Mysterious Nature: A Chapter Book

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6-Nature describes the demise of the reindeer that once thrived on St. Matthew Island, the extinction of birds on Guam and large-beaked ground finches on the Gal pagos Islands, and the diminished population of Steller sea lions in the North Pacific Ocean. Each chapter opens with a stark view of the animals and chronicles a scientist who developed a plausible explanation through investigation and logic. People describes anthropologists' investigations of the mysterious deaths of Egypt's Queen Nefertiti and Germany's Kaspar Hauser. The life of Ishi, the last survivor of the Yahi tribe, which was driven to extinction by the California Gold Rush, and a description of Otzi, whose body was found in the frozen Alps and was believed to have lived 5300 years ago, are also presented. Most pages in these easy chapter books are beautifully composed and have full-color photographs and illustrations to enhance and enliven the texts. Compelling introductions to these topics, particularly well suited to struggling readers.-Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.