School Library Journal

Gr 1-6 In celebration of its 125th anniversary, National Geographic presents a series of outstanding photographic images-explorers and future explorers in eye-opening close-ups and dramatic panoramic vistas-that encourage and challenge youngsters to discover the world around them. Simple sentences and highlighted text in a large font ask readers, "what if?&30;why not?" and offer the instruction to "get your hands dirty" and investigate. Cloud-filled skies on endpapers frame the text and pictures. As in the print magazine, additional pages fill in the details of adventure shots with quotations and identification of sites. Photography enthusiasts will not be disappointed as illustrations range from the unique to the adventurous. Explorers are shown in a cave of giant crystals, dangling from cliff's edge in California, spacewalking outside the International Space Station, and shooting class-five rapids on the Shoshone River, Wyoming. This gorgeous, inspirational title urges readers forward. "Ready. Set. Go." Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX

Horn Book

Character complexity and world-building expand in book four of the aliens-roaming-Earth saga. Sam reunites with his father and the Garde, who also connect with their final member, Five. But the seven living Garde only remain together briefly, before splitting up again and being betrayed by one of their own. This volume's conclusion leaves many unresolved questions, particularly about mysterious Ella, number ten.

ALA Booklist

Children need encouragement to follow their dreams, and this attractive book is aimed at all the future explorers out there. It begins, Right outside your window there's a world to explore. Ready? The text continues by asking readers to follow the next bend in the path, dive in, dig deeper, take a leap. The two-page color photo spreads are surprisingly literal, even for this age group. An archaeologist digs, while an astronaut explores outside his space craft. But on occasion, the pictures are confusing. A boy getting a little nosy looks through a hole, but at what is not certain. Still, Kerley's encouraging message about moving beyond one's comfort zone and into areas where real-life magic can happen does inspire. The book closes with a quote by one of the book's photographers, Anad Varma, that will have meaning for children: The greatest discoveries come from confronting your fears, taking a chance, and not being afraid to make a mistake. Mistakes are often the best lessons in life.

Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

A stirring invitation to leap, dive, soar, plunge and thrill to the natural world's wonders and glories. "Right outside your window there's a world to explore," writes Kerley. "Ready?" In huge, bright, sharply focused photos, a hang glider and a mountain climber dangle in midair, a paleontologist carefully brushes dirt off a fossil, an astronaut dangles near the International Space Station, and spelunkers clamber amid spectacular crystals. These dramatic images mingle with equally eye-filling scenes of muddy, soaked, laughing young children--some venturing alone down a forest path or over jumbles of rock, others peering into a snow cave or a starry sky. "Size things up," suggests the author. "Get a firm grip. Then… / …start climbing." This may well leave safety-obsessed parents with the vapors, but that may be all to the good. Explanatory captions for several of the photographs, from very brief profiles of the explorers to the stories behind the photos themselves, appear at the end. Vivid glimpses of what waits for anyone who is willing to stop just looking and go. (Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

A stirring invitation to leap, dive, soar, plunge and thrill to the natural world's wonders and glories. "Right outside your window there's a world to explore," writes Kerley. "Ready?" In huge, bright, sharply focused photos, a hang glider and a mountain climber dangle in midair, a paleontologist carefully brushes dirt off a fossil, an astronaut dangles near the International Space Station, and spelunkers clamber amid spectacular crystals. These dramatic images mingle with equally eye-filling scenes of muddy, soaked, laughing young children--some venturing alone down a forest path or over jumbles of rock, others peering into a snow cave or a starry sky. "Size things up," suggests the author. "Get a firm grip. Then… / …start climbing." This may well leave safety-obsessed parents with the vapors, but that may be all to the good. Explanatory captions for several of the photographs, from very brief profiles of the explorers to the stories behind the photos themselves, appear at the end. Vivid glimpses of what waits for anyone who is willing to stop just looking and go. (Picture book. 6-8)