CANFIELD, Michael . America's Oddest Laws . ISBN 9781482440294 ; ISBN 9781482440270 ; ISBN 9781482440300 . EDWARDS, Erika . America's Oddest Holidays . ISBN 9781482440218 ; ISBN 9781482440195 ; ISBN 9781482440225 . MACHAJEWSKI, Sarah . America's Oddest Landmarks . ISBN 9781482440256 ; ISBN 9781482440232 ; ISBN 9781482440263 . MCANENEY, Caitie . America's Oddest Legends . ISBN 9781482440331 ; ISBN 9781482440317 ; ISBN 9781482440348 . YERDON, Joe . America's Oddest Foods . ISBN 9781482440133 ; ISBN 9781482440126 ; ISBN 9781482440140 . ea vol: 32p. (Weird America). further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Gareth Stevens . 2016. lib. ed. $26.60. pap. $10.50. ebk. $26.60. Gr 3-5 Ranging in subject from strange holidays like National Sandwich Day to the spooky supernatural cryptids of North America, these books are sure to help readers discover the oddest parts of our culture. With enticing front covers and a topic that lends itself to conversational, lighthearted writing, this series is an easy sell. The illustrations consist of large, colorful photographs, all of which are accentuated with neon fonts and borders. The least weird is Foods , which mainly features regional delicacies such as Frito pie and gelatin salad. VERDICT Consider for collections in need of fun, browsable materials.

Odd is in the eye of the beholder, as this eye-catching book explains. From collecting toenails to managing a mustard museum to the dying art of trainspotting, this shows that there is no pastime too weird to be appreciated. While the author acknowledges that some hobbies could raise ethical questions (is extreme dog grooming cruel?), this is more about entertaining than educating. The book's layout is clean and easy to follow, incorporating color photographs, concise side boxes, and a slightly garish marquee backdrop. Bolded glossary words and sources for further research are listed, and an index concludes the book. Part of the Weird America series, this book will have browsing appeal, particularly for fans of Ripley's Believe It or Not! and the Guinness Book of World Records.