Island of Wonders: Overview

Buy the Book:

Paperback: A Courageous Adventurer and Explorer's Backpack Guide to the Island of Wonders

Hardcover: A Courageous Adventurer and Explorer's Backpack Guide to the Island of Wonders

Main  Project Overview:

Logline: When two young explorers and adventurers visit their grandfather's home, they discover an unusual backpack guide that unlocks a secret magical world full of hybrid creatures when they clean up his basement. Written by Zaylee Knowles.

Summary: When two young explorers and adventurers that are cousins visit their grandfather's house for the summer and clean up his basement which is full of clutter, they discover a mysterious, magical backpack guide and a magical island full of hybrid creatures in the heart of the Forever After Lands.  Since the backpack guide unlocks an entrance to the Island of Wonders as the two step into that world, they have the opportunity to embark on many different adventures as they start to learn all about nature and the natural magic that it contains when they are asked to stand in for some missing judges and to judge the Annual Tournament of Wonders.  Written by Zaylee Knowles.

Secret Spaces, Magical Places: A (Wonderful) Secret Inside a Secret and the Annual Tournament of Wonders (Aug/Nov 2022 dependent upon illustrator)

Synopsis:  When two cousins spend a summer at their grandfather's house and are asked to clean out the dusty, cluttered basement, they find a mysterious backpack guide about the Island of Wonders which they eagerly start to explore that unlocks a secret passageway which leads into the interior of a cave in the magical island.  Much to the two children's total delight, when they step into the magical land, they quickly discover that the occupants of the island are about to host, compete in and attend the Annual Tournament of Wonders and that the winner will become the ruler of the island and its occupants for the next year and until the next annual tournament is held.

Since the title and position is highly sought after and spectators come from all over the Forever After Lands to watch the contest, all of the occupants of the island are eager to compete so that they can display their special abilities and put them to good use.  However, when the judges for the tournament don't show up, the two cousins are asked to judge the contest and to help the islanders prepare which they rapidly discover can be more perilous than the tournament itself.  Due to the wild nature of the competitors as the two human children dive into their quest, they quickly realize that the rules of the contest seem to be interpreted and applied differently by each competitor which rapidly results in chaotic results and some hilarious mayhem.  Written by Zaylee Knowles

Book Series: (to be updated and finalized)

• Adventure Trails of Courage, Mischief and Mystery from the Island of Wonders follows on from the first book during the second summer vacation that the cousins spend at their Grandfather's house and will focus on the islander's activities, duties, friendships, enemies and issues as the islanders prepare for the Annual Wildlife Performance Show.
• National Prank and Recycling Days of Wonders: Funny Prank Tricks & Very Strange Bits follows on from the second book during the third summer vacation that the cousins spend at their Grandfather's house will focus on two of the special national days that are celebrated in various different ways by the islanders.
• Natural Heroes of Wonder: A Savage Storm Rocks the Island of Wonders follows on from the third book during the fourth summer vacation that the cousins spend at their Grandfather's house and will focus on the storm, the islander's rescue attempts and their recovery efforts as the islanders special abilities and ability to work in unity as a team are fully tested. Wonders
• National Helping Paws and Claws Day: Natural Problems, Brave Rescues and Curious Mysteries follows on from the fourth book during the fifth summer vacation that the cousins spend at their Grandfather's house and will focus on the two cousins helping the islanders to assist another islander in need where they will either help to resolve a problem or help the islander in need to solve a mystery.
• Mischief Makers, Troublesome Neighbours: Mischief Arrives in Wonders with Bundles of Trouble follows on from the fifth book during the sixth summer vacation that the cousins spend at their Grandfather's house which will focus on the arrival of the Mischief Makers who come from the Shadowlands which is located quite close to the Island of Wonders and is a neighbouring region in the Forever After Lands.
• Human Order vs Animal/Natural Wonder: Wonders on a Vacation of Mischief (working title) Follows on from the sixth book when Peter misplaces his backpack guide, Rakeysnake and a few other troublesome islanders are brought to the human world by the finder. However the four troublesome islanders not only come to the human Earth for a quick trip but they then decide to stay for a while on a mischief making vacation. The two cousins, Peter and Amelia must then track them down and find a way to either convince to return to the Forever After Lands before they create too much mayhem and chaos in not only human but also animal society as the islanders attempt to start an animal rebellion against human order and nature's place in that order.

Each Storybook will contain the following:

• Positive core messages
• Adventure trail maps so that children can follow the journeys and adventures in each storybook
• Some fun activities and challenges at the back of each book which relate to the core messages in the form of six I PERCK (self discovery/SEL) value and activity challenges that will center around some of the characters from the books e.g. First storybook in Island of Wonders Series:
  • Spot the Kindness Game with Kind Koalamoose (Kindness),
  • How to be Amazing You: The Self Discovery Trail with Amazing Armadingo (Participation/Self Discovery),
  • Happy Wonders Challenges with Happy Hippolope (Participation/Self Discovery),
  • Caring Words & Actions Game with Humble Humaricorn (Respect for Others, Compassion, Empathy, Kindness),
  • Dare to be Brave Action Challenges with Lordy Lionicorn (Compassion, Participation, Inclusion),
  • Find it. Fix it. Recycle it. Recycling Activity Challenges with Daredevil Dogshark (Respect for the Planet)

Other Island of Wonders Projects

How to Be a Hero in Four Easy Pawprints & Wingflaps

Wild Wonders Heroes Tribe and the Creature Comforts Rescue Sanctuary

Island of Wonders Song Collection

Main Island of Wonders Series: Each episode will explore characters, landmarks, special activities and islander duties from the Island of Wonders along with the two children.  An entertaining but valuable life lesson will feature in each segment and some episodes will focus upon wildlife issues, sustainability and nature with an underlying promotion of the PERCK value framework and STEAM.  Special season closing episodes may feature an episode which may focus on visitors to the island from other Forever After Lands or visits to other lands with some of the islanders. (initial projection plans more than 150 episodes and over 15 season blocks)

Wild Wonders Heroes Tribe Series/Wild Wonderful Heroes Tribe Series:

Wild Wonders Heroes Tribe/Wild Wonderful Heroes Tribe

The Island of Wonders project is a unique blend of nature and creativity which is based on the PERCK framework which promotes positive values and teaches valuable life lessons through edutainment and entertainment. Some activity packs will be available over the coming years which will contain some fun activities centered upon the Island of Wonders. 

A variety of achievement certificates and badges will also be made available from the Forever After Society to certify that individuals have successfully become a Wonders Wildlife Adventurer and Explorer, a Wonders Wildlife Expert Savables Recycler, a Wonders Wildlife Expert Mystery and Problem Solver, a Wonders Wildlife Brave Rescuer or even an actual Wildlife Hero of Wonders.  Written by Zaylee Knowles.

Activity Pack Certificate and Badges:

• Wonders Wildlife Junior Explorer & Adventurer Wonders Wildlife Expert Explorer & Adventurer
• Wonders Wildlife Junior Mystery & Problem Solver
• Wonders Wildlife Expert Mystery & Problem Solver
• Wonders Wildlife Junior Savables Recycler
• Wonders Wildlife Expert Savables Recycler
• Wonders Wildlife Junior Brave Rescuer
• Wonders Wildlife Expert Brave Rescuer Wildlife Hero of Wonders

Speculative Island of Wonder Products:

• Animated film/main series with creature characters from the Island of Wonders
• Collectible Figurines Collectible Cards (creatures, landmarks and supplies)
• Games (board game and console game: details of availability to be updated at a later date)
• Special Edition Backpack with Adventurer's Survival Kit, Trail and Track Wildlife Activity Sheets and Explorer's Gadget Pack
• Magnetic Island of Wonders Game with pieces Island of Wonders Land Sets with Figurines
• Wonderful Wonders Sing Along and Dance Soundtrack