Travels of Zephyr is based on the fictional notes and sketches of a fictional explorer James Mac Killian (1889-1978), an eccentric explorer who traveled the world extensively. This book tells the stories of his homemade hot-air balloon, the Zephyr. It had a heated cockpit so that Mac Killian could explore Arctic lands. The goal of his expeditions was to visit different ethnic groups and discover traditions that dated back to the dawn of time. After he died Caroline Mac Killian, his goddaughter and niece, inherited his recordings and sketches of the rituals he had observed after he died. She has chosen to share the stories behind these customs, which are often still practiced today. Voyages include: Scotland, North Pole, Newfoundland, Great Plains, Africa, New Zealand, Indonesia, China, Russia and Brazil. Each country has a double-page spread with flaps plus an additional double page spread. There are numerous activities and animations: maps that unfold, enevelopes, sketches, drawings, etc. The complete story is fiction, but the information presented is the result of serious research and true facts.
