Truth About Nature

October 6, 2014
Naturalists Tornio and Keffer dispel—and sometimes find elements of truth in—myths associated with the natural world. Can lightning strike in the same place twice? Yep. Will playing in the cold can make you sick? “No matter what Mom or Grandma says, you can’t get a cold just by being outside or not wearing a hat.” In looking at the idea that “Sharks kill a lot of people,” the authors note, “We actually do more harm to sharks than they do to us. By fishing the ocean, it’s taking away their food supply.” “Stranger Than Fiction” sidebars introduce surprising truths, while family-centric experiments appear throughout this fun, educational, and eye-opening book. All ages.

February 1, 2015
Grades 1-7 Meant to inspire families to get out into nature, this guide explores the truth behind 144 different nature myths we've all heard since we were kids, from Animals can smell fear and If you touch a baby bird, the parents will abandon it to You lose most of your body heat through your head and You shouldn't swim for at least 30 minutes after you eat. Each myth is ranked on just how erroneous it is (somewhat true to completely false), and the truth takeaway is offered as well as some additional facts. Interspersed throughout the text are sidebars categorized as Stranger than Fiction, Luck Legends, and Weather Legends. There are also 16 interactive nature activities. This is one of those tricky bookswhere does it belong in the library? Nature? Science? Sports and recreation? Youth or adult? Regardless of where it gets cataloged, this inexpensive, attractive, and informative book is ideal for the circulating collections of most public and school libraries.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)