Fact or Fib?: A Challenging Game of True or False

Gr 2–5—Fact or fib? That's what kids will have to decide when they peruse these titles. Readers are presented with three statements on one spread: two true and one false. The following spread has the answers, along with brief additional information. Volume one quizzes kids on their knowledge of dinosaurs, insects, and other animals, while volume two covers space, technology, and the human body. Brightly colored backgrounds and large photos enliven the page layouts. An index lets readers return to their favorite facts, but no sources are noted. These titles are sure to be popular with students who enjoy collections of miscellanea, and kids will likely enjoy quizzing each other. Unfortunately, the books are marred by errors; for example, in volume one, the statement "Tarantulas are the longest-living spiders" is marked as a fib, and the explanatory statement doesn't say which spiders do live longest. (Other sources name the tarantula as the longest living.) The National Geographic "Weird but True!" series appeals to a similar audience.—Jackie Partch, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR