Let's Visit Istanbul! (Adventures of Bella & Harry Series)

by Lisa Manzione, Kristine Lucco (Illustrator)

Overview

Join sibling Chihuahuas Bella and Harry as they travel to Istanbul with their family and cruise the Bosphorus River, visit the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace.  Along the way, local cuisine (such as menemen) is introduced to the reader.

The Adventures of Bella & Harry is a picture book series that chronicles the escapades of a pup named Bella, her little brother Harry and their family, who travel the world exploring the sights and sounds of new, exciting cities.  The “Bella & Harry” series is intended to be an informative, interactive and exciting way to introduce children to travel, different countries, customs, history and landmarks with the educational value of this book cleverly disguised amidst dozens of illustrated pages which are sure to win the hearts of young readers.

Traveling the world with these two cute and cuddly Chihuahuas will allow the young reader to gain an appreciation of the world and its cultural diversity.

Happy Travels from Bella Boo and Harry too!!!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781937616090
Publisher:	Bella & Harry
Publication date:	12/31/2012
Series:	Hawk Files #08 , #9
Pages:	35
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	690L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Author: Lisa Manzione
The Bella and Harry series of children's books is Lisa Manzione's first foray into children's fiction writing.  As a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Lisa's entrance into the field of literature is one she has eagerly awaited and is very passionate about.  As the daughter of a single parent who worked for a major airline, Lisa's exposure to (and interest in) travel began at an early age.  Later in life, as Lisa's own children grew up and her love of animals continued, the idea for the Bella and Harry series was born. 

Illustrator: Kristine Lucco
Born in rural Pennsylvania, Kristine's passion for art began at a young age. This interest in art continued and ultimately led Kristine to study at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale.
Now a mother of two avid junior readers, Kristine’s unique talent and particular flair for children’s themes has evolved quite naturally into the world of children’s books and illustrations. She is quick to credit her own children for inspiring this phase of her art, as it is often conceived by seeing the characters and places through their eyes.
In addition to her work on the Bella and Harry series, Kristine has also illustrated the most recently recognized children’s book, “Wacky Jacky, The True Story of an Unlikely Beauty Queen”.

Read an Excerpt

"Right now, we are going for a ferry ride on the Bosphorus River (or Bosphorus Strait) in Istanbul, Turkey.  There are two bridges that currently cross the Bosphorus.  The name of this bridge is the First Bosphorus Bridge.  This bridge connects the continent of Asia to the continent of Europe."

"Look Harry, another palace!  It's Dolmabache Palace!  This palace, which is now a museum, is located on the bank of the Bosphorus.  How beautiful!"

"Harry, the Blue Mosque got its name because of the blue tiles on the inside of the walls.  The Blue Mosque is different than most mosques because it has six minarets.  Minarets are tall, slender towers with balcones from which people are called to prayer several times a day."

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal - May 2013

"This combination of anthropomorphic story and geographical guidebook could be useful in social-studies classes where instructors prefer teaching content through stories. Families traveling to Turkey might find the book a helpful tool in preparing their children for the trip."

Booklist - February 2013

"it’s not every day a kid gets to take a trip to Istanbul, and this makes for a nice introduction to the customs and hot spots."

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 2—The globe-trotting Chihuahuas visit monuments and important buildings, discover a bit about the region's history, and learn a little about Turkish culture. Most of these details are relayed through the pups' conversations. The steady stream of sometimes dry facts is interrupted as readers come across a lighter moment when Harry wonders if he will see a flying carpet, and tension rises when Bella becomes temporarily separated from the tour. Amazingly, the pups are able to visit many tourist attractions in just one day. A simple outline map of Turkey and short list of Turkish words/phrases are included. Unfortunately, the book lacks a pronunciation guide, and while there is also no glossary, terms like "minarets" and "menemen" are defined during the story. Exaggerated pictures of Bella and Harry, in brightly colored watercolor illustrations, are a contrast to the more stately renderings of buildings such as the Ortakoy Mosque and Dolmabahce Palace. Lucco's images of people are less defined. This combination of anthropomorphic story and geographical guidebook could be useful in social-studies classes where instructors prefer teaching content through stories. Families traveling to Turkey might find the book a helpful tool in preparing their children for the trip.—Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH

School Library Journal