Dark Hedges, Wizard Island, and Other Magical Places That Really Exist

by L. Rader Crandall

Overview

From a lost city in the desert to a cave alight with thousands of glowworms, learn about some of the most unusual places on earth and the myths, legends, and history behind each of them!

Looking at places like The Skeleton Coast in Namibia, Wizard Island in the United States, and The Fairy Tale Route in Germany, The Dark Hedges and Other Magical Places that Really Exist takes young readers on a journey around the world to real places that sound straight out of fantasy. Featuring both natural and man-made wonders, this travel book combines history and storytelling to explore the far reaches of the earth.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762467518
Publisher:	Running Press Book Publishers
Publication date:	03/24/2020
Pages:	128
Sales rank:	314,090
Product dimensions:	7.10(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

L. Rader Crandall spent her childhood on a small Caribbean island where her fascination with stories surrounding real places was formed while she searched the sea for mermaids and the coves for pirate treasure. She grew up to become a writer and currently spends much of her time exploring castles, forests, and villages in Germany, where she lives with her family.

Editorial Reviews

02/28/2020

Gr 4–8—This curious collection of stories about both natural and man-made places around the world features 37 locations. The text does not follow any apparent order and has a heavy European focus. Stock photos, albeit lovely ones, grace full-page and two-page spreads. Each location gets a one- to three-page annotation, the content of which varies from fact to tall tale to legend. While the bibliography for each place is substantial, the text does not explicitly state which information is factual and which is based on lore. The book concludes with "M.A.G.I.C. Tips for Traveling," some of which are genuinely helpful, though others are just perplexing. Ultimately, the book reads like a middle grader's coffee table book. It's not substantial or instructive enough to support an assignment or research, and it's not fanciful enough to be classified with fairy tales, despite the author's attempts to infuse the writing with whimsy. This title may be quite enjoyable for niche audiences, but its widespread youth appeal is questionable. VERDICT Not quite magical enough. A pretty safe pass for most collections.—Taylor Worley, Springfield Public Library, OR

School Library Journal