This book is dedicated to “those who love a good story but aren’t afraid to seek the truth.” It is filled with unbelievable truths about the living world—with a few outright LIES hiding among them. Readers are encouraged to read closely to see if they can discern the fakes from the facts. The book is filled with stories that are strange and astounding. Some of the false stories are based on truth and some of the true stories are just plain unbelievable. Each story is accompanied by dozens of photos, maps, illustrations, and other nonfiction text features.
Students should explore the Table of Contents—the structure of the book is three parts with three chapters each (e.g. Part 1: Preposterous Plants & Fungi—Crazy, Creepy, Cool). There is a research guide, an answer guide, a bibliography, photo credits, and an index.
After exploring the Table of Contents, be sure and read the introduction where readers are warned that the book is sneaky. The authors tell us that all around there are lies. But there are also truths. “Sorting out one from another is really a really important—and seriously interesting—part of life.”
To figure out the truth and the lies readers are encouraged to “settle in for a rocking good read.” They are encouraged to read, to talk, to research independently, to dig around online, and to ask good questions. Discerning the truth is not necessarily easy but it is rewarding.
Now send kids off to get started exploring—and to study all the text features that help lead to the truth. Throughout each of the three parts there are calls to action. Let students know that even university students or professors are often tricked by the fakes and the truths.
There are two other books in this series: Histories and Mysteries and Forces of Nature. Perhaps your public library will help you have all three so teams of students can launch their explorations into two truths and a lie.
About the Authors:
Two truths and a lie about Ammi-Joan Paquette. She has traveled to 27 countries, can wake herself at a given time without an alarm, and has climbed Mt. Everest. Her co-author has ridden a pig, gotten stuck in an elevator overnight, and jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. Both authors have written picture books, chapter books, and award-winning books and that is the truth.
Ammi-Joan Paquette is a goal-setter. Her long-term goal is to paraglide on all seven continents—so far, she has done this on four. One of her favorite foods is melted cheese. She gets excited about lists, spreadsheets, and goals.
Laurie Ann Thompson (she added the Ann so readers wouldn’t be confused about another Laurie Thompson author) was a math major and a software engineer before she realized writing books for kids was way more fun. I guess she is pretty smart. She likes to write nonfiction that gives wings to active imaginations and believes that getting lost in a good book is one of the best ways to find ourselves.
Pathways Themes: Living Things
Reviewed by Krystal Bishop, EdD
Professor of Education
Southern Adventist University
By Nicholas Day, Art by Brett Helquist
