These new installments in the Young Explorers series transform two iconic cities into immersive adventures. With text by Daniela Celli and warm, lively illustrations by Laura Re, each book features a charming narrator—Glauka, a wise and very hungry owl in Athens, and Sior Leo, a welcoming lion in Venice—who invites readers to explore by following their curiosity. Each book contains four kid-friendly itineraries focused on different regions or neighborhoods, and readers will encounter maps, legends, quick facts, and playful activities while seeing the sites. The resulting reading experience is active and engaging. In Athens, readers can tour the Acropolis, wander Plaka’s winding alleys, and spot cats tucked into quiet corners. Venice reveals an imaginative, surprising city filled with storied bridges, hidden gardens, and spectacular carnival traditions. These books don’t simply highlight famous landmarks, they give them meaning by pairing monuments and canals with myths, everyday details, and surprising moments that make history feel alive. Re’s expressive illustrations add movement, warmth, and personality throughout, helping each city feel bright, approachable, and brimming with the promise of discovery. A strong choice for travel collections, armchair explorers, and families who want kids to be genuinely invested before a journey begins. Together, they celebrate travel as both a means of exploration and as fuel for imagination, reminding kids that every place holds stories waiting to be uncovered.

– Aurora Dominguez, Booklist