Follow a boy and a girl to 30 destinations around the world.
Part atlas, part information guide, this is the ultimate book to give readers the urge to travel. When travel isn’t possible, what better way to visit new destinations than through the pages of a book?
With lots of readers stuck at home and newly acquainted with home-schooling, imaginary journeys have become a thing. A thing beyond a game. People now share and discuss imaginary trips on social media, with journeys mapped out and enacted in realistic time frames. However, a single picture or a page from a book can also be the basis for hours of daydreaming.
Organised by continent, the title page of each section begins with a map. The countries are all named and the borders are clearly shown. Across the map illustrations hint at what can be found in different places, from tourist attractions to wildlife and transport networks. The large size of the book – it’s the tallest book on my shelves – make it a joy to hunt the pages as the details within the illustrations aren’t too small to enjoy.
The rest of the book is like a travel guide for the young. Each attraction is given a double-page spread with two or three short paragraphs to explain the context. The rest of the spread is illustration although labels offer additional information. The result is something like a guided tour – the reader comes away with trivia, historical and geographical knowledge, and the urge to travel the world.
I loved the spread about Holi – a Hindu festival where coloured paint is thrown to celebrate the end of winter and new beginnings. Sleeping in a glass igloo in Lapland to watch the Northern Lights has gone on my when I find a crock of gold bucket list. Perhaps that it the joy of the book – if real travel isn’t possible, learning about the world can always inspire dreams and creative work.
Two recurring characters offer Where’s Wally type fun, and half the delight is in finding out what they might get up to in the different locations. No spoilers here – let’s just say this fictional pair will have plenty of great photographs for their holiday album. Games like this are an important part of children’s non-fiction. Picking a book up for fun is the best way to start learning. Conversations about what the boy and girl are up to raise questions that generate interest in the text.
A beautiful and addictive book.
The Atlas Of Adventures is available now, from The Quarto Group, RRP £20.00. (Provided for review).
