Winner of the 2013 National Outdoor Book Awards When Gannon and Wyatt arrive in Botswana for an African safari, they find themselves tangled up in much more than a family vacation. After receiving word that a poacher has shot and wounded a lioness, they set off into the wild in the hopes of saving the mother and her cubs before the poacher finishes the job. While on this amazing journey, they encounter Africa's Big Five--elephants, rhinos, cape buffaloes, leopards, and lions--only to discover that the most dangerous predator in the African bush is not the king of beasts, but man himself. In the tradition of the historic journals kept by explorers such as Lewis and Clark, Dr. David Livingstone, and Captain James Cook comes the adventure series Travels with Gannon and Wyatt . From Africa to the South Pacific, these twin brothers have traveled the world. You never know what they will encounter as they venture into the wild, but one thing is certain--wherever Gannon and Wyatt go, adventure is their constant companion. You can find Gannon and Wyatt's blog, photographs, and video footage from their real-life expeditions at travelswithgannonandwyatt.com. Gr 4-8-Twin teens explorers various locations and introduce readers to the wonders, animals, and people of the places they visit. Gannon is the impulsive, personable brother and Wyatt is the more scientific. In Botswana, they try to save a lioness and her cubs from poachers. In Rainforest, they go in search of the mythical spirit bear but become lost in a forest full of danger. The stories are related as a series of journal entries from the boys' perspectives and highlight the inherent beauty as well as the perils of each locale. The books have a strong conservationist point of view, and the siblings encounter trouble not only from their natural surroundings but also from man-made threats to themselves and the environment. Each book also contains native people who help Gannon and Wyatt understand the areas they are exploring and, in some cases, help them survive. The brothers are based on a real-life twins. At the beginning of Botswana, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between the two boys, but the authors find their voices about halfway through and it is clear from that point going forward. The action picks up in the second title, which is marginally better than the first, but the books focus primarily on painting a picture of the boys' travels and surroundings, and they do this well. The novels offer good entry points into these exciting worlds and should be enjoyed by anyone who likes reading about adventure and discovery.-Erik Knapp, Davis Library, Plano, TXα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. ''This exciting 140-page novel is the first in a series of adventure books for the 9-12 age group. It is about twin brothers whose parents have jobs which take them to different places in the world. In this book, the brothers travel to Botswana. Their story is told, quite cleverly, in journal form: first one brother writing in his diary and then the other brother - a technique that might inspire young readers to keep their own diaries. While in Botswana, the boys go on a safari. They see and learn much about African wildlife, and at one point, they come upon a lioness that has been shot by poachers. The brothers help nurse it back to health and take care of her cubs. Then the boys' adventure really picks up when they run into the poachers. Parents will find it just the right combination for growing children with lessons about nature and life in general.'' --National Outdoor Book Awards Patti Wheeler , producer of the web series Travels with Gannon & Wyatt: Off the Beaten Path, began traveling at a young age and has nurtured the spirit of adventure in her family ever since. For years it has been her goal to create children's books that instill the spirit of adventure in young people. The Youth Exploration Society and Travels with Gannon & Wyatt are the realization of her dream. Keith Hemstreet is a writer, producer, and cofounder of the Youth Exploration Society. He attended Florida State University and completed his graduate studies at Appalachian State University. He lives in Aspen, Colorado, with his wife and three daughters.