Spot the Mistake: Lands of Long Ago - Hardcover

AMANDA WOOD began her career in illustration at the Natural History Museum, London, and went on to be the founding Editor and Publisher of Templar for more than 30 years. In her time there, she published and nurtured numerous Greenaway winners, and edited and wrote groundbreaking series such as The Ologies, which have sold over 19 million-copies worldwide. Today she writes and runs her own small press from her home in Surrey.

Mike Jolley has worked as an Art Director in children’s books for over 25 years. He also sells artwork made from found objects, under the name ‘Box 2’. It was during one of his many junk shop visits that the idea of using midcentury school information charts for Curiositree first took shape. He lives on a cliff overlooking the English Channel.FRANCES CASTLE has been working as a freelance illustrator since 2005, after beginning her career in the computer games industry. She is inspired by comic book art and vintage children's books from the 50's and 60's, and loves good charity shop finds of old magazines, books and packaging.

Gr 1–5—Travel through the lands of long ago in this search-and-find title with an educational twist. After a brief introduction to two unnamed child guides and the premise of the book, a time line of the different periods and cultures, from the Stone Age to the era of piracy, is presented. From there, the real fun begins. Wood and Jolley devote a full spread to each of the 10 time periods featured. The catch: hidden in the illustrations are relics that do not belong in that specific time or region, such as a hot-air balloon in the Han Dynasty of ancient China or a gramophone among the Mughals of India. With a turn of the page, all of the objects, once concealed, are revealed with an explanation of why the item does not belong as well as what the people in that place and time used instead. The illustrations are gentle enough for younger readers to enjoy but will not alienate older readers, who will get much more out of the text. However, while the volume is informative, the lack of substantial, more detailed data is a flaw. VERDICT More for browsing than an in-depth investigation, this selection will no doubt inspire curiosity in history, science, math, social studies, and beyond. A recommended purchase for most public and school libraries.—Brittany Drehobl, Eisenhower Public Library District, IL