Reviews for Nature shockers
Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Gr. 4--6. Truth is certainly stranger than fiction, at least if the facts in this curious science book, the first volume in the Planet Earth News series, are to be believed. The series title, with its newsmaker tilt, is a bit misleading, as the book bears only limited resemblance to a traditional newspaper, and the blaring tabloidlike heads, silly jokes, and garish, cartoony art that covers the pages nearly overwhelm the information. The jokey tone and the occasional quizzes sometime get in the way, too. Yet when this sticks to the oddities of our planet's oceans, flora, fauna, and outer limits (ever hear of the Mediterranean squirting cucumber or the trapdoor spider, or wonder why sandy beaches are sometimes said to sing?), it delivers a wealth of amazing science trivia as well as plenty of high-energy fun. --Stephanie Zvirin Copyright 2005 Booklist
School Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Gr 4-8-Written in tabloid fashion and illustrated with glossy, bright cartoons, this book will capture the attention of reluctant readers. The pages are filled with wild and weird facts about the oceans, plants, fungi, animals, insects, the Earth, and space. Short blurbs of information are highlighted by catchy headlines. "Tree Locks Bike in Trunk" describes a Douglas fir that has a bicycle embedded in its bark, "Alien Makes a Splash" introduces a strange-looking salamander, and "Bugs Suck Sneaker Sweat" is about butterflies getting salt and nitrogen from human sweat. Special sections ("Fiction vs Reality," "Exposed!" "Tales That Got Us") and "Hoax Busters" (paragraphs about various phenomena that encourage youngsters to evaluate whether they are true occurrences or "phony baloney") help keep readers involved and provide continuity throughout the book. Although this title is not useful for research, the mix of tongue-in-cheek humor and facts may spark interest in locating more details on a given topic.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
