Today's read comes from another one of my preferred publishers. Lonely Planet concentrates on nonfiction, and I'm a huge nonfiction fan...as are my kids. Even my youngest, who isn't exactly a book fan, snatched this book from my fingers when it arrived (literally) because the second she saw it, she knew it was nonfiction mystery. She loves unexplained or odd things which exist in reality. So, I'm going to pry it away from her and take a peek at it myself...but I'm already pretty sure it's good because she would have said otherwise already.
MYSTERIOUS WORLD
by Laura Knowles
Lonely Planet Kids
Middle Grade Nonfiction
192 pages
ages 9 to 12
Uncover our planet's most sensational secrets with this mind-boggling atlas of mysteries that's packed with more than 100 strange and unexplained enigmas.
What happened to the Bermuda Triangle? Where have Bigfoot, the Yeti, and the Yowie been sighted? Why does the legend of Area 51 fascinate us? Bursting with stories about ghostly hauntings, bizarre disappearances, and curious cryptids, this awesome guide to the unusual is the ultimate fact-packed mystery book for readers all over the world.
Inside Mysterious World:
- More than 100 famous and obscure mysteries from across the planet
- Provides a global view of all that is unexplained with continent-based chapters that take an in-depth look at each thrilling tale
- Fascinating fun facts for kids to impress their friends and family with, plus historic photographs, maps, illustrations, and bespoke original art throughout
- Contents include: North America - Roswell, USA; The Oak Island Mystery, Canada; Pacal the Great, Mexico. South America - El Dorado, Colombia; Nazca Lines, Peru; The Devil's Lagoon, Chile. Europe - The Missing Lighthouse Keepers, UK; The Crooked Forest, Poland; The Tatzelwurm, Central Europe. Africa - The Curse of Tutankhamun, Egypt; Kongamato, Zambia; The Dogon and Sirius, Mali. Asia - The Mongolian Death Worm, Mongolia; The Sky Caves, Nepal; Naga Fireballs, Thailand. Oceania - The Yowie, Australia; The Kaikōura Lights, New Zealand; The Giant Heads of Rapa Nui
- Written by Laura Knowles, author of It Starts with a Seed, which won the 2017 Margaret Mallett Award for Children's Nonfiction
MY TIDBITS
Reality makes the best fiction, and these legends, monsters, mysteries, ghosts and more take a look at some of the oddest and unexplained things of our world.
Broken down into the continents and larger areas of Earth, this book slides through a variety of mysterious, odd, and sometimes, creepy things found all over the globe. A table of contents on the first pages makes referencing certain ones simple. Each chapter begins with a short introduction, which draws readers in with an atmospheric description and hints at the mysterious and strange things that area holds. Then, a detailed 'key' lists the specific topics found in the chapter along with the page on which it can be found. A rough map correlates with the the key to give readers an idea where the strange things originated or are located.
Everything from Ogopogo to bioluminescent bays to the Darvaza Gas Crater and even aliens get a quick moment in the spotlight. The pages hold real life photos or helpful illustrations to bring the information to life, and these are fun to flip through just to get a glance at the variety. The information surrounding all these topics appears as short paragraphs over each two-page spread. These each hold a question or title to highlight different theories, facts, or possibilities. They are quick, short, and interesting, never tip-toeing into boredom or long babbles. While some of the information might already be known, many tidbits will raise eyebrows. Plus, the explanations often make readers think about the logic and connections between various aspects. There are several sections with highlighted mysteries, which have been solved as well. I found this to be a nice touch, since it reminds readers that there are answers...and these are waiting to be discovered. To round everything off, there's a glossary and an index at the end.
Middle graders (and even older readers) eager to learn more about the stranger side of our world are sure to enjoy this collection. It's interesting, surprising, and holds a large variety.
No comments:
Post a Comment