Book Review - You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes by Chris Hadfield

If you are a fan of satellite what-is-this type photographs, you will love this book. Astronaut Chris Hadfield put together this book based on photographs he had taken from space. Chris has a good sense of humor and the book is well written. I really enjoyed the introduction he wrote.

The book is divided out by location - Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America, and South America. The end of the book has a handy photo location map.

Many of the photos are thought-provoking such as the border between Mexico and the US or different times of day in Manhattan (9:23am vs 3:45am). Some photos feature interesting landscapes or natural damage (such as the San Andres Fault). You will see punctuation marks. Photos that look like constellations in the sky. Different views of ice or snow in cold climates.

Overall this is a great book to leave on the coffee table for all to enjoy.

Title: You Are Here: Around the World in 92 Minutes: Photographs from the International Space Station
Author: Chris Hadfield
ISBN: 978-0316379649
Pages: 208

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Book Review - Atlas of Adventures - by Rachel Williams

I found this colorful, interesting book while wandering the Junior Non-Fiction section of my local library. There are full-color maps for every continent including Antarctica. Each one is full of adventures and animals which are then followed by deep dives into a selected few experiences (with nice zoom-maps in the corner). Plus you can read lots of interesting trivia tidbits. There's even a few look-and-find game you can try at the end.

The first section focuses on Europe. Learn about the Northern Lights in Findland, the London Eye, Scotland's Highland Games, Paris' The Louvre, Spain's Feria Del Caballo (Horse Parade), the gondolas in Venice, Skiing in the Bavarian Alps, and Moscow's Metro.

North America's section highlights the wonderful wilfdlife of Alaska, hot air ballooning in Canada, New York's famous Central Park, Arizona's Grand Canyon, riding a Steamboat on the Mississippi River, and following the migration of the Monarch Butterflies.

Central and South America features the fun Rio Carnival in Brazil, exploring the Amazon Rain Forest, or the cowboy culture of Argentina's Northern Patagonia.

Asia and the Middle East section includes the fun little Macaques monkey of Japan, Hong Kong's lantern festival, Thailand's Chiang Mai elephants, India's Holi Festival, Korea's Cherry Blossom festival (which I was surpised to learn about since we always just assumed Japan was the only one), and Israel's Dead Sea.

Africa features Egypt's Pyramids of Giza, joining a camel caravan across the Sahara Desert, playing soccer in Senegal, or taking a canoe safari down the Zambezi River.

The Australia and Oceania section leads to snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef, learning about the Waitangi in New Zealand, or surfing in Hawaii.

And finally some interesting things about penguins in Antarctica .

Overall this is a fun little book to read some neat tidbits on different animals and cultures. Look for it at your local library (even through the digital books or through inter-library loans).

Title: Atlas of Adventures: Travel Edition: A collection of NATURAL WONDERS, EXCITING EXPERIENCES and FUN FESTIVITIES from the four corners of the globe
Author: Rachel Williams
Illustrator: Lucy Letherland
ISBN: 978-0711255708
Pages: 96

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Book Review - Lonely Planet - The Big Trip

When I first found this book I was just looking for some overseas tips like obtaining visas, exchanging currencies, transportation, etc. Even though the subtitle suggestions gap years and long term travel plans, this book is so packed full of tips and ideas that anyone who travels will find it useful.

Pages 8-17 feature full-color photographs of some exciting and bucket-list experiences.

Part One focuses on "Travel Smarts" such as the things I was originally looking for - passports, visas, money and costs, health and safety, packing, getting to these destinations, getting around, and what to do when you return home.

Part Two offers interesting ideas on travelling solo, with partners or family, with kids, etc. And then transportation tips and accommodation tips. Then, if you do plan to stay in a location for more than a brief vacation, finding jobs or ways of making money. Or, more unconventionally, finding volunteer work to learn more about the culture and people of the places you are visiting. Followed by some educational opportunities.

Part Three is the fun part - where to go? Get suggestions for a whole round-the-world adventure or focus on one of the continents. Or, even if you don't plan to leave your location, find new things to explore in your home country. Each location section consists of getting there and around, points of interest, festivals, health and safety, websites and books for research, prices, itinerary maps, and so much more.

Part Four at the end of the book has directory listings of websites that were mentioned throughout the book in a convenient pull-out section.

This book was published in 2019 so be sure to verify information before setting out. But, overall, definitely a keeper guide to add to the collection.

Title: The Big Trip (Lonely Planet)
Author: Lonley Planet Authors
ISBN: 978-1788681292
Pages: 352

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Book Review - Lonely Planet Epic Drives of the World

If you ever wander around the travel section of your local library or the bookstore there is a small section on road trips and awe-inspiring drives. That's how I came upon this big book of drives around the world.

For those of us who enjoy road trips and admiring views from the window of a vehicle, this is a great guide. The book covers six continents with bucket list routes such as Crossing the Kalahari (in Botswana - which is also on my bucket list for safaris), The Pacific Coast Highway, India's road from Srinagar to Manali, the Black Forest High Road of Germany, and more. Beautiful photography. Well written and clear. The only negative is that it was published in 2017 so some of the data might need updates (always check ahead before starting your journey to be sure areas are still accessible).

Title: Lonely Planet Epic Drives of the World
Author: Lonely Planet
ISBN: 978-1786578648
Pages: 328

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