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The Nantucket Sea Monster: A Fake News Story

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Discuss fake news with kids without the politics!
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. Back matter 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.

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Availability

27443

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Picture Book

Available

Detail Information

Series Title

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Call Number

P

Publisher

Little Rock, Arkansas : Mims House., 2017

Collation

32 pages : illustration ; 20 cm

Language

English

ISBN/ISSN

9781629440828

Classification

NONE

Content Type

text

Media Type

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Carrier Type

-

Edition

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Subject(s)

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Specific Detail Info

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Statement of Responsibility

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