Reviews

Gr 4-7-Standard tales of ancient and 20th-century encounters are paired with stock photos of evidence. The Himalayan yeti and North American Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, are most commonly discussed in similar books; featured sections of reports on the "Wildman" of China and the "Almas" of Asia are unique to Beasts. While eyewitness accounts and footprint evidence of these creatures are much like those of the yeti and Bigfoot, the description of a female Almas, named Zana, who purportedly lived among humans in the 19th century, is particularly fascinating. The usual explanations for reports of large, hairy humans are presented. This is a good, simple overview of an endlessly controversial topic. Millennium Prophecies draws on Edgar Cayce, hidden Bible codes, Nostradamus, astrologers, and the Great Pyramid at Giza, plus two Irish prophets and the Book of Revelations. It opens with an explanation of the different major types of calendars and dating systems that do not coincide with the Christian calendar's millennium. Unlike Daniel Cohen's Prophets of Doom (Millbrook, 1999), this title just presents the prophecies and leaves readers to judge whether or not they will come true. Cohen's tone is more reassuring. A clear glossary, effective index, and small list for further reading complete this tidily packaged view of the possible near future.-Ann G. Brouse, Big Flats Branch Library, NY Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.