Exotic Travel Destinations for Families by Jennifer & Bill Nichols is my choice for Book #10. I didn't love this book but parts of it were interesting. A couple and their children travel off the beaten path to some exotic locales such as Bangkok, Ecuador, Morocco and Tibet. The first few chapters offer basic advice that is pretty obvious - things like make sure to get immunized, make sure your passport is up to date, etc. I guess I was looking for something more in-depth . . . I liked that the authors talked about the benefits of foreign travel for their kids, such as growing in acceptance of strange cultures and foods and becoming more adaptable to life in general. I also liked the personal tone of the book. But I have to say I was a little put off by what I perceived as a kind of preachy, arrogant tone when talking about the home-schooling aspect of things. Actually I think I may be a bit sensitive in this department . . . apparently the Nichols children love to read, learn and draw pictures and write stories about all the places they visit. For those of us with kids who equate holding a pencil with torture, those parts were a bit painful to read. Can you tell I'm a bit worried about the home-schooling business? Yes, yes I am . . . more books to come.
