Reading Level: Grades 2-3 Interest Level: Grades 5 – 6
Many explorers have traveled the oceans in search of something new. Set sail for a voyage following trailblazers on and under the sea. With engaging hi-lo content to draw in 5th through 6th grade readers and a 2nd to 3rd grade reading level, going on these amazing adventures is fun and accessible. It’s a roaring good time!
The Amazing Adventures series is an exciting and highly engaging collection that brings explorers to life for young readers. Designed with hi-lo content—these books make extraordinary journeys approachable for a wide range of learners. Whether diving beneath the waves, soaring through the sky, trekking across challenging landscapes, or rocketing into outer space, each title captures the thrill of exploration while remaining clear and easy to follow. Pioneers at Sea captures sea explorers from Leif Erikson, who became the first European to reach the shores of North America, to Dr. Sylvia Earle, who was the first woman to dive down 100 feet in a deep-sea craft. Pioneers in the Sky features brave fliers and inventors in the skies, including Bessie Coleman, the first black woman and Native American woman to get a pilot’s license. Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones triumphed as the first to travel the world in a hot-air balloon. Pioneers of Space will fascinate readers with engaging facts such as: Valeri Vladimirovich Polyakov, who broke the record for the longest stay in space, got a little taller in space because of the gravitational pull! From Marco Polo to Hillary/Norgay, Pioneers on Land tells tales of land exploration, including deep valleys and the highest mountains. Hillary and Norgay became the first people to reach Everest’s peak after their fourth and seventh attempts, showing that grit and determination pay off in the end. Each book balances fast-paced storytelling with eye-catching illustrations and vivid photographs that bring these journeys to life. Short text blocks, energetic visuals, and well-chosen facts keep even reluctant readers engaged. At the end of every volume, a helpful glossary reinforces important vocabulary and deepens comprehension. Amazing Adventures challenges students to think about courage, curiosity, and perseverance—making it an adventurous and an inspiring addition to any classroom or library.', Alana Jara, District Librarian, Clear Lake Community School District,'Written in a high/low format, this entry in the Amazing Adventures series (4 titles) chronologically introduces eight prominent sea explorers and innovators from around the world. While a few anticipated male European explorers, such as Leif Erikson and Ferdinand Magellan, are featured, the majority of the book spotlights lesser-known but equally important sea voyagers, such as Zheng He, who was in charge of the emperor of China’s treasure ships in the 1400s, and Bungaree, an Aboriginal Australian who was the first to sail around his country. Underwater exploration is also highlighted through Bathysphere inventor William Beebe and oceanographer Sylvia Earle. Each profile spans several pages that feature large, simple text in chunked segments and a mix of colorful reproductions and archival photos that relate each explorer’s mission and lasting contributions to history.', Angela Leeper, Booklist,'Readers will have the opportunity to learn more about some of history’s pioneering explorers in the Amazing Adventures series. This series is part of Bearport’s Roar imprint, which is designed to engage struggling and reluctant readers in adventurous nonfiction texts. Each volume in the Amazing Adventures series focuses on a type of exploration–this reviewer had the opportunity to read Pioneers on Land and Pioneers of Space. Pioneers on Land introduces readers to trailblazing travelers and explorers through history. Each two page spread provides a brief biographical sketch of the explorer accompanied by photos/illustrations. A sampling of land explorers profiled include Marco Polo, Sacagawea, Nelly Bly, and Roald Amundsen. Pioneers of Space similarly profiles trailblazers in space exploration, including Yuri Gagarin, Valentina Tereshkova, Neil Armstrong, and Buzz Aldrin. Backmatter in each volume features a glossary, index, and link to online resources. THOUGHTS: This engaging series would be a great choice for elementary biography fans. The set probably is best suited to recreational reading, rather than research projects due to the brief nature of the biographical profiles contained within the text.
