Race Against Time, written by Geronimo Stilton, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary: Geronimo Stilton returns for his third journey through time with a new and improved machine: the Paw Pro Portal, designed to take Geronimo and his friends through three different time periods before returning to the present. Accompanied by his self-absorbed and self-proclaimed “scientist” cousin Trap, along with fan favorites Thea and Benjamin, Geronimo travels through time at a breakneck pace. They bring a mammoth dinner to a Neanderthal village, write a tragedy (that is mistaken for a comedy) in Ancient Greece, and test out da Vinci’s inventions in the Italian Renaissance. When it’s time to go home, a portal malfunction speeds them through Ghenghis Khan’s attack, Blackbeard’s ship, and the opening of a railway before finally landing in New Mouse City. Each page is colored with Stilton’s trademark illustrations and bright fonts that make words pop off the page.

Straight Talk for Librarians: The almost frenetic pace of the crew’s journeys can be a lot to keep up with, but adrenaline seekers (and of course, all Geronimo fans) will find a lot to love about this book. Geronimo’s natural clumsiness leads to slapstick humor, and there is certainly never a dull moment. Each time period is introduced with factual blurbs explaining important people, events, and customs, including traditional wardrobes for all walks of life. Readers will learn a lot about history without even realizing it! The travel journal appendix includes quizzes, crafts and activities to extend the learning on the three time periods visited in the book. Use as an extension for strong readers looking to learn about history, or hand to those who have graduated from “Magic Tree House” that are looking for a similar read.