What a fabulous concept! The author and illustrator explore fantastical settings with cartography. Now that I write that, I realize it gives the impression that the book is boring, but quite the opposite is true. I find the whole book fascinating. The premise is that the reader will be given a map and directions for a tour of seven spooky destinations. Each location begins with an illustration of a close-up detail from the map that will follow, and a summary of the place. This two-page spread also introduces the reader to the tour guide for that particular adventure, always a character somehow connected to the land being explored. For instance, Captain Davy Jones is heading a special cruise on his ghostly galleon to sail the seven seas, and the Wicked Witch is leading a tour of the Wicked Woods and Witchfield Village. The final feature in this section is a box labeled "Danger!" that details the perils of such a trip.

The next two-page spread has the detailed map, drawn off into quadrants, with a whimsical key appropriate to the setting. To the side of the map are directions for touring the area. They call on the reader to find locations on the map by locating the right quadrant, and to travel along the map using distances based on the key, cardinal directions, and the labeled quadrants. And what are these places to explore? A haunted house, a museum of supernatural objects, an ocean full of sea monsters and carnivorous mermaids and pirate ships, Transylvania with Dracula's castle, mythological Ancient Greece, a desolate canyon in the Wild West, and the Wicked Woods and Witchfield Village.

I love so much about this book. When I was a kid, I frequently had a game where my siblings and I explored a fantasy world that I made up, searching for ever changing treasures. Maps intrigued us, whether they were real or ones we made. My girls now are equally fascinated with maps. A detailed book of maps of imaginary places is exactly my type of fantasy. The creators of this book follow through on the potential of such an idea. The maps are full of fun details, little towns or cities with wonderful names, such as Ogre's Manor or Phantom Ranch, creepy locales appropriate to the area, like Zombie Lake and Poltergeist Parlor. Most of the maps also depict the disturbing residents you can expect to encounter. Also, the illustrator drew multiple hidden objects to find in every map. With so many details, you can really imagine yourself in each place. Moreover, the writing is fun. The author delivers an air of suspense and adventure, with a touch of hokey spookiness that creates a great atmosphere. The directions for each tour are clear, challenge readers to use map skills, and yet maintain the author's style. I imagine children will be as excited about this book as mine are, and adults will be just as amazed. ( )

Grades 2-4

Seven sets of self-proclaimed "terrifying tours" challenge kids to use the maps and corresponding directions to journey through ghostly, pirate-ridden seas, the land of mythical monsters, Transylvania, and several other "scary" places. The computer-generated art is colorful, but certainly not scary, and the instructions are quite confusing for the intended audience. On the "mythical monsters" map, the compass rose is upside down and backwards... while that may or may not have been intentional, there's no question it's confusing. Trying to give children a fun way to learn about map coordinates and legends and all things geography in an entertaining way is a commendable goal. Unfortunately, while the intention is good, the execution falls flat. This may have limited appeal for students who already have a solid comfort level with reading maps, but most readers are going to come away frustrated.
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Interactive with maps to follow to spooky places. ( )

Little Kid Reaction: Although the 6-year-old we read with liked the artwork, he had to have adult help to figure out what to do and how to use the map and instructions.

Big Kid Reaction: I liked the idea of teaching a youngster how to use a map by giving him a set of instructions. Kids will enjoy the spookiness of some of these places and "visiting" them.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.