Starred review from February 1, 2023
Grades 3-5 Written in a measured but engaging tone, the newest additions to the What Do We Know About? series (2 new titles) plunge into cryptids and the paranormal. These books do an excellent job of tackling their perennially popular topics by incorporating history, folklore, eyewitness accounts, scholarly insights, and instances in which sightings or evidence have been debunked. Frequent grayscale chapter illustrations add to the fun. More than large footprints and shaky video footage make up Bigfoot, which spends considerable time establishing the historical and cultural context for "Wildman" stories, several drawn from Indigenous accounts, and scientific precedent regarding cases in which creatures of legend (e.g., the kraken) or those thought to be extinct (e.g., the coelacanth) have been proven to be alive today. Modern science, like DNA evidence, also enters the discussion of the ongoing Bigfoot debate. Bibliographies helpfully identify any books for young readers, making further exploration a breeze. Enjoyable reading for curious minds, whether believers or skeptics.
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