The Worst-Case Scenario Survive-o-pedia

July 15, 2011

From "Airplane Crashes" to "Whitewater" and "Woods," an alphabetical tally of hazardous situations with (usually) a few coping strategies.

The sixth "Junior Edition" in the Worst Case Scenario franchise gathers abbreviated or rewritten versions of 63 natural hazards covered in the adult volumes but probably new to the intended audience. Each gets a spread of photos and lighthearted cartoons of young folk in extremis, which accompany briefly described scenarios, background explanations, general safety tips and common-sense behaviors. Not much of all this is intended to be seriously helpful—for one thing, the format doesn't lend itself to quick reference, and for another, the likelihood of any readers running with the bulls in Pamplona, surviving an asteroid collision or encountering a gorilla in the wild is low. Furthermore, victims of sudden amnesia are advised not to seek medical help but just wait, as it'll go away in 24 hours, a method of cracking open coconuts with a pointed stick is actively dangerous and the only suggested strategy for dealing with killer whales is to "keep your distance."

Mild amusement for armchair travelers, offering (as the intro puts it) "all of the adventure with none of the stitches." (Browsing item. 10-12)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

January 1, 2012

Gr 4-8-This guide shows students how to survive a variety of situations, from encountering a lion to being stranded on a desert island. Young readers are likely to experience some of the scenarios, such as scary spiders or airplane turbulence, while others (like getting amnesia, meeting a komodo dragon, or finding oneself stranded on an iceberg) are quite rare. Fans of the series may notice that only some of the articles include the familiar numbered steps to escape disaster; the other entries instead contain more general information on the topic. The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook Junior Edition (Chronicle, 2007) covers more everyday crises, such as riding the school bus and a trip to the principal's office; there is very little overlap with this book. In addition to the illustrations found in earlier titles, this volume has numerous stock photos that will increase its appeal to browsers. Unfortunately, much-needed visual aids are not always included; for example, a section that explains the differences between alligators and crocodiles has no accompanying art. Nevertheless, kids will pick this volume up and enjoy it.-Jackie Partch, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2012
Also written by Robin Epstein. This amusing volume describes various disasters and tips for how to survive them. Topics are arranged in alphabetical order from airplanes to woods, with a double-page spread devoted to each. Ample graphics and colorful pages enhance the presentation. Students will be entertained and informed as they browse. Ind.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 15, 2011

From "Airplane Crashes" to "Whitewater" and "Woods," an alphabetical tally of hazardous situations with (usually) a few coping strategies.

The sixth "Junior Edition" in the Worst Case Scenario franchise gathers abbreviated or rewritten versions of 63 natural hazards covered in the adult volumes but probably new to the intended audience. Each gets a spread of photos and lighthearted cartoons of young folk in extremis, which accompany briefly described scenarios, background explanations, general safety tips and common-sense behaviors. Not much of all this is intended to be seriously helpful--for one thing, the format doesn't lend itself to quick reference, and for another, the likelihood of any readers running with the bulls in Pamplona, surviving an asteroid collision or encountering a gorilla in the wild is low. Furthermore, victims of sudden amnesia are advised not to seek medical help but just wait, as it'll go away in 24 hours, a method of cracking open coconuts with a pointed stick is actively dangerous and the only suggested strategy for dealing with killer whales is to "keep your distance."

Mild amusement for armchair travelers, offering (as the intro puts it) "all of the adventure with none of the stitches." (Browsing item. 10-12)

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)