Review Detail

Though rich and vibrant in illustrations and culture, Sarai and the Around the World Fair is a slow-mover. 

The illustrations and the rambunctious liveliness of the story really carry well throughout—hyping up the reader for whatever comes next. However, for a children’s novel, it’s not all that exciting.

The Gonzalez family is a curious and entertaining bunch, but with just an around the world fair looming, along with just a small mishap, doesn’t much make for exciting reading. 

While the story itself is not vivacious, it is engaging and interactive in the way it’s told. Sarai is her usual curious and excitable self and her family is just as interesting. The grandfather, kids, and parents all join in to create a story that holds its usual cultural richness. The reader gets a small history lesson on Peruvian and Costa Rican culture and a fun Costa Rican recipe to try with parents at the end. 

Though not super exciting it's entertaining enough to hold the attention of a young reader; especially if they’re already a fan of the series.