Gr 3–6—Do legends and myths hold any truth? Is there real evidence for phenomena such as the Loch Ness Monster and the Bermuda Triangle? Or are these tales simply the result of a whole lot of imagination and even some hoaxes? Through five simply stated chapters, these titles introduce legendary phenomena to younger or less-skilled readers. Color photographs of varied quality face pages that include a basic introduction, history, evidence, and final questions about the actual existence of each subject. Occasional questions and answers add bits of explanation. There are few maps, and some examples are a bit vague when it comes to location. For instance, where in the world was the crop circle in farmer Tim Carson's cornfield that was discovered in 1990? And why does the text say there was one circle while the photograph shows several? Though there are intriguing aspects to this set, some details will be beyond the grasp of the audience, and the text is occasionally choppy and flat.
VERDICT Adequate introductions for libraries needing further materials on these topics.
The intriguing questions remain (necessarily) unanswered in these slim books. Still, the paranormal-mystery topics are perennially popular, and the books' copious illustrations and photographs, accessible texts, and clear organization satisfy some requirements of report-writing...as long as no conclusions must be drawn. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Unexplained: What's the Evidence? titles: Are Crop Circles Real?, Is the Bermuda Triangle Real?, and Is the Loch Ness Monster Real?.
Be the first reader to comment.
Comment Policy:
Comment should not be empty !!!