Merhaba, friends! Intrepid travelers Bella, a very feminine-looking Chihuahua, and her younger brother, Harry, are back to star in their ninth travel adventure is time to Istanbul, Turkey. They kick things off with a ferry ride on the Bosphorus Strait, where their ears flap in the breeze, and they take in the First Bosphorus Bridge, which connects Asia to Europe. Then, the canines hop off in Ortakoy, a neighborhood in Istanbul. They're introduced to the Orkatoy Mosque (and have a conversation about what a mosque is), sample the local cuisine, visit a palace or two, and stop by one of the oldest and biggest covered markets in the world . . . the Grand Bazaar. The two make for amiable tour guides, even if the prose is somewhat bland and the illustrations verge on cartoonish, particularly when it comes to our pop-eyed stars. Still, it's not every day a kid gets to take a trip to Istanbul, and this makes for a nice introduction to the customs and hot spots. Elveda (that's goodbye in Turkish).

PreS-Gr 2 The globe-trotting Chihuahuas visit monuments and important buildings, discover a bit about the region's history, and learn a little about Turkish culture. Most of these details are relayed through the pups' conversations. The steady stream of sometimes dry facts is interrupted as readers come across a lighter moment when Harry wonders if he will see a flying carpet, and tension rises when Bella becomes temporarily separated from the tour. Amazingly, the pups are able to visit many tourist attractions in just one day. A simple outline map of Turkey and short list of Turkish words/phrases are included. Unfortunately, the book lacks a pronunciation guide, and while there is also no glossary, terms like "minarets" and "menemen" are defined during the story. Exaggerated pictures of Bella and Harry, in brightly colored watercolor illustrations, are a contrast to the more stately renderings of buildings such as the Ortakoy Mosque and Dolmabahce Palace. Lucco's images of people are less defined. This combination of anthropomorphic story and geographical guidebook could be useful in social-studies classes where instructors prefer teaching content through stories. Families traveling to Turkey might find the book a helpful tool in preparing their children for the trip. Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH