What's Weird on Earth

Gr 5–8—Structured as a six-chapter atlas, this volume covers vast material, including nature, the supernatural, places, people, history, and "Fun facts." At 160 oversize pages, there is plenty here to keep curious minds engaged. Each spread features a different map and theme, though with varying degrees of success. Readers' favorites will undoubtedly include cannibal animals, UFO sightings, and bygone beauty. Though the volume starts off strongly in chapters one and two (nature and the supernatural, respectively), it starts to wane by chapter three (places) and flirts with tedium by chapter six ("Fun facts"). Tense fluctuations, speculation, and a lack of source material call into question the reliability of the information. That being said, the real strength here is its potential to spark further independent reading. Whether it's figuring out how the world's largest waterfall can actually be underwater or how a fungus can create a real zombie, readers are bound to use this as a springboard for further research. Despite its flaws, there is no doubt readers will be attracted to this weird and fascinating tome.