The Race Across Anaconda Swamp (Challenge Island STEAM Adventure #2)

by Sharon Duke Estroff (Author) Mónica de Rivas (Illustrator)

Dash across the rainforest swamp with Daniel, Joy, and Kimani in the newest Challenge Island adventure!One of Children Book Council's Hot off the Press picks for May 2022!

"For early grade readers who revel in science-based fiction, this is a winning read. Animals, physics, and habitats are among the topics covered, with lots of instances where the reader can predict and hypothesize along with the characters. Kimani, who is Black, has an impressive head for science and builds in many of the facts that help the group solve problems together. Sleek black and white cartoon art complements the text, adding visual clues. Science experiments and craft projects from each character are at the end."--Youth Services Book Review

"In this follow-up to The Bridge to Sharktooth Island, optimistic Joy, cautious Daniel, and studious Kimani find themselves transported once again to a magical island where they have to solve a series of puzzles to escape the middle of the rainforest before darkness falls. . . Supplementary materials at the back include STEAM projects and fun facts introduced by the main characters that a science-loving child will enjoy. The story is engaging, educational, and peppered with cute illustrations... a fun purchase for the easygoing young reader in love with animals and books."--School Library Journal

"The Race Across Anaconda Swamp, the second Challenge Island title, in which three kids use teamwork and STEAM skills to navigate a perilous island adventure, [is forthcoming from West Margin Press.]"--Publishers Weekly, Spring 2022 Children's Sneak Previews

Daniel, Joy, and Kimani are transported once again to a magical island--this time into a tropical rainforest! As they zip through the canopy, a dangerous snake lurks in the black waters below. They are searching for a way out and a path to a mysterious tower. Does it hold the answers to their questions?

Using ropes and other found items, the three friends must figure out how to safely traverse across the island using their knowledge of friction and weights. But the sun is going down and night is approaching fast. Will they reach the tower in time?

Also included are cool facts about the rainforest and its animals, plus fun STEAM activities showing you how to build your own pulley system and monkey playground.

From the world's #1 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) education enrichment program, Challenge Island(R) presents an exciting new adventure book series for smart, curious kids.

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School Library Journal

Gr 1-3--In this follow-up to The Bridge to Sharktooth Island, optimistic Joy, cautious Daniel, and studious Kimani find themselves transported once again to a magical island where they have to solve a series of puzzles to escape the middle of the rainforest before darkness falls. They're dazzled by the forest's biodiversity and are delayed by a baby monkey in distress. Will they be able to escape in time and find out why they keep getting sent to this island? The pacing and dialogue of this short chapter book are tight, and the characterization is consistent, though not deep. The story itself is engaging, educational, and peppered with cute illustrations that show Joy and Daniel as white, and Kimani as Black. However, the stakes of the overall series remain unclear and the lessons are repeated one too many times. The tension of the continuous trips to Sharktooth Island builds so slowly that readers may lose interest. Supplementary materials at the back include STEAM projects and fun facts introduced by the main characters that a science-loving child will enjoy. VERDICT A fun purchase for the easygoing young reader in love with animals and books in "The Magic Treehouse" series.--Gina Elbert

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Praise for book one in the Challenge Island series, The Bridge to Sharktooth Island:

One of Children's Book Council's Hot off the Press picks for November 2021

"This is a great STEAM-infused addition to the fiction section of any elementary or middle school library."
School Library Journal

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781513128702
Lexile Measure
620
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
West Margin Press
Publication date
June 20, 2022
Series
Challenge Island Steam Adventure
BISAC categories
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV029010 - Juvenile Fiction | Nature & the Natural World | Environment
JUV072000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mathematics
Library of Congress categories
Islands
Swamps
Problem solving
Resourcefulness
Rain forests
Cooperativeness

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