Wonders of Our World

Shining a light against the pages of this interactive outing (part of the Shine-A-Light series) unveils hidden visual details. Spreads are devoted to 14 natural and constructed world wonders (the Great Barrier Reef, the Great Wall of China, the Himalayas, the Taj Mahal, and others). Murphy’s gentle, bright color illustrations depict ancient structures and organic marvels. Brown writes in a q&a format, hinting at the wonders to be revealed: “This boat tour in the Philippines is heading toward a cave. Why are people wearing hard hats?” Shining a light allows the stalactites to appear before the answer is revealed on the next page. While the light effect is subtle, it invites further discovery of the monolithic constructions and remarkable vistas. Brown also reminds readers to look within their own communities: “The world is full of small wonders too—remember to watch out for them!” Ages 4–8. [em](Sept.) [/em]