originally posted on 5/6/2022 1:09:00 AM
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Who doesn’t want to be the cool aunt or uncle who gives unique gifts?
ACE member Aimee Carver has created an ABC book, R is for Roller Coaster. Its subtitle is “An ABC Guide for Future Thrill Seekers.”
Many books have been written about amusement parks — both as a group or specific locations — as well as roller coasters, designers and important figures.
“I was inspired to publish my book in an ABC format for a few reasons. My main reason was that I'd often explain different roller coaster types, elements, etc. in basic language to my son (when we'd visit our home park, for example), and I thought it would be fun to make an exhaustive list of everything an enthusiast-in-training should know that other coaster-loving parents could draw from in order to inspire future ride buddies of their own — like I was trying to do!” Carver told ACE News. “My other reasoning behind the ABC format was that my child was young (he was three when I started this project), he was learning his letters and he gravitated towards books with big bold fonts and colorful pictures. I was inspired by other niche-subject children's books he already had that were in an ABC format (ABC NYC: A Book About Seeing New York City and New York Yankees ABC: My First Alphabet Book, for example), and I also enjoyed reading him ABC books that were a bit tongue-in-cheek like P is for Pterodactyl. I took what my son liked as a toddler, projected a bit into what I thought he would like once he was reading and also took into account what I liked reading to/with him as a parent.”
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After working up lists of hundreds of coaster terms, the author took each letter of the alphabet and selected a main term to spotlight on the page. For example, “L is for loop.” Each page has a colorful photo accompanying that term. Under the main title is an extensive list of other coaster terms.
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Carver doesn’t shy away from some big words either. “C is for centripetal force” might catch a few parents off guard, thinking “corkscrew” — the first word on the list — might have been easier for the child to grasp. But as a child grows, there is still something to bring the burgeoning reader back to the book to analyze more of the terms.
“My goal was to create a book that was uniquely multigenerational. It's inherently a children's book, but it can also be something that a kid approaching the 50- to 54-inch height requirement of their bucket list coaster could reference, as well as a fun and familiar read for adult enthusiasts,” said Carver.
There is also more for the coaster geek in training. Found within those lists are coaster manufacturers, such as Arrow, Intamin and Mack Rides. As kids develop their coaster knowledge, that lexicon of terms just hones their expertise.
Carver said the process took about two years from ideation to publication. She credits the time spent at home during the pandemic for providing the opportunity to flesh out her inspiration.
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Quite simply, it is a book that any coaster fan — regardless of age — would pick up if he or she were to see it. Even those with a casual interest in rides might find the book intriguing and thumb through it, probably being impressed by the abundance of roller coaster terms that actually exist.
Parents who fully embrace the book concept will enjoy two pages in the back that provide “My First Roller Coaster Log” where future thrill seekers can record the ride, park, location and date.
So whether a gift is needed for new parents or a grandchild, or possibly that cool off-beat item on the coffee table during a cocktail party, R is for Roller Coaster is a fun and whimsical find.
Those interested can order it via Amazon: Amazon
Or Barnes & Noble: Barnes & Noble
The book is hardcover and retails for $16.95.
— Tim Baldwin, ACE News Editor
#ACENews