50 Poisonous Questions

Gr 4—7—Sensational facts and lurid illustrations characterize this book of brief facts related to poisonings: intentional, accidental, and historical. Sickly green pages (which may be intended to reflect the nausea these substances cause) and red headlines might be just the thing to entice readers seeking intriguing facts. Kinnaird's illustrations add to the mix with the classic motifs of mad scientists, evil reptiles, scary mushrooms, and the proverbial skull and crossbones. "Foul Facts" appear on sludge-colored, slime-shaped insets within a layout that is generally busy with illustrations and the 50 questions highlighted on signboards. Although the facts are brief, the book includes a respectable bibliography, a list for further reading, and a detailed index. This isn't a go-to book for significant information, but it will entice readers and leave them remembering that there is a remedy for jellyfish stings, that industrial waste can be lethal, and that poisons can also serve as remedies.—Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library