ATLAS OF OCEAN ADVENTURES

A Geek Daddy received a free book to review

Now this is a whale of a book! Author Emily Hawkins and illustrator Lucy Letherland take young readers on a guided tour of the world's five oceans with their new children's book ATLAS OF OCEAN ADVENTURES. Explore coral reefs, kelp forests, mangrove shorelines and deep undersea trenches delving through pages filled with colorful illustrations depicting ocean environments spread out across the globe.

This hardcover book features thirty-two 2-page spreads that each highlight unique geographic locations and creatures within the Earth's five oceans (Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific &Southern). Learn about the Bobbit Worms of Bali, Colossal Squid of the Ross Sea, Flying Fish of Trinidad, and Sea Horses of Madagascar among numerous other sea creatures highlighted within the ATLAS OF OCEAN ADVENTURES. Each of these spreads is full of eye-catching illustrations showing details about these habitats and the wildlife that lives there as well as includes 10 captions with facts about these destinations.

Additionally there are special boxes within spreads that focus in on details about a specific animal, bird or fish that lives within a specific habitat. Take a closer look at Clown Fish, Sea Dragons, Man-O-War, and Great White Sharks. Learn about some of the special traits of these creatures that make them stand out from other inhabitants in their environment.

Available from Quarto Knows, Hawkins and Letherland's ATLAS OF OCEAN ADVENTURES is an educational book that is fun to read. Examining all the details of Letherland's illustrations while learning interesting tidbits of ocean trivia from Hawkins' makes this a captivating book for young readers. Utilizing a light caption format rather than a paragraph intensive layout compliments the book's wonderful drawings and encourages kids to dive into its pages.

In addition to its featured spreads, the book also includes maps of the oceans, a scavenger hunt game to look for different images hidden within its pages, and an informational guide about the dangers threatening our planet's oceans. All together there are 96 pages in this book recommended for ages 7+.  Because this dad blogger's son and daughter found Quarto Kids ATLAS OF OCEAN ADVENTURES to be both educational and entertaining to read, it gets gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval. Plunge into the depths of the ocean and discover wonderful sea creatures, incredible habitats and unmissable underwater events by reading this book.

LEARN TO DRAW DISNEY CHARACTERS

My son loves to scribble and sketch. In fact, he had drawings that were the only ones selected from his art class shown at a school district talent exhibition held at the city library. Ask him what he wants to do for a future career and comic book artist or cartoonist are at the top of the list. So he was really excited when some Disney and Star Wars books from the Quarto Knows LEARN TO DRAW catalog of publications arrived at our house for him to check out.

LEARN TO DRAW MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS THROUGH THE DECADES

November 18, 2018 marked the 90th anniversary of Walt Disney introducing the world to the character we now know and love as Mickey Mouse. MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS THROUGH THE DECADES walks readers through the various iterations of Mickey that have evolved over the last 90 years ranging from Steamboat Willie to the mouse's current look. This book includes a collection of vintage artwork from the Disney archives which reveals early designs, sketches, and poses of Mickey Mouse, as well as other classic characters, such as Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck. It is interesting to see how they have changed over the decades!

MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS THROUGH THE DECADES also includes tutorials on how to draw classic Disney characters.  There are step-by-step instructions in categories that include contemporary looks as well as ones that highlight the characters' appearances from the 1920s, '30s & '40s eras of Walt Disney Studios cartoons and animated movies. The drawing samples in this book are simple enough that my nine year old son was able to replicate them himself yet complicated enough that the artwork people can sketch looks a notch above amateurish.

A nice touch to this book is that the tutorial imagery is printed large enough to be traceable. So if an aspiring artist isn't at a point where they can replicate the images by eye they can still learn to draw these characters by tracing them. Also the various stages of drawing each character are numbered making each step from start to finish easy to follow. In addition to providing a fun experience this book also teaches beneficial illustration fundamentals for readers to catch on to.

Beyond the LEARN TO DRAW instructions, the book is also full of galleries filled with historic pictures, facts, and trivia celebrating ninety years of Mickey Mouse and his friends.  While my son has been having a great time using this book to improve upon his drawing skills, the rest of our family has been enjoying perusing it as well appreciating the artwork inside and learning more about the history of Micky Mouse.

Recommended for kids, between the ages of 7 and 10 years old, and kids at heart MICKEY MOUSE & FRIENDS THROUGH THE DECADES has earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval for the way it has captivated my son's attention and help him improve upon his sketching which is one of his favorite hobbies. Its 128 pages of art instruction and animation history are a great way to have some fun celebrating Mickey Mouse's 90th anniversary.

LEARN TO DRAW STAR WARS

This is another great book that encourages kids to draw! My son has been having a blast following instructions to sketch Star Wars characters that include Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Darth Vader. This 64-page spiral bound book was written specifically so that 6 to 12 year old kids can enjoy learning to draw their favorite Star Wars characters.

In addition to giving kids the chance to sketch out their favorite Star Wars characters by themselves, this LEARN TO DRAW book also is fantastic at helping readers develop art skills. It provides three different drawing styles for kids to work with: tracing, grid-drawing and the basic shape method. Event if someone doesn't have any artistic talent, they'll still be able to have a good time drawing Star Wars characters ranging from C-3PO to Yoda.

Utilizing the included illustrations and transparent paper is an easy way for kids to recreate their favorite Star Wars characters that almost anyone can do  just by tracing with a pencil.  For those who may have a knack for drawing already, the grid method samples in the book provide a challenging activity. Duplicate the shapes drawn in each grid box and once all the boxes are filled you'll see a completed character.

The basic shapes method guides you step-by-step to create a detailed likeness of various Star Wars heroes and villains. This may seem challenging at first, but the more you do these type of drawings the better you get. Just follow the numbered steps of each drawing one after another. Each one builds upon the last until you've completed a highly detailed sketch. These have been my son's favorite activities in this Star Wars LEARN TO DRAW book. The fact that he has a bulletin board in his bed room showcasing numerous drawings replicated from this book have earned it A Geek Daddy nod of approval.

 To learn more about these and other LEARN TO DRAW books, head over to www.quartoknows.com. My son has gotten hours of enjoyment out of these books. So I'm sure if you have a young aspiring artist in your life, or maybe even an adult who loves to doodle, they will be delighted by these LEARN TO DRAW books available from Quarto Knows publications.

FATHERS DAY GIFT FOR MY DAD

My dad is notoriously difficult to shop for when it comes to getting him a present.  This year though I found him just the right gift for Fathers Day courtesy of The Quarto Group.  He loves to tinker with his 1923 Ford Motor Company Model T Depot Hack and take his grandkids on adventures in this antique car. So I found a book at quartoknows.com that I'm sure he is going to enjoy!

FORD MODEL T COAST TO COAST: A SLOW DRIVE ACROSS A FAST COUNTRY written by Tom Cotter with photographs by Michael Alan Ross and a forward by Henry Ford III is sure to delight motorheads, history buffs, and traveling dads.  The book shares the cross country trek by Cotter and Ross as they drive one of America's most iconic cars from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean along the country's oldest transcontinental road.  In today's fast paced age, they take the slow lane providing an interesting perspective of America's past and present through a 3,000-mile journey in a 100-year-old car.



This 224 page book features 150 color pictures and 25 black & white photos of the Model T they are driving and other classic cars they encounter along their path as well as historic images of sites they visit and scenic places they pass.  They drive along many of the same roads that a young Edsel Ford traveled in his father's Model T on a similar journey after graduating high school in 1917.  Along the way, Cotter and Ross visit a number of automotive and transportation themed museums as well as "keepers of the flame" that include Model T clubs, mechanics, junkyards, and car collectors across the country.  Readers also experience the duets trials and tribulations of keeping an antique car running on an arduous trip.

Full of suggestions of places to visit on a cross country trek, automotive trivia, and historical facts this book is sure to captivate my dad's attention. Whether someone enjoys restoring old cars or exploring new places, this book is great to peruse. Join Cotter and Ross on their "slow drive across a fast country" as it is a fascinating adventure.

For more information or to purchase the book, head over to quartoknows.com  

Oh by the way, a Depot Hack essentially was the first station wagon. At the time they were built most long distance travel was done by train.  Depot Hacks were used in cities to carry passengers and their luggage from train depots to their final destination which was normally a hotel. Of course, now they are perfect for leisurely family drives around town and hanging out with at weekend car shows.

MAY THE FOURTH STAR WARS BOOK DEAL

Save 40% off some great Star Wars books from THE QUARTO GROUP during the month of May using the code MAYTHE4TH at quartoknows.com.  They've just published a new book called Star Wars: Lightsabers: A Guide to Weapons of the Force that anyone who has ever dreamed of being a Jedi knight will want to read.  This joins a collection of publications that include tutorials on drawing your favorite Star Wars characters and books that allow you to create paper models of droids and spaceships from the sci-fi saga.

STAR WARS: LIGHTSABERS: A GUIDE TO WEAPONS OF THE FORCE

Study the galaxy’s most notable lightsabers and the masters who wielded them, from Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi, to Rey and Kylo Ren. Every featured lightsaber includes a close-up of its one-of-a-kind hilt, a photo of the Jedi or Sith master in action. Each page is filled with detailed statistics, fascinating insights, and little-known facts.

STAR WARS MASTER MODELS R2-D2

Without R2-D2, where would the galaxy be? Queen Amidala wouldn’t haveescaped from Naboo, Luke Skywalker wouldn’t have trained under Obi-Wan Kenobi and Princess Leia would have been executed by Darth Vader on the Death Star. Build the ultimate papercraft model of everyone’s favorite R2 unit, complete with lights and sound! Star Wars Master Models: R2-D2 includes die-cut pieces with metallic-ink printing, push-button lights, a sound chip, and detailed instructions on how to construct the model—everything you need to build a one-foot tall model of R2-D2.

LEARN TO DRAW STAR WARS DRAWING BOOK

Young artists will learn to draw Star Wars characters including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Darth Vader. The kit comes with a 40-page project book, paper pad, drawing pencil, eraser, sharpener, colored pencils, and markers so artists can get started right away, so grab your tools and get drawing now!

STAR WARS: BLUEPRINTS

This book is an all-access pass into the Lucasfilm Archives to unveil the original technical drawings of the galaxy far, far away. It includes 250 blueprints, 500 photographs and illustrations, and ten stunning gatefolds, in a deluxe volume that reveals the work of the engineers, designers, and artists who dreamed up the look and feel of the Star Wars universe.

I didn't receive any compensation or perks for hyping this deal with you, but THE QUARTO GROUP has earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval from my past experiences reviewing some of the outstanding books they publish and this really is a great deal getting 40% off.  Head over to quartoknows.com to see all of the Star Wars publications they have available. These really are some fantastic Star Wars books! Remember to use the code MAYTHEFOURTH on their website for the discount!

Creature Files

Do you know a child that is fascinated by animals?  Then you should check out the Creature Files children's books by L.J. Tracosas.  Kids can learn about prehistoric dinosaurs, mythical dragons, and present day predators through this captivating book series.  Quarto Knows sent us a couple of these books, Creature Files: Dragons & Creature Files: Predators, to look over and they've been a real hit with my nine year old twins.  Both my son and daughter have been engrossed in reading them.

Each of the books is 48 pages filled with interesting facts, impressive illustrations and wonderful photographs showcasing 20 creatures.  Plus replica teeth and claws representing a creature(s) that can be strung on an included necklace come along with each book in the Creature Files series.  My kids thought these were really neat! I give kudos to the author for incorporating this fun idea into her books.

The author does a nice job of using these claw/teeth replicas to draw kids into learning while they read the books. Each creature profile has a special fact section related to the type of necklace included with a book. Dragons has a tooth to be hung upon the necklace so every creature profile includes a DRAGON BITE NOTE discussing different types of teeth and how they would benefit a creature. Predators included several different types of claws to hang on the necklace so each creature profile has a CLAW FILE that explains how animals' claws are unique and used by the creatures. 

Having a physical component that children can touch and feel provides a great way for them to associate with the content within the books.  My children really got into looking through the pictures and illustrations in each book trying to match up the teeth and claws on their necklaces with the creatures they belonged to.  As a parent, I appreciate how the author utilized these necklaces to get kids enthused about reading through the books.

CREATURE FILES: DRAGONS

Ok maybe dragons are fictitious but this book delves into the real life cultures from places around the globe including Africa, China, Europe, India and South America that created these creatures.  Each dragon profile includes information about the region that created the mythology and points the area out on a map as well as provides a description about the creature's appearance and behaviors taken from examples of local folklore.  The book also has a section that describes real life creatures that may have inspired dragon myths and comes with a realistic looking dragon-tooth necklace.

Additionally the dragon illustrations within  the book are stunning!  My kids have been flipping through the book over and over again just to check out the dragon images.  I've even perused through the book a few times because it is full of some incredible artwork.  Thumbs up for a job very well done!

CREATURE FILES: PREDATORS

Learn about some of the most vicious predators on the planet ranging from alligators to wolverines.  This book contains great stats about these creatures including their average height and weight along with a map in each profile that show where on the globe these featured animals live.  Kids will learn that while a lot of big cats live in Africa you'll only find wild Tigers living in the Asian jungles of India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.  Plus the book comes with three realistic replica claws.  Have fun searching through the book to see if you can identify which creature each claw belongs to.

Each profile also showcases some juice facts about the highlighted creature to chew on.  Did you know that while Lions are called "the king of the jungle" they actually prefer living in grasslands?  Komodo Dragons poison their prey through biting them allowing these lizards to hunt pigs, deer and water buffalo that may be much larger than them.  Polar Bears are the largest land predators in the world ... I would have thought it was Grizzly Bears myself before my daughter shared this fact from the book with me.  Lots of educational information packed in this book that is also very interesting for inquiring minds to learn about.

The book is also filled with amazing photographs of the twenty creatures highlighted within it.  You won't want to get too near these animals if you ever encountered one in person but Creature Files: Predators provides excellent up close views of them.  Both of my kids have been enjoying themselves flipping through these pictures.  They were particularly impressed with the Fossa pictures which is an animal from Madagascar they'd never seen or heard of before.  Always great to find out they've learned something brand new from reading a book!

L.J. Tracosas' Creature Files books have earned A Geek Daddy nod of approval for providing an immersive educational experience that is also very entertaining for kids.  Filled with informative facts, interesting physical props and top notch pictures these books have been a joy for our family to read.  I especially appreciate how the remarkable photographs and illustrations in Creature Files, as well as the included necklaces, compliment the layout of the text so as to encourage kids to actually read the books instead of just looking at the pictures.  My nine year old twins have been reading these books over and over again.

Recommended for ages 8 and up by the publisher. Additional books also focus on dinosaurs, reptiles and sharks. In my opinion probably best suited for boys and girls between third and fifth grade based upon the book's reading level. A nice middle grade book. For more information about Creature Files and other great books for kids, please visit quartoknows.com.