming in the water. Amanda enjoyed watching the riverbank and the water as it spilled off of the paddlewheel. Now she is ready to share all of these with you. These pictures, and many others, are in the book Amanda on the River.

Amanda and Vicki were welcomed aboard the Willamette Queen by Captain Chesbrough. They ate brunch and listened as the Captain explained about sites along the river. The also told about the history of steamboats on the Willamette. In the early days of settlement in the Willamette Valley the riverboats were the main source of transportation. They carried people and freight to towns up and down the river.