Catherine Aragon

Ms. Catherine Aragon has taken what normally would have been a boring experience for children just running from one visitor site to another in Washington, D.C. into an engaging fun educational experience. Using the idea that children love going on scavenger hunts in the backyard, in a park or anyplace else.

In this book its readers become Special Agents who have been assigned the task of finding the items listed and observing what they see in order to answer the specific questions being asked. In order to assist them need to follow the instructions being given to them by their case officers [their parents] and go to accompany their case officers wherever they decide will be the next location to complete their assigned task; even though the book has already listed all the sites they’d eventually need to go.

This book gives the basic important information anyone needs to know about each of the sites being visited, that adults visiting Washington, D.C. alone could actually use this as an educational guidebook for themselves.

For educating all of its readers, both the adults and children, regarding the location for the United States government, and helping them to hit all of the important tourist sites; I’ve given Ms. Aragon 5 STARS.

I’ve read this book via a KINDLE Unlimited download.

NOTE: Reading this book via the KINDLE edition will require a small pocket notebook to track of the points being received for the successful completion of each assigned task.… (plus d'informations)

What fun it was to receive this book in return for an honest review. I spend a week in London seeing the sights and recognized several of the places pictured and explained in this book. Although it is written for young people, the adults supervising the activity will enjoy and learn from the activities featured in the text as well.

The reader is invited to become a secret international agent and search for clues throughout London, England. Once the scavenger hunt is completed and the points added up, the reader can further her experience by going online and printing out a certificate and entering a photo contest. At the site, other books about Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Washington DC, and New York are featured. The trick using these books is to convince the child it will be a fun, shared activity and not improvised homework. With the right attitude, this could be a memorable and valuable experience for both adult and child.

While using this book, the reader seeks out details in such places as Westminster Abbey, Parliament and Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, the British Museum, the British Library, the Temple Church, and the Tower of London. It is not necessary to travel to each of these destinations in order to earn enough points for a special agent certificate. There are also ways to earn bonus points by noticing things featured throughout the city.

As well as using intrigue to motivate the reader, Catherine Aragon (is that her real name?) injects humor throughout. For example, when searching the British Museum for Selene’s horse’s head, Aragon writes, “The horse may appear a bit tired because he just led the chariot of Selene, the Moon goddess, across the sky.”

Readers not only search for items and check them off but they are also encouraged to interact with their environment. In order to imitate Queen Victoria wearing a corset, “Suck in your stomach as far as you can and read the quote on the next page, while appearing as serious as possible.”

If you’re the kind of family that likes to globe trot, this series of books is for you.… (plus d'informations)

This truly is a remarkable book that will keep your kids engaged and enjoying travelling with you. And before you notice, you will also be hunting for the treasures of Barcelona.
I visited Barcelona when I was a kid and went back there other times as an adult. I just wish I had this book when I first visited Barcelona at the age of 11. It would be a completely different travel.
The author presents this traveler's guide for kids in an unusual way, as a mission the kids are assigned to, where for each task they succesfuly accomplish, they earn points. Rules are established (most important, "be kind and respectful to team members"). A quick history of the city, its symbols (dragons, bats), emblems etc is presented. And the fun begins!
Twelve missions are listed (there is a last one called "Anytime Mission", for a total of thirteen). And each one of these missions cover a particular touristic landmark of the city of Barcelona, including La Rambla, Port Vell, La Catedral (St. Eulalia), Plaça Nova, Plaça de Sant Felip Neri, Santa Maria del Mar, Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, Parc de la Ciutadella, Parc Güell, and Castell the Montjuïc. And at each landmark there are lots of details that the kids are asked to search for, or identify some particularity of the place.
This is a very well written guide for the kids that will keep them entertained during the whole trip, allowing you to enjoy the place you are visiting. And the family interaction that his activity stimulates is simply priceless. I recommend this book to all parents that intent to travel to Barcelona with kids. Give them this book as a gift and enjoy your trip!… (plus d'informations)