Mystery & Wonders Books

Oh, Yuck! The Encyclopedia of Everything Nasty

Joy Masoff

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Reference & Nonfiction -> Encyclopedias

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 56 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

That's Nasty! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought this for your typical 11 year old boy. He loved it, I'm not sure how much mom did. That is one very clever way to get boys that age to read a book on their own. And they learn a thing or two along the way. Heck I would have like this when I was a kid. Remember boys are going to be gross either way, might as well make it educational too!

great reading for kids 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is so cool! My son loved it and we would read it together this is a great book to get your children to want to read.

Editorial Review:

All the best stuff about some of the worst stuff on earth. From the liquids, solids, and gases - especially the gases! - of the human body to the creepy, crawly, fetid, and foul phenomena of the world at large, OH, YUCK! is the all-encompassing compendium of gross. Skin eruptions. Naked mole rats. The Donner party and the hissing roach of Madagascar, maggot therapy, ear wax, the good new about pus, and why vomit smells.Plus Raunchy recipes and vile experiments - Exploding Zit, Scab Surprise, and more. It's everything you ever wanted to know about the yucky side of life.

Wizardology: The Book of the Secrets of Merlin (Ologies)

Master Merlin, Dugald Steer

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 56 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Even for Young Adults! 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Books like this - Wizardology, Dragonology, The Wandmaker's Guidebook, and other "ology" books are the very thing a young person just starting to learn about magick and paganism needs to get started. Even a young adult (age 16-24) who is just getting their first lessons could benefit from books like these. They are very practical and well-written - much too well-written to be simply dismissed as books only suitable for children. I recommend all the books in this series to kids and adults alike!!

Editorial Review:

A dazzling compendium of all things magical - and wise teachings from Master Merlin for aspiring wizard apprentices!

Originally discovered in 1588, this remarkable text by history's most respected wizard is revealed to the world for the first time. Lavishly illustrated, WIZARDOLOGY is intricately designed and includes a series of hidden symbols that spell out a secret message when the code is deciphered.

Special features of WIZARDOLOGY include: * a glittering crystal ball-like jewel on the front cover * a world map of wizards' locations around the world * a "fairy flag" with one wish remaining * a Phoenix feather to aid in spelling flying charms * booklets explaining the proper use of spells, familiars, and potions * a removeable dragon pendant to dowse for mythical beasts * a pack of 8 removeable fortunetelling cards * a 48-page book of divination

For Boys Only: The Biggest, Baddest Book Ever

Marc Aronson, HP Newquist

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Hey, Boys!

Want to have some fun? Maybe learn how to land an airplane in an emergency? Or fight off an alligator? Escape from being tied up? How about taking a ride on one of America’s scariest roller coasters? Learn how to make fake blood or turn a real bone into a pretzel. What if you could find out how to identify some of the world’s most horrifying creatures? Or learn the secret of making a blockbuster movie? What about guessing the top 11 greatest moments in sports history? Find buried treasure? And once you’ve found the treasure, find out just how much it would cost you to buy one of the world’s most expensive cars.

You’ll find all this—and much more—over 250 pages of the biggest, baddest, and best information on just about everything. Plus we’ve placed a special, mind-bending, solve-the-code puzzle on random pages throughout the book that will lead you to a really cool solution! Now, that’s fun!

Do Not Open

John Farndon

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Less interesting than it seems 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 12 people found this review helpful.

Perhaps with kids this book is interesting, but overall it is hard to read, lacks much substance (or research), and is not compelling. If you have read or skimmed other books of "secrets" or how things work, this book will not add much.

My 9-year old loves this! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Talk about a great book to encourage reading and learning - this totally does it!

Do not open 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Do Not Open

Very interesting for kids...and adults.
My son (11) found the book very good, likes it and read it every day!

Entertained For Hours 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I purchased this for my 9 year old son who loves to read.
I gave it to him at the start of a 13 hour car trip. He read it for the first 5 hours without a peep other than asking for some word definitions. He went back to it for at least another two hours later on and picked it up today after reading it all day yesterday.
I would highly recommend this book for its short but interesting factoids. It is appealing to look at and easy to jump around. The variety of subject matter will have anyone interested.

Editorial Review:

In the groundbreaking tradition of DK's New York Times bestseller Pick Me Up, this book uses the same irreverent style to explore all the things THEY don't want you know about. From the Mona Lisa's hidden past to the history of Area 51, Do Not Open explores lost worlds, unravels secret codes, and lets readers step through the looking glass to see if they can handle the truth! AUTHOR BIO:

Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship

Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff, Paula Kahumbu

Amazon Price: $11.55 List Price: $16.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Scholastic Press Amazon Marketplace: 82 new & used starting at $2.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 78 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

An Astonishing Story on Friendship and Resilience 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The well-written book portrays a heart-warming story about friendship. Mzee's love and guidance, along with Owen's resilience, proves that Science can't always explain what brings species together. The book contains factual material, as partially told by the general manager of Haller Park, Dr. Paula Kahumbu. Photographer Peter Greste brings this story to life with his photos that capture all the main events leading to the remarkable friendship of Owen and Mzee. Further, they capture the amazing bond the two share. The pictures do a well job of telling the story. The vocabulary of the story is geared towards an average intermediate reading level, and can easily be modified to tend to a younger audience's level of understanding. Following the story are maps with facts about Kenya and Malindi, as well as facts on hippopotami and aldabra tortoises. The last section of the book also further discusses the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. Lastly, this wonderful addition includes websites where teachers and parents can download discussion guides and take a virtual visit of Haller Park. This is a must for any parent and/or teacher to share with students of all ages.

Editorial Review:

The inspiring true story of two great friends, a baby hippo named Owen and a 130-yr-old giant tortoise named Mzee (Mm-ZAY). When Owen was stranded after the Dec 2004 tsunami, villagers in Kenya worked tirelessly to rescue him. Then, to everyone's amazement, the orphan hippo and the elderly tortoise adopted each other. Now they are inseparable, swimming, eating, and playing together. Adorable photos e-mailed from friend to friend quickly made them worldwide celebrities. Here is a joyous reminder that in times of trouble, friendship is stronger than the differences that too often pull us apart.

May Bird, Warrior Princess: Book Three

Jodi Lynn Anderson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

At Hog Wallow Middle School, May Ellen Bird was always slightly invisible. Then she went on a long trip to the land of the dead, where ghost towns glowed blue in the dark dusk and spooky specters dwelled in cities on the Dead Sea.

Back on Earth at last, May and her hairless cat, Somber Kitty, are now famous, their faces plastered across souvenirs and sportswear that read "May Bird Went to the Land of the Dead and All She Brought Me Was This Lousy T-Shirt." But, finally in the spotlight, May feels more than ever that she doesn't belong. Every night she sits by her bedroom window, gazing at the sky and dreaming of another place, wishing -- despite herself -- to be back among the ghosts.

And then one night she gets her heart's desire in a way she would never have wished for. Only the Ever After isn't anything like the world May left behind three years ago. The spirits have vanished, and the towns -- once full of every manner of things that go bump in the night -- are deserted. Evil Bo Cleevil has made the Ever After as cold as his own frigid soul, and put up a bunch of tacky malls to boot.

Now, with her friends missing and enemies all around her, May must find her way to the edge of the universe, where night swallows the stars, where allies are few and often have bad breath, where endings can also be beginnings, and where the truest hero lurks in the unlikeliest of souls. But Bo Cleevil's got one last trick up his sleeve -- one that no one on Earth is ready for.

With the worlds of the living and the dead in the balance, will May's courage fail her one last time? Or will she finally become the warrior she was always meant to be?

My Body Is Private (Albert Whitman Prairie Books)

Linda Walvoord Girard

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Not a preschool book 3 out of 5 stars.
51 of 58 people found this review helpful.

After reading the reviews, I ordered this book thinking that it would be appropriate for my 3-year old. It seems too advanced for a child that age. There is a part of the book where the girl does not want her uncle to touch her because he holds her in his lap and rubs her arms and makes her uncomfortable, and another picture where her older brother "pins her down," and tickles her until it hurts, so the father has to tell him to stop. The mother also warns the child that others might want to take pictures of her private parts. While I understand that these are important illustrations of unwanted behavior, they don't seem right for a younger child. The text is also geared toward a school-aged child.

A Truly Stellar Work! 5 out of 5 stars.
50 of 53 people found this review helpful.

This is a book I wish I had when I was a child. The mother and child featured in this story are beautifully illustrated and I like the intelligent conversations they have about improper touching, whether or not it is sexual.

The book respects readers' intelligence by using the proper terminology for genitalia and the generic term "bottom" to mean the buttocks. I like that. Too many works are weakened by silly euphemistic or babyish names for the anatomy that do nobody any real service. This book is a good teaching tool and an excellent forum for discussion of a serious topic. It is one that all ages would find beneficial.

Another reviewer made the good point that boys also can be sexually abused and this is never addressed in this book. I agree that this already excellent work would have been even more effective had the discussion included a brother as part of the discussion. While it is only natural to want to preserve a child's innocence, it is still very vital to empower children with information about what constitutes desired (non-sexual) and "good" touches and what doesn't. This in turn will help families build a more safety-savvy world.

This book does an excellent job of defining "privacy" replete with examples, e.g. "private parts" are the parts of one's body that is generally covered by their underwear or a bathing suit. The girl featured in the story declares that nobody can touch her private parts in ways she does not want and then goes on to describe other kinds of touching she doesn't like, such as sitting on her uncle's lap. On the flip side, "good touches" are highlighted, such as loving cuddles and dancing and an arm around the shoulder. The distinction could not be more clear and for that I salute this book!

Gray areas such as tickling are explored. Tickling can be fun, but it can also go too far where the one being tickled is not enjoying it. That is another example of when to demand that a certain "touch" or tactile activity be stopped. The children are well within their rights to do so at any time. Hugs and kisses are described as generally being welcome and acceptable, but children should not be forced to kiss or endure being kissed by someone who makes them feel uncomfortable.

The literary mother is very wise; she makes it plain to her daughter that it is the child's feelings that are paramount and not to worry about hurting somebody's feelings if she tells them not to touch her in ways she does not like. Genital touching including being forced to touch someone else's private parts is discussed; the girl is also told not to take photographs of somebody's private parts or willingly allow anyone to photograph hers. My favorite part was when the mother tells her daughter that the predator is NOT always a stranger and can be someone the child knows very well, including a relative. That point CANNOT be stressed enough. The child is told to try to escape as soon as possible and tell an adult she trusts what happened.

I agree with another reviewer that there is a dearth of stories like this for boys as boys also can be the recipients of sexual abuse. Since the girl has a brother, one wonders why he was not included in this safety talk since part of the discussion involved him. His safety has to be considered as well. Another good point is made by having the mother tell her daughter that it is never acceptable for "other children" as opposed to "older children" because that could be misleading. Those few things notwithstanding, I feel this is one of the best books I've encountered on this very serious subject.

I also recommend Sandy Kleven's "The Right Touch: A Read Aloud to Help Prevent Child Sexual Abuse," Cornelia Spelman's "Your Body Belongs to You" which is ideal for the preschool set on up and Peter Alsop's collection "Songs on Sex & Sexuality," most particularly the song, "My Body." All of these works address a very serious issue in gentle, direct and intelligence complimenting ways and are geared specifically for families.

Editorial Review:

A mother-child conversation introduces the topic of sexual abuse and ways to keep one's body private.

Go Figure!: A Totally Cool Book About Numbers (Bccb Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award (Awards))

Johnny Ball

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

It really IS cool! 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

As a homeschooling parent, I have read a lot of math books written for children. Go Figure! is one of the freshest and most fun! The pages are saturated with information, and my one complaint is that it feels a bit visually overwhelming. Don't let the colorful pages fool you, this book is very meaty and will take some time to digest. My son really enjoyed the section on ancient number systems. The chart on pages 24-25 compares Babylonian, Hebrew, Roman, Mayan, Hindu, and others. Readers can also learn about the golden ratio and phi, prime numbers, Pascal's triangle, buckyballs, and much, much more. There are nearly 100 pages of information here, geared toward middle school and up.

Editorial Review:

Experience the mysterious and magical world of numbers as never before. This unique book investigates mathematical marvels such as why daisies always have 34, 55, or 89 petals, why the world's phone numbers appear in pi, and other patterns and paradoxes that will make readers look at numbers in a whole new way.

Imagine a Place

Sarah L. Thomson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Fun book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is a fun little picture book that touches the imagination of the child within us all. I have all of Rob's books and have had the pleasure of meeting him in person.

Great books 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

We saw the artist's work at Lake Tahoe and our kids fell in love with the paintings. I highly recommend these (there are three) to all families. The verses are beautiful as well.

Editorial Review:

If you can imagine a place,

you can go there.

Imagine a place that makes you feel as free as a bird. Imagine a place where getting there is worth whatever it takes. Imagine a place that makes you feel like it's always been your destination. Imagine a place made out of pure imagination.

Imagine a Place is a gorgeous companion to the critically acclaimed Imagine a Night and Imagine a Day, and reminds us that imagination is powerful enough to take us anywhere we want to go. And Rob Gonsalves's exquisitely conceived paintings leave you in awe...of his imagination.

World's Weirdest Critters (Ripley's Believe It Or Not)

Mary Packard

Amazon Price: $4.99 List Price: $4.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Scholastic Inc. Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

World's Weirdest Critters 4 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This is a fun book filled with amazing animals. For example I like the furry frog. It can't get much weirder than that! The book tells a lot about the animal you read about and it has pictures of the animal too. I think you would like this book.

She loved it! 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

My 13 year old daughter simply loved it. She read it in 10 minutes. It is slim though....
For a moment she thought what the book said was a joke, so perhaps it would be better to make sure children know in advance that what they are going to read is really true.

Editorial Review:

Did you know... ...that hippo sweat looks like blood? ...that a tiger's roar can be heard up to two miles away? ...that golden eagles will attack airplanes that fly too close to their nests?Robert Ripley explored more than 190 countries seeking the bizarre. World's Weirdest Critters is packed with wild and wacky animal facts from Ripley's updated collection! Readers test their own critter smarts by taking the "Who Am I?" quizzes and Ripley's "Brain Busters" along the way. They'll be amazed by the things some animals will do.