(3) K-3 Illustrated by Roger Roth. Children are encouraged to use their own reasoning powers to interpret the Salem witch trials of 1692. Each page includes historic information, the young detective-narrator's "notes" about the events, and important vocabulary words. The subdued palette of the illustrations reinforces the mystery's somber tone, and the careful detailing supports the book's interest in historical fact. Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Roger Roth. The enigmatic disappearance of English settlers from their compound at Roanoke Island is this book's unsolved mystery. The authors tell the complicated story of dangerous trans-Atlantic voyages, alternating friendships and betrayal of and by native tribes with some clarity, though definitions and other sidebars are sometimes distracting. Careful illustrations aid in interpretation. Timeline.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Roger Roth. A girl detective leads readers through this "mystery from history": in the 1920s, an Indian missionary claimed that two girls in his orphanage had been raised by wolves. The informative text is accompanied by pencil and watercolor illustrations, word definitions on "Post-its," and research notes--which makes for a sometimes confusing layout. Readers are encouraged to decide for themselves whether the story is a hoax. Bib.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Roger Roth. An unnamed girl detective leads readers through the real-life "history mystery" of an abandoned ship from 1872. Capable watercolors portraying shipboard scenes also include definitions of unfamiliar words and supplemental nautical information. Theories about what happened to the crew are presented at the end, while questions pointing to clues in the text encourage critical thinking. Bib.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam