pedestrienne

A must-read for anyone planning to travel for a long time, especially youngsters.

Although the book is thick, it moves along very quickly. The stories are supplemented by charming sketchy illustrations by Mr. Weinberg, and Scieszka's voice is light but descriptive. They also do a lot of moving around, which keeps the narrative going. At first I wondered if the book was going to feel sanitized by world-wonder because the first 1/3 or so is very upbeat. But it definitely gets into cultural isolation and travel-weariness, and being overwhelmed by global problems and one's small place in the world. What could have come off as just a book proposal meant to be a way to keep the couple working together has a real heart and, in the end, a sense of purpose.