Coolest Collections gives young readers a basic look into the roles of museums, how they impact the community, and the different contributions they give to history. This children's book includes a glossary, an index, and new vocabulary words to help develop both reading and comprehension skills. Each kid's book in the Travel To . . . series focuses on a particular topic, and gives readers the opportunity to go on a field trip without having to leave their classroom or home setting. Also included are an index, glossary, and text-based questions that are guaranteed to make your child a stronger reader. Rourke proudly publishes respectful and relevant non-fiction and fiction titles that represent our diverse readers, and are designed to support reading on a level that has no limits!
"The latest titles in this series cover a wide range of places to discover. Every title starts with before, during, and after reading activities to extend learning and is followed by a table of contents. A combination of graphic renderings and photographs are paired with one or two paragraphs that may also include a side panel that generally connects the reader further to more specific information, such as museums going digital during global disasters (Coolest Collections). This series does not shy away from nuanced topics, including repatriation of art to the original country (Coolest Collections) or why protests around the world happen. For instance, the the Patriarch of the Orthodox Russian Church campaigned for Vladimir Putin, there was a large protest in 2012 (Places of Protest). Although each titles has a lot of information, the sections are relatively short and can be read as a whole or on their own. The back matter includes a glossary, index, bibliography, text-dependent questions, and extended activities. VERDICT A fantastic overview for older readers who want to the learn more about the nuances of culture and activism."
School Library Journal, April 2022
"Kids like armchair travel too, and this entry in the Travel to . . . series (2 titles) brings them to museums of all kinds worldwide. Each institution is covered on a page, with an overview of the collection accompanied by fun fact boxes. This work is highly illustrated, making it an attractive browse as well as an interesting complement to history and art studies. Clear color photos display the inside and outside of many museums, while smaller inset photos showcase particular items they’ve collected. The best part of this book is the “they have a museum about THAT?” factor, as world famous places such as the Paris’s Louvre and Cairo’s Egyptian Museum here brush elbows with the Neon Museum in Las Vegas and Delhi’s Museum of Toilets. Also of benefit is the book’s discussion of collecting practices in the past and today, particularly in the British Museum entry, which emphasizes that many objects there "have been acquired through less respectable means." An engaging, fact-filled, and illuminating title that is also very well sourced."
Booklist, April 2022