In Search of Sasquatch

Gr 4—6—Fans of mythical creatures and mysteries will get a kick out of this book. While not as effective in documenting the research process as Scott Reynolds Nelson and Marc Aronson's Ain't Nothing but a Man: My Quest to Find the Real John Henry (National Geographic, 2007), this book does a fair job of presenting the evidence for Sasquatch through stories of people who have dedicated their lives to finding the cryptid. Evidence for its existence might leave many kids unconvinced, but they will likely be entertained anyway. Black-and-white and muted color illustrations and photos of people, lush forests, clues, and Sasquatch itself are scattered throughout, breaking up what could otherwise be a text-heavy book. Readers who find their curiosity piqued will be rewarded in the end; the back matter includes a well-designed map of sightings in America and Canada, as well as information that will facilitate further research. The book makes an appealing individual reading experience, but the short chapters and lively narrative also make for an engaging read aloud, especially for groups of children transitioning to longer books or more sophisticated subject matter.—Heather Talty, formerly at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City