Astrological Signs

November 1, 2017

Gr 5-8-Tweens will learn more about a likely fascinating subject-themselves! In one lazy afternoon, young people can evaluate their memory, discover their Myers-Briggs personality type, and find out just how well they know their closest friends. Plenty of fact and theory go along with the pencil exercises, memory challenges, and games to play with groups. Readers will pick up vocabulary like telekinesis and clairvoyance and learn about thinkers like Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Cool black-and-white brush and ink doodles give the design an edgy feel, and stock photos show a diverse cast of children and families, often in outdoor settings. Personality, Memory, and Left Brain, Right Brain contain the most entertaining activities, while Astrological Signs is perhaps the weakest of the bunch, with quizzes that seem to yield arbitrary results. VERDICT This series is going to be very popular in middle school libraries.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2018
These appealing volumes about astrology, psychic abilities, and predicting the future each begin with a chapter on early cultural beliefs, followed by five or six chapters outlining current knowledge and speculation. Frequent photographs and line drawings accompany the plentiful quizzes and entertaining activities, which let kids challenge their own future-predicting skills. A concluding activity is appended. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

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