The Secret of the Circle-K Cave

August 1, 2006
Gr. 2-4, younger for reading aloud. Like other books in the fictional Science Solves It series, this wraps a mystery around basic science concepts. Rick is thrilled to visit his aunt, uncle, and cousins in New Mexico, where they live on Circle-K Ranch. While out exploring, the kids come across a cave. Ranch-hand Charley offers to lead a spelunking tour. Underground, the group encounters not only natural beauty but also the missing clues to an unsolved, nineteenth-century bank robbery, and Rick and his cousins are made deputy sheriffs in honor of their discovery. Although the story will work well as a read-aloud to younger children, the pace and vocabulary are appropriate for new readers, who will look to the appealing pencil-and-watercolor pictures for textual clues. Small text boxes expand on the science concepts, such as cave formations and bats' habits, mentioned in the story. A final page offers a few questions and activities that encourage kids to "think like a scientist."(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)