Great information, but my kids were not interested in the cutesy graphic art - actual photographs of these fascinating places would have been much more compelling. ( )

In Thuras and Mosco's Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide to the World there are 30 different country/states with two special sites given for each. From Iceland to Venezuela, Zambia to Cambodia, and all the places in between, there are wondrous locations just waiting for you to discover them. Some locations are natural- Iceland's blue whale migration spots, Mexico's Chicxulub Crater, and Antarctica's Blood Falls. Other points of interest are more man-made- there is Pripyat in the Ukraine, New Zealand's Spacecraft Cemetery, and Wyoming's Smith Mansion. Yet others blend natural and man-made for truly unique wonders such as the Korowai Treehouses of Indonesia, Peru's Nazca Lines, and Japan's Aogashima Island, better known as Cat Island. Each country has introductory information such as location, and one or two interesting facts, and each location has specific map coordinates for the intrepid explorer to visit these places in their own if they wish. The second site of each country segues seamlessly into the first site of the next country. Root bridges in India lead to grass bridges in Peru. Peru's Nazca lines resemble giant glyphs in Australia, and so on. This a fun read. I subscribe to Atlas Obscura, and always enjoy the strange and unusual information provided in the emails. This is a perfect addition to any fan of Atlas Obscura, or for the young explorer. Highly recommended

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Workman Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. ( )

Very well done selection of geographical, cultural, architectural and natural facts from around the world, explained succinctly and featuring beautiful and engaging illustrations.

This is a must read for young readers interested in the world, and would also be a very tempting introduction to the peculiarities of the world for any reluctant readers or those who are studying geography.


*eARC Netgalley*
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