Planet Explorers Chicago: A Travel Guide for Kids [Kindle Edition]

I spent some of my childhood living in Chicago but I was so young I hardly remember anything besides going to a museum. These days there is so much to do in Chicago you could literally spend weeks there and never be bored. This book highlights the best attractions. The book starts off with interesting facts like how the name "Chicago" comes from a Native American word meaning "wild onion." Who would have thought that? While you are in Chicago you may want to go to an IMAX theater, watch dancing fountains, play on the ice rink, observe dinosaur fossils, watch piranhas from a safe distance, go to a planetarium, observe polar bears at play or go on a roller coaster ride. There is even a gallery that has art you can touch. I was amazed by all the unique restaurants listed in this guide. Did you also know the Twinkie was invented in Chicago? Well this guide is loads of fun and made me really excited about visiting Chicago again one day. I will also recommend this to friends who are interested in visiting. This guide is for kids but it will become a favorite for adults too. After all we adults want to know where all the fun places are too so we can let our inner child out to play. And if you don't see a verified purchase tag it is because someone lent me this book. Isn't that fun! Only now I think I want my own copy.

~The Rebecca Review

From the Brookfield Zoo, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum, Planet Explorers Chicago by Laura Schaefer, brought up fond memories of my first visit to the Windy City when I was about eight years-old. I've never forgotten that trip to one of America's most impressive cities, and this book reinforced those memories.

Explore the planet with this Chicago guidebook written just for kids. This 60 page ebook includes everything your 8-12 year-old needs to know about Chicago and nearby attractions, in addition to the ones listed above, the Lincoln Park Zoo and Six Flags Great America as well as notable buildings, parks and stadiums like Wrigley Field. From fun facts to history, from attraction highlights to pictures, maps, and quizzes, Planet Explorers guidebooks have it all.

But, in case you think this is simply a guide/travel book, you'll also read facts and see pictures of some pretty notorious characters like Al Capone, John Dillinger, and even deep dish pizza! LOL!

Chicago boasts a famous resident, too. Barack Obama, our 44th President lived there, and his hero, Abraham Lincoln, was chosen as the Republican candidate for president in the country's first national political convention in Chicago.

Fun facts and pictures make Planet Explorers Chicago, a must-read if you're planning a trip. Even if you're not planning to visit, after exploring this book, you'll swear you've been there.

Mary Cunningham, author, 'Tween Series.

We've never been to Chicago, but have it very firmly on our must-see list. This is an extremely interesting guide for families from a kid's eye view, but don't rule it out for adults either.

Chicago is a city of many firsts - the first ferris wheel (1893), first skyscraper (1885), and the first controlled nuclear reaction (1942) et al. Filled with fascinating historical facts about Chi-Town, the guide mentions Scarface, John Dillinger, the Great Chicago Fire, the Haymarket Riot, the World's Columbian Exposition, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Frank Lloyd Wright and more. There's also a wealth of information on attractions such as dying the river green for St. Patrick's Day, free fireworks at Navy Pier, the Chicago Children's Museum, Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the John G. Shedd Aquarium (with Grandad, a rare Australian lungfish) as well as the Lincoln Park Zoo, Six Flags Great America (14 roller coasters!!) and Wrigley Field with its curse.

It completes the tour with information on the famous architecture, parks, galleries and libraries, and of course recommendations for great eating and shopping spots. There are also bits of trivia with lists of movies that feature Chicago, slang words, people born in Chicago (Walt Disney, Ernest Hemingway and Harrison Ford) and of course travel tips, maps and the quiz at the end. Missing is information on family-friendly hotels.

Highly recommended if you're planning a trip to the Windy City with the family.

Amanda Richards, October 15, 2011