Review: You Are Here

This is a gorgeously fun introduction to geography and how we view our world. From the opening pages that encourage kids to think about perspective by drawing their bedroom from various angles, to the fact-filled sections on countries and continents, this is a well-thought-out, cleverly structured book that will keep young minds engaged for hours.

You Are Here is divided into five, broad, colour-coded parts: Where is Here?, In Our World, Who We Are, Under the Sea, and Out of Our World. The thick, high-quality paper will easily cope with Textas and crayons, as kids make their own charts to compare the populations and geographical size of some of the world's major cities, or design their own mode of transport. They'll also learn how to draw simple maps of their neighbourhood, and even get to grips with the effects of the sun and moon's gravitational pull.

This is a great book for families to enjoy together. I think I had just as much fun as my daughter colouring in flags and designing my own banknote. It would be ideal preparation for going on holiday to somewhere new, too, with its focus on exploring the cultural and environmental diversity of the world around us.

Educational and entertaining — a winning combination!

Title: You Are Here: An interactive book of maps and worlds
Author: Robin Jacobs
Illustrator: Kathrin Jacobsen
Publisher: Cicada, $29.99 RRP
Publication Date: July 2015
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781908714206
For ages: 7+
Type: Activity Book