Find Your Way In Space

I've seen two of the The Find Your Way series by Paul Boston - In Space and Underground. In this series of games, mazes and puzzle books readers embark on problem solving quests. In Underground, the task is to retrieve gold stolen from Gnomes by Luna the Dragon; in In Space the reader is on a mission to find the Zeebies' rocket, which has crashed in Crater Canyon. The reader follows maps and instructions for tasks, finds objects, chooses alternative routes and solves maths puzzles. Each double-page spread has map coordinates, which are included amongst the various puzzles to solve. The illustrations are colourful, jaunty and appealing and each scenario, from Spaghetti Junction in In Space to Tree Root Tangle in Underground, contains zany elements to develop the imagination and keep readers interested. There is plenty of witty detail to study and enjoy as well as educational puzzles to solve. These books will appeal to children aged 6 - 8, especially reluctant readers. 32 pages / Ages 6-8 years / Reviewed by Lucy Chambers, primary school librarian.

Suggested Reading Age 7+

Zubaidah, Tanjina and Lamisha: We enjoyed the Rainbow Fields because the illustrations are so colourful. Doing all the tasks made us feel involved in the story. We liked the Zeebies in their colourful suits, floating around space and enjoyed helping them fix their rocket.

Suggested Reading Age 9+