Strange Mysteries from Around the World by Seymour Simon

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 1997. Strange mysteries from around the world. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0688146368.

PLOT SUMMARY
Of all the unexplained phenomenon that occurs around the world, some seem too outrageous to be true. True and fantastic tales of animals falling with rain, unexplained flying objects, strange lights and mysterious sounds are retold with quotes and references to actual scientific reports. These strange but true mysteries pique the interest and imagination.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Documented facts, including detailed dates and quotes add a depth of accuracy in this nonfiction work. Science, Nature, Scientific American magazine and others are cited and provide scientific authority to the author’s tales. The author’s point of view is clear and free of bias. Scientific facts explaining some of the mysteries are shared along with theories on the unexplainable. The story of the Mysterious Treasure of Oak Island especially captivates the imagination. The exact treasure is not known, nor is the identity of those who originally dug the “money pit”, as it is called. This mystery has no explanation and has remained unsolved since its discovery in 1795. Black and white photographs add dimension to this mystery of the past. A table of contents is provided to guide the reader to a particularly enticing or intriguing story by its title.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Simon's enticingly simple and clear descriptions make the subjects accessible with no unsubstantiated speculations. Worn-out copies of the 1980 edition can be safely replaced with this updated version. The mysteries it describes are as intriguing now as they were when they first became mysteries.”

Review from HORNBOOK GUIDE: “Some natural and historical events--raining animals, strange lights and sounds--cannot be definitively explained by science or rational thought. Simon tells the intriguing stories of nine such events, presenting scientists' and historians' best guesses for the causes of such phenomena and showing how some mysteries are closer to being solved than others.”

Review from BOOKLIST: “In smooth fashion, with plenty of anecdotes, Simon introduces nine scientific conundrums, among them, the periodic appearances of mysterious lights in the sky (he roundly debunks interplanetary visitations) and odd occurrences of animals and plants falling to earth like rain. The emphasis is on the event, but there's a touch of scientific theory as well.”

AWARDS
Emphasis on Reading Award 1997

CONNECTIONS

Activities

*Invite student to read for pleasure and share new found information.
*Discuss the difference between scientific explanations and theories.
*Practice note taking skills and research. Use the internet to uncover new discoveries on each mystery provided by Mr. Simon’s book.

Other books relating to the mysterious:

Allen, Judy. 2006. Unexplained: An encyclopedia of curious phenomena, strange superstitions, and ancient mysteries. ISBN 0753459507
Emert, Phyllis Raybin. 1995. Strange unsolved mysteries: Mysteries of the mind and the senses. ISBN 0613761847
Herbst, Judith. 2005. Lands of mystery. ISBN0822516306