Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: BOTSWANA

Wins National Outdoor Book Award

Wheeler_Botswana_cover-2The National Outdoor Book Awards (NOBA) is the outdoor world’s largest and most prestigious book award program.  They have recently recognized Travels with Gannon and Wyatt: Botswana, by Patti Wheeler and Keith Hemstreet, as the winner in the Children’s Category.

NOBA is a non-profit, educational program, sponsored by the National Outdoor Book Awards Foundation, Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, and Idaho State University.  The purpose of the awards is to recognize and encourage outstanding writing and publishing.

Travels with Gannon & Wyatt: Botswana is the first book in the new adventure series about globetrotting, twin brother adventurers.  While on this amazing journey, they discover Africa’s Big Five—elephants, rhinos, Cape buffalos, leopards and lions—only to discover that the most dangerous predator in the African bush is not the king of the beasts, but man himself.

When curious teen brothers, Gannon and Wyatt, arrive in Botswana for an African safari, they find themselves tangled up in much more than a family vacation.  After receiving word that a poacher has shot and wounded a lioness, the brave brothers set off into the wild in the hopes of saving the mother and her cubs before the poacher finishes the job.

Using the first-hand adventures of her twin boys, mom and author Patti Wheeler and co-author Keith Hemstreet developed the fictional adventure series in the tradition of the historic journals kept by explorers such as Lewis and Clark, Dr. David Livingstone, and Captain James Cook.  The book series currently includes Botswana (June 2013), Great Bear Rainforest (Oct 2013) and Egypt (Jan 2014).  The exciting fantasies, loosely based on the boys’ actual encounters, are filled with exotic settings, high stakes adventure, and the magic of nature.  Meanwhile, the authors have artfully illustrated the value of education, persistence, and teamwork when pursuing goals or overcoming a challenge.  The stories are supported by broadcast quality videos, photos, and Educator’s Resource Guides, all available on the Gannon & Wyatt website.

YOUTH EXPLORATION SOCIETY

Patti and Keith, along with Gannon and Wyatt, are also co-founders of the Youth Exploration Society, a literacy non-profit that promotes a deeper understanding of world geography, cultures and the environment.  Furthermore, the Travels with Gannon & Wyatt team has launched a one-for-one campaign. For every book sold, they will donate a book to a child. Their goal is to donate 10,000 books across the United States. 

PATTI WHEELER began traveling at a young age and has nurtured the spirit of adventure in her family ever since. For years, it has been her goal to create children’s books that instill the spirit of exploration in young people. Travels with Gannon & Wyatt is the realization of her dream. Patti lives in Aspen, Colorado with her husband and sons.

KEITH HEMSTREET is a writer, producer, and cofounder of the Youth Exploration Society. He attended Florida State University and completed his graduate studies at Appalachian State University. Keith lives in Aspen, Colorado with his wife and three daughters.

For more information about their new book series, Travels with Gannon & Wyatt, visit www.gannonandwyatt.com

Travels with Gannon & Wyatt book series includes Botswana (June 2013), Great Bear Rainforest (Oct 2013), and Egypt (Jan 2014).  They are available for purchase at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Barnes & Noble stores and select independent booksellers.