EVEREST

A detailed look at Mount Everest, the tallest peak in the Himalayan mountain range.

This handsome publication provides a holistic perspective on Everest, broken up into different sections starting with the origins of the Himalayan mountain range and its flora and fauna. Various myths and legends surrounding Everest are woven in among accounts of the numerous attempts at climbing the mountain and details of conditions at the summit. Francis describes the mountain as “a place of invention, imagination and discovery.” She also weaves in elements of science geared to pique a child’s curiosity, such as how a mountain is measured and inventions that have helped make mountain climbing easier over time. With simple, accessible writing, short chapters, and stunning illustrations, the book guarantees to interest and engage readers to learn about not only this natural wonder of the world, but also how it has inspired people in the past and its continuing footprint and evolution as time passes, taking care to sensitize readers to the environmental challenges faced at Everest with increased waste and climate change. Feng’s vibrant illustrations have the look of mid-20th-century lithographs and complement the engaging text perfectly. The limited palette is dominated, unsurprisingly, by icy blues and whites, with pops of russet in the display type and picture accents.

This appealing and informative guide to Everest may well have children dreaming of their own expeditions.