Ready to head out on an adventure from Tibetan in the late 15th century? Let child have a say in how the story goes with this Choose Your Own Adventure book. As the first page explains, simply "Read until you reach a choice. Turn the page of the choice you like best. If you don't like the end you reach, just start over!" Each set of pages includes large, vibrantly colored ink and watercolor pictures and up to a half page of large printed words. This book makes the reader the star by using the less-common second person narrative, speaking directly to the reader with "you" statements. For example, the first page of Caravan establishes, "You look out the door of your house and see your father...packing for the long trip form your home in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, to the plains of India." Readers know they are in for an adventure!


No matter which choice you follow, each adventure within the book requires readers to make at least two choices of which path to follow, and which page to turn to and read what happens next. This provides your child with more independence than they usually have when reading a story, or having it read to them. It also provides practice in decision-making and teaches that every decision has a consequence. With each different ending, a new lesson is taught, such as teamwork, creativity, and listening to the wisdom of elders. Choosing their own adventure also provides children with practice following directions; the bottom of each page directs them to either the next page, or a specific page number.  Your child will also learn some new geography, like where the Himalayan Mountains, China, Tibet, and India are located in relation to one another on a two page map of the area. You can also show them where those places are in relation to where you live.

My five year-old niece Emily had fun running through all the possible different outcomes of Caravan. Her favorite story line involved the abominable snowman, so now whenever we read this book, she always chooses the adventure that will lead us to the scary snow ape in the Pamir Mountains.

 

--Audra