So do they exist, or don’t they? Written for readers willing to keep open minds, this populous gallery of rare creatures, locally prominent monsters and possible survivors from prehistory fills readers in on the evidence for Bigfoot, Nessie, Champ and the lesser-known likes of the giant anaconda, the flying Kongamato (evocatively translated as “overwhelmer of boats”) and the blood-sucking Chupacabra. It also introduces such confirmed discoveries as the giant squid, the coelacanth and the Chacoan peccary. Interspersing interviews with scientists and even special effects artists, the authors cover sightings worldwide and down through history, present an array of speculative explanations, sum up with a large “Cryptidictionary” that includes exposed hoaxes, and close with a rich list of relevant web sites and other resources. Pictures of reconstructed models, plus plenty of small watercolor and pencil sketches from Spears, flesh out a scant assortment of blurry photos. Despite occasional stumbles—the authors can’t seem to agree on just how many times the “Skunk Ape” has been sighted in the Southeastern U.S.—a delight for casual browsers and for would-be cryptozoologists alike. (Nonfiction. 8-11)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2006
ISBN: 1-58196-049-2
Page Count: 72
Publisher: Darby Creek
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2006
The author of Cod’s Tale (2001) again demonstrates a dab hand at recasting his adult work for a younger audience. Here the topic is salt, “the only rock eaten by human beings,” and, as he engrossingly demonstrates, “the object of wars and revolutions” throughout recorded history and before. Between his opening disquisition on its chemical composition and a closing timeline, he explores salt’s sources and methods of extraction, its worldwide economic influences from prehistoric domestication of animals to Gandhi’s Salt March, its many uses as a preservative and industrial product, its culinary and even, as the source for words like “salary” and “salad,” its linguistic history. Along with lucid maps and diagrams, Schindler supplies detailed, sometimes fanciful scenes to go along, finishing with a view of young folk chowing down on orders of French fries as ghostly figures from history look on. Some of Kurlansky’s claims are exaggerated (the Erie and other canals were built to transport more than just salt, for instance), and there are no leads to further resources, but this salutary (in more ways than one) micro-history will have young readers lifting their shakers in tribute. (Picture book/nonfiction. 8-10)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2006
ISBN: 0-399-23998-7
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2006
This unusual book offers a surprising amount of information, organized and presented in an appealing way for...
Why do people choose to live where they do in our world?
Vermond’s introduction to that big question points out that humans adapt: They use their big brains and work together to make places livable. A comfortable climate, readily available food and water, power for heat, light, transportation and communication, people who speak the same language, nearby families and plentiful jobs are just some of the things people are looking for. From the “Planet Perfect” to making your hometown one of “The Happiest Places on Earth,” the author considers human needs, briefly surveys the development of cities, explains what urban planners do, considers the reasons for living in a dangerous place as well as the reasons for moving, and touches on the effects of climate change and the possibility of living elsewhere in the universe. Each spread covers a separate topic. The extensive, conversational text is often set in columns and broken down into short segments, each with a heading, moving along quickly. A lively design and humorous illustrations add appeal. Unfortunately, there are no sources or suggestions for further reading.
This unusual book offers a surprising amount of information, organized and presented in an appealing way for upper-elementary students. (glossary, index) (Nonfiction. 8-11)Pub Date: Sept. 15, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-77147-011-7
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Owlkids Books
Review Posted Online: Aug. 12, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2014
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