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The Nantucket Sea Monster: A Fake News Story
By Darcy Pattison, Illustrated by Peter Willis
ISBN Hardcover: 978-1-62944-082-8 $23.99
ISBN Paperback: 978-1-62944-083-5 $11.99
ISBN eBook: 978-1-62944-084-2 $5.99
Subjects: LCSH Hoaxes--Juvenile literature. | Freedom of the press--United States--Juvenile literature. | Impostors and imposture--Juvenile literature. | Deception--Juvenile literature. |Hoaxes--History--20th century--Juvenile literature. | Nantucket Island (Mass.)--History--20th century—Juvenile literature. | BISAC JUVENILE NONFICTION / History / United States / State & Local | JUVENILE NONFICTION / Social Science / Politics & Government
Release date: September 12, 2017
Library of Congress Control Number:2017904671
Pages: 32; Size 8.5” x 8.5”; full color illustrations.
Print Distribution: Ingram, Mackin, Amazon, BN, Child’s Plus, Follett School Solutions, Permabound and
other educational distributors.
eBook Distribution: iBook, Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Follett eBooks, MackinVIA, Perma-bound, EPIC!,
Overdrive, and other educational distributors.
THE NANTUCKET SEA MONSTER: A Fake News Story
A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION
Do you believe everything you read in the newspaper?
Early in August 1937, a news flash came: a sea monster had been spotted lurking off the shore of Nantucket Island. Historically, the Massachusetts island had served as port for whaling ships. Eyewitnesses swore this wasn’t a whale, but some new, fearsome creature. As eyewitness account piled up, newspaper stories of the sea monster spread quickly. Across the nation, people shivered in fear.
Then, footprints were found on a Nantucket beach. Photographs were sent to prominent biologists for their opinion. Discussion swirled about raising a hunting party.
On August 18, news spread across the island: the sea monster had been captured. Islanders ran to the beach and couldn’t believe their eyes.
This nonfiction picture book is a perfect tool to discuss non-political fake news stories.
Backmatter discusses the freedom of the press guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Quotes from Thomas Jefferson make it clear that fake news has always been one of the costs of a free press. A Timeline lists actual events in the order they occurred. A vocabulary list defines relevant words.
AUTHOR – DARCY PATTISON
Children’s book author Darcy Pattison finds inspiration in writing about science, nature and history; three of her books have been honored as NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books. Her nature picture books includeNefertiti, the Spidernaut, a 2017 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book; Abayomi, the Brazilian, a 2015 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book; Wisdom, the Midway Albatross, a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly; Desert Baths, a 2013 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book; and, Prairie Storms.Burn: Michael Faraday’s Candle is a physical science book about how a candle burns, based on Michael Faraday’s famous 1848 juvenile Christmas lecture.
Other picture books include The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman, which received an Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature Honor Book award, starred reviews in BCCB andKirkus, and has been published in a Houghton Mifflin textbook; Searching for Oliver K. Woodman; 19 Girls and Me; and 11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph: A Military Family Story. Her series, The ALIEN, INC. CHAPTER BOOK SERIES includes Kell, the Alien; Kell and the Horse Apple Parade; Kell and the Giants; and Kell and the Detectives. She is also the author of middle grade novels and teaches nationally a Novel Revision Retreat. For more, see darcypattison.com/about
ILLUSTRATOR – PETER WILLIS
With over 20 years of experience in illustration and design, illustrator Peter Willis continues to be as enthusiastic and passionate about his work as ever. His illustrations have palpable character, bringing them to life through his craft and quirky approach. He lives in North East England with his wife and daughter. Other titles include the picture book, Burn: Michael Faraday’s Candle.
ISBN Hardcover: 9781629440828
ISBN Paperback: 9781629440835
ISBN eBook: 9781629440842