No matter how cold or wet the weather might be outside, there are still adventures to be had. Books can take you wherever and whenever you want!
We recently received a selection of new children’s books from Quarto Kids and wanted to share what we’ve been reading in case you’d like to read them too. Each of these books contain unique novelty elements certain to draw kids in and encourage even reluctant readers to turn the page!
Click on the titles or covers to see these books on Amazon.
by Teddy Keen
“I would mention the area’s name, but I can’t. All I can say is that this map would lead the two of us on an expedition into the heart of the unknown, hoping to find the last river for ourselves. What we discovered deep within the rainforest was enough to make me remove or change the place names in this journal – just like the map maker. Soon, you will know and understand.…”
A sequel to the riveting The Lost Book of Adventure, this book is billed as a reproduction of a well-worn journal recently discovered in the middle of the Amazon. In its pages, an unidentified adventurer details his expedition into the depths of the Amazon rainforest in search of the mysterious Last River. Tracing his discovery of a mysterious hand-drawn map, to meeting up with his friend Bibi in Brazil, then setting off on a thrilling adventure into the jungle, the pages document every day of the arduous and perilous journey. What starts as a search for gold ends up teaching far more valuable lessons and changing our daring adventurers forever.
Pastel and pencil sketches on every page illustrate the two friends’ adventure in painstaking detail, most particularly the wildlife they encounter along the way. Handwritten notes and diagrams along with the smudges, stains, specimens, and even a piranha bite adorn the pages. This fascinating journal will have kids feeling like they’re riding in the canoe, slogging through the jungle, and experiencing this thrilling adventure for themselves.
by Emily Hawkins and R. Fresson
This oversized hardcover book is part choose-your-own-adventure story and part game. It all starts with a trip into the Alps to photograph wolves. When your helicopter crashes, you are left uninjured but stranded in the mountains. Equipped only with a sleeping bag, thermal roll-mat, bottle of water, bag of nuts, waterproof matches, binoculars, first aid kit, penknife, map, camera, and your grandfather’s old survival journal, you must survive the perilous terrain and find your way home.
Each page brings a new challenge and requires you to decide your best course of action. The sturdy plastic and cardboard Survival Spinner stored in the book cover determines the outcome of each challenge you face and, if you survive, sends you on to the next page of your adventure.
You come face-to-face with a brown bear in the forest. What do you do? Will you face up to it and shout to frighten it away, slowly walk away, or make a run for it?
Included in the pages are real-life survivor tales and important survival techniques like how to make a snow shelter, build a fire, treat a bleeding wound, survive a bear attack, and cross a frozen lake. The thick pages will stand up to repeated play-throughs, and I love that the book also includes instructions for how to create a jury-rigged spinner from household supplies in the (not improbable) event that your kids lose the spinner that comes with the book.
by Poppy David and Jessica Roux
This beautiful volume is another charming scrapbook-style “reproduction” of a long-lost journal, allegedly compiled in the 1920s by naturalist Professor Conrad Gessner for his grandson. The dark blue cloth cover is embossed with copper foil with copper page edges, gorgeously illustrated endpapers, an embellished nameplate, and a matching ribbon bookmark. All these luxurious touches make this book feel very special.
Inside the covers, readers will embark on a different kind of adventure, learning about the practice of magic from its historical roots in ancient cultures to modern practices in the 20th century. Discover some of the ways seers are thought to tell the future, learn how to find your name’s secret number, and practice writing coded messages using Theban script. Learn about divination, astrology, numerology, charms, alchemy, and potions. Additional sections explore magical plants, trees, wands, animal familiars, and ley lines, as well as magical dates, scripts, and paraphernalia.
Each “scrapbook” page contains sketches, photographs, illustrations, notes, and diagrams exploring magical practices and beliefs from around the world. This stunning volume would make a wonderful gift for fans of magic and fantasy eager to learn more about this bewitching topic.
by Claire Cock-Starkey and Aitch
Did you know that in Columbia, a white moth in the bedroom was believed to be the spirit of a dead relative? Or that Pacific Islander fishermen would follow white terns out to sea in the morning and then home again in the evening so they didn’t lose their way? How about the fact that the pine tree, plum tree, and bamboo are known as the “Three Friends of Winter” in China because they stay green all through the cold season?
Lore of the Wild is an engaging treasury of nature-related folklore paired with vibrant, folksy illustrations from Romanian-born artist Aitch. Each chapter opens with a folktale and then a fascinating collection of traditions and folklore from cultures and people around the world. The format of this book is ideal for either a quick skim or for a more in-depth readthrough. The artwork alone is definitely worth the time!
In these colourful pages, readers will explore the lore and traditional wisdom associated with animals, birds, bugs, plant life, weather, and omens. Rest assured these aren’t the same old superstitions we’ve heard before. Just flipping through, we’ve already learned a lot of stories and traditions we’d never heard before, and gained a better appreciation for the varied ways that people have related to the natural world in many times and places.
by Karyn Tripp
This softcover book guides children ages 8 and up through a hands-on activities that explore a variety of art and craft projects inspired by science concepts, like a pantograph drawing machine that draws identical images in different sizes, an atom model mobile made from pipe cleaners, and a DIY kaleidoscope. Each activity includes a list of supplies, step-by-step illustrated instructions, and a brief explanation of the scientific concept behind the project.
Unless your teenager is making these projects though, be prepared to provide some form of adult assistance for most of the activities. (I’m fine with that, but just thought I’d point it out.) Some of the more complicated projects could also use a few more photos or an explanatory diagram, as sometimes it’s not 100% clear where a hole or a particular piece should go just based on the photos.
But please, please, please DO NOT attempt to keep a goldfish or a betta fish in a mason jar as the one of the projects recommends. A betta fish lives from 2-5 years and should be kept in a tank that holds a minimum of 3 gallons of water. Goldfish can live for up to 20 years and require even more space. I wish the author had suggested a plastic fish for this activity instead of a living animal that deserves proper care and consideration. Because of this, I cannot in good conscience recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received sample items to facilitate this post. This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
Great children’s books. My grandson would really enjoy Frozen Mountain.
These sound like great reads for my grandchildren.