Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana

This is the brilliant first of what I hope will be many books in a travel-novel series aimed at ages four through ten. Gannon and Wyatt’s journey begins in the African bush, where they meet up with travel guides to explore Botswana. On their travels they encounter Bushmen; a huge variety of wild animals including the Big Five (lions, rhinos, cape buffalo, elephants, and leopards); and a snake or two. Gannon is philosophical and fearless. Wyatt is science-driven and rather less fearless. Together, these personalities make for an adventure that represents the best of both worlds, and that’s no joke.

The main goal of the journey is to find a lion that has been attacked by a poacher, and save her so that she can nurse her cubs. Along the way, our heroes survive many dangers – and find that none of the hundreds of species that survive in the bush are more dangerous than they are themselves.

Botswana has rarely had a portrayal that so accurately captures the physical and emotional spirit of Africa. Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana allows the reader to learn about the bush, and enjoy an great adventure, and perhaps begin to share Gannon and Wyatt’s profound environmentalism. This new take on travel books is intriguing, to say the least. Wheeler and Hemstreet have made a great start – dare we ask for a sequel?