Uh-oh. You’re in trouble.

You were playing outside and something life-threatening occurred. Or you were on vacation and the worst possible thing you could imagine actually happened. So now what? How do you act to save your life and the lives of others? Ta-daa! “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook for Kids!” by David Borgenicht and Justin Heimberg, illustrations by Wenke Kramp to the rescue!

Under normal circumstances, you’re a pretty chill kid. You do like a bit of adventure, though, and danger sometimes comes with it, so you want to be prepared for everything. That includes extreme — and “we mean EXTREME!” — events that could happen.

Say, for instance, that you somehow end up in the ocean and a shark spots you. Won’t it be handy to know how to keep that monster away? Yep, and it’ll be good to know how to build a lifesaving raft, soothe a jellyfish sting, and navigate by the stars if you’re ever stranded on a remote island, too.

Or let’s say you’re mountain climbing and you learn that the mountain is actually a volcano. Do you know how to survive a lava flow? How ’bout an avalanche, or a bear or mountain lion attack? At the very least, you’ll want to know how to go to the bathroom in the woods.

Learn to deal with tarantulas, rattlesnakes, and scorpions if you’re ever stuck in the desert, and how to get along with and ride a camel. Know how to protect yourself in a sandstorm and where to find water. If you’re in the jungle, learn how much danger there is in crossing a piranha-infested stream, and how to remove yourself from a not-so-nice hug from a python or a gigantic (and very angry) gorilla. Know how to remove leeches, and how to create a shelter if you’re lost anywhere outside. Learn how to cross the ice, how to build a snow-shelter, how to avoid alligators, and by the way… just exactly how dangerous is quicksand, anyhow?

Can you ever be too prepared for the worst? Not if you’re a kid, especially a kid who loves adventure. Your child, for example, will want to read “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook for Kids!”

That’s because this book is pure fun, in a format that’s lighthearted and easy-to-understand, complete with quizzes and trivia. The good surprise is that it’s also helpful and can be serious, maybe even lifesaving. Won’t you rest a little more assured knowing that your child knows how to get himself safely out of broken ice, or how to make a shelter if she’s lost in the wilderness? In such cases, authors David Borgenicht and Justin Heimberg empower kids with information that’s timely and not silly at all — although there’s a place for that in this book, too.

Like… camel ride, anyone?

This is a great book for kids ages 8-to-12 but can also be enjoyed by young readers slightly older or younger. As for loving “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook for Kids!”, your child will have no trouble.

“The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook for Kids!” by David Borgenicht and Justin Heimberg, illustrations by Wenke Kramp
c.2024, Quirk Books
$12.99
128 pages