A (mostly) Kids' Guide to Sanibel & Captiva Islands and the Fort Myers Coast - Karen T Bartlett

From purple blobs and desert islands to exciting festivals to the laboratory of the greatest American inventor, this outrageously colorful 80-page family guidebook crashes through all boundaries and redefines what a guidebook that's truly designed for children can be. While it features both indoor attractions and outdoor adventures for all members of the family, including cool excuses to get muddy and super-fun reasons to dress up, there's nothing typically guidebook-ish about it.

A (mostly) Kids' Guide to Sanibel and Captiva Islands and the Fort Myers Coast is a roadmap to regional discovery and fun like no other. Beginning with the first chapter: "Everything You Need to Know: Some of it is Quite Weird," to the last chapter featuring a selection of annual festivals, parades and unique happenings, every chapter is a visual feast, combining practical ideas and inside tips on free things to do with freaky factoids, fascinating legends and hilarious quizzes -- sprinkled throughout with everything from animal tracks to polka dots. Several spokes-creatures, including Marigold the loggerhead turtle, Freckles the hermit crab and a roseate spoonbill named Rosie, get into the conversation along with a couple of dastardly pirates who provide helpful (and sometimes impertinent) commentary.

In this guidebook one must expect the unexpected, such as where to encounter a tiny real-life sea creature with the head of a horse, the tail of a monkey and the pouch of a kangaroo, or a restaurant at the end of a yellow brick road where waiters wear chickens on their heads. Instead of wasting space on boring information about directions and hours that kids don't want to read, the author provides a directory of websites and telephone numbers listing the 150-plus attractions, outfitters and resources mentioned in the book.

While A (mostly) Kids' Guide to Sanibel & Captiva Islands and the Fort Myers Coast is a must-have guidebook for local families and vacationers, it is an equally enchanting read for school-age kids, parents, grandparents, educators, armchair travelers and even adventure-minded adults without children.

A (mostly) Kids' Guide to Sanibel & Captiva Islands and the Fort Myers Coast is the second in the Mostly Kids' Guides imprint, following A (mostly) Kids' Guide to Naples, Marco Island & The Everglades, winner of the Silver IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award for travel.