(3) 4-6 Explorers series. Illustrated by David Antram. The travels and travails of explorers from different centuries are detailed in clear prose accompanied by attractive color drawings. Italian Marco Polo and Portuguese Ferdinand Magellan both ventured to the Far East, while Lewis and Clark trekked through the uncharted North American West. All three titles humanize their subjects, describe interactions with Native Peoples, and summarize the impact of their expeditions. Glos., ind. Review covers these Explorers titles: The Story of Lewis and Clark, The Story of Magellan, and The Story of Marco Polo.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(2) YA Translated by Kerstin Schwandt. Illustrated by Marco Tabilio. Marco Polo recounts his adventures to his prison cellmate, who writes them down; this narrative will become the (real) Travels of Marco Polo. In this graphic novel, Tabilio distills the essence of the story, capturing its wonder and exoticism without losing its grand sweeping nature. The illustrations balance the intimate with the epic, and the sketchlike style leaves lots of room for the reader's imagination. Glos.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2017

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Maria Cristina Pritelli. A dialogue (in different typefaces) between a Venetian boy and a fictional scribe relates episodes from Marco Polo's travels. While the text, accompanied by intriguing paintings in muted tones, focuses more on the nature of "truth" in storytelling than on the adventures themselves, the handsome book could inspire further research on Marco Polo's life and exploration.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Zoom In on Pioneering Explorers series. These three biographies highlight international exploration (Ferdinand Magellan; Marco Polo) and exploration of the American West (Lewis and Clark). The scant introductory volumes, which align to Common Core Standards, raise more questions than answers, but they may spark interest in further research. Paintings, drawings, and stock photographs accompany the mundane texts. Lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Zoom In on Pioneering Explorers titles: Ferdinand Magellan, Lewis and Clark, and Marco Polo.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Neil Flambé Capers series. Teen chef phenom Neil Flambé is gifted in the kitchen and at the crime scene, thanks to an ultrasensitive nose. When not in school or at the stove, Neil and his nose help the police investigate murders, abductions, and curses. Readers who like their mysteries with a dash of history will dig into these satisfying offerings. Review covers these Neil Flambé Capers titles:Neil Flambé and the Aztec Abduction, Neil Flambé and the Crusader's Curse, and Neil Flambé and the Marco Polo Murders.

Reviewer: Sophie Williamson

(3) 4-6 This richly illustrated offering details the life and travels of Marco Polo to the Orient and back. Each two-page section focuses on a specific area he visited, his activities there, and what he found. The many maps and lift-the-flaps encourage readers to do their own exploration of the book; some removable items (e.g., a "golden passport") are included.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) YA Emmajin, unconventional (fictional) granddaughter of Kublai Kahn, plans never to marry and instead join the Mongolian army. Her first assignment brings her close to trader Marco Polo; little does she expect that this imaginative explorer will cause her to examine her values, her goals, and her heart. Though it's a bit overwrought, Emmajin's story is dynamic and well plotted.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) 4-6 Neil Flambé Capers series. Fourteen-year-old chef/budding detective Neil Flambé finds himself on the case--and on the hook--when some of the town's best chefs turn up dead. Certain clues from the crime scenes, including apparent ties to Marco Polo, make Neil the most logical choice to solve the mystery. There's lots of humor and intrigue to be found, if the main character's arrogance doesn't task readers' patience.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Tim Jessell. Mark's anthropologist dad heads to the Gobi Desert to "meet and live with the desert people like Marco Polo did." After Dad goes missing, Mark and his mother travel to Polo's home city of Venice to investigate. Fearful and tentative, the main character (with help from a talking dog) finds courage. The family drama plus stories of Marco in Italy will hold readers' interest. Bib.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) YA Great Explorers of the World series. Going above and beyond biographical information about its subject, each book offers readers a glimpse of the historical times, events leading up to and surrounding the men's travels, and the impact of their explorations on the world. The volumes are well illustrated with photos, archival art, and maps. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Explorers of the World titles: Columbus, Marco Polo, and Henry Hudson.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) 4-6 Sixteen-year-old Marco Polo travels to the Unknown Lands to save his father from a rogue magician. Mythical creatures and close shaves abound as the budding explorer and his companions close in on the diabolical mage. Lack of historical authenticity, along with Marco's childish behavior, mars this otherwise acceptable, if unremarkable, fantasy.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Explorers series. Illustrated by Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini. Generously illustrated short chapters describe Marco Polo's journey from Italy to the court of Kublai Khan with his merchant father and uncle. Each double-page spread features a full-page painting; spot art accompanies boxed information, usually about an animal. A useful "Map of Marco Polo's Travels" is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) 4-6 Demi first sets the scene of thirteenth-century Italy, then chronicles Marco Polo's journey to China and back. The explorer's own perspectives on everything from asbestos to rhinoceroses are woven into the narrative. Demi's trademark illustrations in Chinese inks and gold overlays are contained within rich silk fabric borders. A map showing Polo's route is appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) YA Pivotal Moments in History series. Each volume details an important turning point in ancient history. Sure to satisfy history buffs, the books not only relate facts about the specific topics but also delve into the events leading up to those points as well as exploring their effects throughout history. Numerous sidebars, illustrations, maps, and art reproductions provide additional information. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Pivotal Moments in History titles: The Conquests of Alexander the Great, Marco Polo's Journey to China, The Signing of the Magna Carta, and The Fall of the Roman Empire.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(4) 4-6 Great Journeys Across Earth series. Each series volume details a historically important expedition. The circumstances leading up to the journey as well as the aftermath are also discussed. Also included is information about who accompanied the explorers and the experiences they all had. Numerous sidebars, maps, and illustrations provide additional information (though the crowded pages divide attention). Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Great Journeys across Earth titles: Captain Cook's Pacific Explorations, Burton and Speke's Source of the Nile Quest, Amundsen and Scott's Race to the South Pole, Hillary and Norgay's Mount Everest Adventure, Lewis and Clark's Continental Journey, Magellan's Voyage around the World, and Marco Polo's Travels on Asia's Silk Road.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. About Marco Polo, Freedman asks: "Did he really travel to China and beyond, as he claimed? Or was he...'the man of a million lies'?" Freedman provides background by writing of Polo's experiences and quoting from Polo's Description of the World. An author's note suggests more complex resources on the debate. This handsome volume--with faux-aged paper, archival prints, and original art--resembles a fourteenth-century manuscript. Ind.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2006

(3) 1-3 Time Warp Trio series. Illustrated by Adam McCauley. A game of Marco Polo lands the Time Warp Trio in thirteenth-century China, where the lads befriend the famous Italian explorer, feast with Kublai Khan, and outwit Khan's jealous astrologer. Through it all, the boys keep up their lively patter: "I really, really do not like cats." "Allergies?" "Yeah, I'm allergic to their sharp teeth." Another must-read for series fans.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) K-3 Explorers! series. Three explorers--of Asia, of South America, and of North America--are profiled in these brief biographies copiously illustrated with photos and reproductions. Unfortunately, the texts' lack of detail can prove confusing (e.g., in Pizarro we learn that "They took [the gold] to their ship," yet the fact that Pizarro and his men have a ship is news to us). Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Explorers! titles: Marco Polo, Francisco Pizarro, and Leif Eriksson.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Biography from Ancient Civilizations: Legends, Folklore, and Stories of Ancient Worlds series. Despite bland designs (and a fictionalized first chapter in Marco Polo), both of these well-written books do a good job of introducing their subjects to upper-elementary or middle-school students. The chapter notes and bibliographies attest to careful research. Illustrations from various sources add little to the books. Maps and informative sidebars are included. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Biography from Ancient Civilizations: Legends, Folklore, and Stories of Ancient Worlds titles: The Life and Times of Confucious and The Life and Times of Marco Polo.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 In World History series. Although the primary focus in each of these two books is Marco Polo and Ponce de León, a lot of attention is given to Venetian, Mongolian, and Chinese history in Empire and to Christopher Columbus and Spanish exploration in Ponce. Well written, with selections from the writings of Polo and Ponce de León, the books are illustrated with maps and black-and-white sketches. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. [Review covers these In World History titles: The Great Empire of China and Marco Polo in World History and Ponce de León and the Age of Spanish Exploration in World History.]

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman