School Library Journal

The authors have essentially created a kid’s version of the popular NPR program Wait Wait. . . . Don’t Tell Me (in which adults compete to determine which news story is false); however, in this case, the emphasis is on science rather than current events. There are nine chapters in total, each devoted to quirky stories related to a different topic (e.g., plants, animals, humans). Each chapter contains three tales: two true and one false. Readers are instructed to use their research skills in order to differentiate between fact and fiction, and to that end a “Research Guide” is included, offering tips such as how to evaluate Internet sources for authority, accuracy, and reliability. An “Answer Guide” explains which of the three stories in each chapter is false and why, and an extensive bibliography cites sources. Kid-friendly text and colorful sidebars and images combine to create an overall attention-grabbing effect. VERDICT Providing a framework from which to develop the tools necessary to think critically about information, this title is a fun and potentially useful curricular tool for teachers and librarians, as well as an entertaining read for tween science fans.—Ragan O’Malley, Saint Ann’s School, Brooklyn, NY