The British import Atlas of Adventures is a fun, quirky alternative to a traditional children’s atlas. Organized like a travelogue that begins with a world map and spans the globe, this alluringly oversized book is filled with curious facts about animals, people and culture; browsable maps; and suggestions for possible adventures a child could have, including "Monkey around in Nagano’s hot springs" (in Japan), "Explore Giza’s ancient pyramids" and more. It’s no surprise that the author, Rachel Williams, has spent time working on travel books for Lonely Planet; Atlas of Adventures seems designed to inspire children to travel, or at least to investigate the incredible cultural and natural diversity of the world's continents on display here.
Playful, finely detailed, full-bleed illustrations by Lucy Letherland have an idiosyncratic appeal that suits William’s vibrant descriptions of Hong Kong’s Lantern Festival, an Indian Holi Festival, or dog sledding with huskies in Alaska. Simply by opening the book, the reader is greeted with an absolutely beautiful swarm of monarch butterflies on the front endpapers, just one of the many stunning images that will make this book a cherished gift. --Hank Stephenson, bookseller, Flyleaf Books