Book: Knowledge Trails 2
Author: Kalyani Patnaik
Illustrator: Charbak Dipta
Publisher: Scholastic India
Type of book: Paperback
Length: 80 pages
Recommended age: 8-12 years
Wanna go on a giant trip around the world without leaving your room?
My 9 yr old son, Neil, loves geography! Below is a review written by him:
Summary
Knowledge Trails 2 by Kalyani Patnaik is like going on a giant trip around the world without leaving your room! The book has eleven stories that take us to different parts of the world, introducing us to various people and their cultures through folktales.
However, the stories are not just about the folktale. They end with a moral—what that story teaches us—and, even better, there is a factoid box, sharing really cool facts about that country.
Why I Loved the Book
I absolutely loved this book because it combines three things I really enjoy: geography, interesting facts and folktales.
I can spend ages looking at a map and asking questions like, “Why is this country shaped like that?” or “What is on the other side of that mountain?” So reading stories set in different parts of the world was perfect for me. While reading, I kept wanting to look at an atlas and find the places mentioned in the book. It made me realise how many interesting places there are in the world that I have never even heard of.
I also loved the fact that each story had a learning outcome as a follow up, which helped me process the story and understand it better. For example, I had just learnt about democracy at school, and read the folktale from Denali where the BIg Five came up with their own democratic system in which one animal would be the leader every year, working for the betterment of everyone. It showed how each one of us has our own unique strengths, and if we are tolerant and supportive of each other, the whole country becomes stronger.
My Favourite Parts
I loved the folktale from Jordan, that highlights how wishing for things without having a clear goal in mind can be dangerous, and come with severe negative impacts. I don’t think I will ever wish for unlimited icecream ever again! To know why, you need to read the book!
I really like how the author has made sure that the book is neither a boring folktale book nor a book jam-packed with facts. She draws a lovely balance between both, while making sure each story teaches us something. Some of the tales, despite being folktales, were so gripping and surprising, that I found myself constantly thinking, “What happens next?”
If you are interested in folktales, facts, or geography then this book is definitely a must read.
If you enjoyed this review and and wish to go on a world tour, you should order the book from Scholastic India (kbc affiliate link). Please type the name of the book in the search bar after clicking HERE.
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CLICK & BUY NOW!Disclaimer: Amardeep and her son Neil are part of the #kbcReviewerSquad and received this book as a review copy from the publisher via kbc.
