(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. After brief introductions, busy double-page spreads focus on specific sites, often with anecdotal reports of ghostly encounters. Though the hectic design--featuring photographs, illustrations, and text boxes set on blurry, eerie backgrounds--strains for spooky effect, the texts themselves focus (superficially) on facts while speculating on alleged paranormal activity. A world map showing the locations is appended. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Eerie Inns and Haunted Prisons.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. This series explores high-interest topics engagingly (if superficially). In each book, double-page spreads focus on eleven haunted sites. Although the presentation emphasizes the scariness of the material, the matter-of-fact texts read more like history lessons. The design--featuring photographs, illustrations, and text boxes atop blurry, eerie backgrounds--is busy and strains for spooky effect. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Spooky Schools and Creepy Stations.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. After brief introductions, busy double-page spreads focus on specific sites, often with anecdotal reports of ghostly encounters. Though the hectic design--featuring photographs, illustrations, and text boxes set on blurry, eerie backgrounds--strains for spooky effect, the texts themselves focus (superficially) on facts while speculating on alleged paranormal activity. A world map showing the locations is appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Tragic Theaters and Abandoned Amusement Parks.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. After brief introductions, two-page spreads focus on specific haunted sites; each volume contains a map highlighting the locations. Horror-loving readers will find ample material for sleepovers or campfires in the clear text, but the design--featuring photographs, illustrations, and text boxes atop blurry, eerie backgrounds--is busy and strains for spooky effect. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Haunted Caves and Dark Mansions.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. Hospitals, morgues, and desert islands are just a few of the purportedly haunted locales (all real places) profiled in this series. Each double-page spread includes a summary of the site's reported paranormal phenomena along with photographs; the scrapbook-style layout is busy but readable. Although the texts aren't always precise (or accurate) in their definitions, the volumes are generally satisfactory. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Cursed Grounds, Monstrous Morgues of the Past, and Shuttered Horror Hospitals.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. Hospitals, morgues, and desert islands are just a few of the purportedly haunted locales (all real places) profiled in this series. Each double-page spread includes a summary of the site's reported paranormal phenomena along with photographs; the scrapbook-style layout is busy but readable. Although the texts aren't always precise (or accurate) in their definitions, the volumes are generally satisfactory. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Cursed Grounds, Monstrous Morgues of the Past, and Shuttered Horror Hospitals.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(4) 4-6 Extreme Cuisine series. The gross factor may keep strong-stomached readers paging through descriptions of Thai fried bats, Mexican mealworm pasta, and other culinary "delights." Close-up photos of live ingredients and completed dishes add an extra ick factor. Readers beware: there are real dangers to consuming some of these things if prepared incorrectly. The host of TV's Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern is series consultant. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Extreme Cuisine titles: Baby Bug Dishes, Bug-a-licious, Mammal Menu, Spider-tizers and Other Creepy Treats, Shocking Seafood, and Slithery, Slimy, Scaly Treats.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Extreme Cuisine series. The gross factor may keep strong-stomached readers paging through descriptions of Thai fried bats, Mexican mealworm pasta, and other culinary "delights." Close-up photos of live ingredients and completed dishes add an extra ick factor. Readers beware: there are real dangers to consuming some of these things if prepared incorrectly. The host of TV's Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern is series consultant. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Extreme Cuisine titles: Baby Bug Dishes, Bug-a-licious, Mammal Menu, Spider-tizers and Other Creepy Treats, Shocking Seafood, and Slithery, Slimy, Scaly Treats.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. This series explores high-interest topics engagingly (if superficially). Each double-page spread features an actual "scary place," with paragraphs of history and some examples of spooky happenings. Photos, computer-manipulated images, and cheesy graphics illustrate the texts. Accessible language and sensationalized content will keep these books from growing dusty on library shelves. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Creepy Castles, Ghost Towns, Haunted Hotels, Haunted Houses, and Spooky Cemeteries.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. This series explores high-interest topics engagingly (if superficially). In this book, each double-page spread focuses on an actual asylum, with a couple of paragraphs giving history and examples of some of the horrors patients endured. Photos, computer-manipulated images, and cheesy graphics illustrate the text. Accessible language and sensationalized content will keep this book in circulation. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) 4-6 Scary Places series. This series explores high-interest topics engagingly (if superficially). Each double-page spread features an actual "scary place," with paragraphs of history and some examples of spooky happenings. Photos, computer-manipulated images, and cheesy graphics illustrate the texts. Accessible language and sensationalized content will keep these books from growing dusty on library shelves. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Scary Places titles: Creepy Castles, Ghost Towns, Haunted Hotels, Haunted Houses, and Spooky Cemeteries.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer