Adventures in Ancient China

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

This latest instalment in the Good Times Travel Agency series catapults
the Binkerton siblings into the China of 2000 years ago at the time of
the Han Dynasty. The prelude to this time-travel adventure follows the
usual format: the older twins don’t want to enter the Good Times
Travel Agency (the portal to the past), and the adventurous and
mischievous little sister is determined to do so.

Under the guise of following the children on their journey, a good deal
of information is imparted to the reader in two formats: the comic-book
rendering of the children’s travels, and the parallel factual account
of what they’re encountering. For instance, when the children use an
ancient conveyance to get around, the author includes a short
“chapter” on methods of travel in ancient China. A factual one-page
summary completes the book. It is obvious that the facts have been
carefully collected and sifted to appeal to the upper-elementary target
group. Preteen readers will find the anecdotes interesting and enjoy the
humour. The overall tone of the writing has a youthful flair. Of further
note is the way that important facts are seamlessly woven into the plot.

The illustrations effectively support the text. Since they are comics
rather than realistic portrayals, certain salient visual and spoken key
aspects can be exaggerated to underscore the author’s point.

Adventures in Ancient China will capture and hold the reader’s
attention and serve as a jumping-off point for further research on
ancient times. Recommended.