CHildren's Book Review: Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Ireland by Patti Wheeler and Keith Hemstreet

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge, from Greenleaf book group, via Netgalley, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it



This new book in the Gannon and Wyatt series comes out appropriately enough on St Patrick's Day!


Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Ireland  cover

Synopsis:

While on vacation in Ireland, Gannon and Wyatt visit medieval castles, climb the Cliffs of Moher, and explore the ancient Newgrange monument. But after Gannon kisses the Blarney Stone their adventure takes a dramatic turn. While volunteering on a farm to connect with their Irish roots, they learn that a deadly blight is wreaking havoc on the Irish farmland. Determined to uncover the true cause, the courageous explorers embark on a secret mission to gather evidence against a ruthless suspect, but soon find themselves running for their lives. Ultimately, they must rely on their wilderness survival skills and Gannon’s “gift of gab” if they hope to bring justice to their ancestral home.

In the tradition of the historic journals kept by explorers such as Lewis and Clark, Dr. David Livingstone, and Captain James Cook comes the adventure series Travels with Gannon and Wyatt. From Africa to the South Pacific, these twin brothers have traveled the world. You never know what they will encounter as they venture into the wild, but one thing is certain wherever Gannon and Wyatt go, adventure is their constant companion.

You can find Gannon and Wyatt’s blog, photographs, and video footage from their real-life expeditions at travelswithgannonandwyatt.com.

About the Series:

Our goal with each Travels with Gannon & Wyatt book is to entertain and educate young readers and to leave them with a vivid and authentic picture of a special place. Maybe we’ll even inspire them to take a trip there one day. Beyond that, the books subtly introduce young readers to a variety of global issues. We do this for a reason. Bringing these stories to the imaginations of readers may help lead a small number of children to his or her passion, his or her purpose in life. We know it sounds lofty, but that is our aim, for those who discover their passion have the power to change the world.

Review:

This is the 5th book in the Gannon and Wyatt series (following Botswana, Great Bear Rainforest, Egypt and Greenland), and it is perfectly suited to  early readers to middle graders. It is not too long at only 192 pages, with lots of pictures included, to really put the reader in the right place and thinking for the scenes in the book. We had not read any of the previous books before, but it appears that this latest entry is the most plot driven, with the boys sharing their tale of what happened when they landed in Ireland to check out the family genealogy and ended up working on a farm, and taking part in local life and problems. It is an engaging tale that should urge young readers to wanting to check out more on Ireland and it's history, as well as more on the travels of Gannon and Wyatt. I also love that each book deals with different global issues (this one was the environment) in such a natural way that kids can understand and see what a difference THEY can make! 

This book would make great reading for family night, or for incorporating into home school studies as well. The series would make a great Easter basket gift, along with a small atlas (do you know most kids now a days can NOT read real maps? ), travel journal and a compass, especially for older kids, who still like getting a basket, but claim they are too old for eggs and toys. We highly recommend this book and the series!


About the Authors:


Patti Wheeler began traveling at a young age and has nurtured the spirit of adventure in her family ever since. For years, it has been her goal to create children's books that instill the spirit of exploration in young people. Travels with Gannon and Wyatt is the realization of her dream. 

Keith Hemstreet is the recipient of numerous writing awards. He attended Florida State University and completed his graduate studies at Appalachian State University. He lives in Aspen, Colorado, with his wife and three daughters.


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