Devils Tower

Gr 5–8—Readers who want to go for the gusto will find all they can handle in Transylvania's account of Vlad Dracul's bloody career (which is capped by a rousingly gruesome old image of skewered and decapitated corpses), but overall this series has more to offer armchair travelers than thrill-seekers. The tour of the 400-mile Bigfoot Trail, for instance, pauses at each natural area or preserve through which it goes to highlight distinctive flora and tangible hazards like bears and wolverines. Similarly, Death Valley, Mount Terror, and The Dead Sea offer glimpses of wildlife and history with only occasional mention of ghosts or dangerous terrain. Each volume includes at least one map along with a suite of color photographs depicting vistas, animals, prominent geological features and, for Transylvania, picturesque old castles. Most also feature a page of summary facts, and all conclude with an assurance that each locale is well worth a (cautious, well-prepared) visit. A mild alternative to Bearport's ongoing "Scary Places" series.