10 World Wonders is a rhyming story that shows readers some of the world’s most awe-inspiring sights. 10 World Wonders takes the reader on a journey around the world visiting ten
memorable landmarks in various countries. Some of the locations include the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Macha Picchu in Peru, and the Northern Lights in the Arctic.

During the trip our tour guide, Arthur, dresses in clothes that are either typical or stereo-typical of the people who live in these regions. A cute idea that almost reaches its educational destination. It’s apparent Lipen wanted to educate young readers about the world’s many wonders but there are a few pitfalls that hinder his goal.

First let me outline what I liked about the book:

The illustrations are colourful and humorous. Young readers will enjoy seeing Arthur dressed in various types of multi-cultural clothing. I especially liked the one of him in the toga.
There’s a map at the end of the book highlighting the landmarks’ visited. There are interesting facts written about each location. There are colouring pages at the very end.

Now I’ll discuss where I think the book needs improvement:

The rhyming sequence is irregular and jarring times. It was very difficult to read-aloud with consistent inflection because once you think you’re getting into the rhythm of the text it
changes tempo and falls flat.

The landmarks’ locations aren’t written in a uniform fashion. Some are stated to be in cities (Paris) while others only have the country (Australian Nation) or a broad region (Arctic). It
may sound nit-picky but when you’re writing an educational book you must be intentional about what you’re trying to teach and how you present it.

Some of the verses were forced and seemed to be written with the sole purpose of composing a rhyme instead of focusing on the integrity of the word flow. Sadly, many of the rhymes are clumsy and quite often abandoned leaving the reader grasping for something more.

What did you think of the book? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!