A Daring Guide for Young Adventurers

When it comes to world history, the exploration of new lands and seas is perhaps the most exciting chapter to be told. Braving the deepest jungle, scaling the tallest peaks, scanning the scorching desert, and adventuring on the high seas all have the hair-raising excitement of a children’s story, with the added bonus of educational value, too. But let’s face it, reciting “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue” just isn’t going to capture the hearts and minds of a new generation of brave bushwhackers. That’s where Explorer: A Daring Guide for Young Adventurers comes in.

Those who dare crack the covers of this beautifully illustrated and imagined book will find themselves invited to join the Society of Intrepid Explorers by its founder, Sir Henry Hardcastle. What follows is an introduction to the various types of exploration (jungle, ocean, deep sea, mountain, and desert), as well as information about the brave explorers who have come before.

But what sets Explorer apart is its willingness to delve deeper than a cursory overview might, and to give a real taste of the trials, and triumphs, of history’s bravest adventurers. That means not shying away from the many disappointments and deaths of intrepid explorers as they explored the deep sea, the arctic tundra, the dusty outback, and the crags of the Himalayas, and giving credit where credit’s due to the many native guides and local peoples who shared such wonders as the Komodo Dragon and Victoria Falls with visiting adventurers.

Kids will love the practical advice detailing everything from finding water in the desert to the wide world of ad hoc shelters. They’ll also learn a thing or two about the dangers of exploration on all terrains (watch out for scurvy on sea voyages, snow blindness at the poles, sandstorms in the desert, and “the bends” while deep sea diving).

The book’s inventive structure--with pop-ups of ziggurats and Egyptian tombs, secret envelopes, excerpts from journals, and beautiful illustrations--make it a must-have for aspiring adventurers young and old. So, whether it’s the outback or the backyard that's waiting to be explored, take up the call of the Society of Intrepid Explorers and “Go boldly!”

Explorer: A Daring Guide for Young Adventurers by Henry Hardcastle (Candlewick Press, 2007)

Ages 6-9

Price: $15.99

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