The Nantucket Sea Monster: A Fake News Story

JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION

2018 National Council of Teacher's of English (NCTE) Notable Children's Book in Language Arts

A NON-POLITICAL FAKE NEWS STORY FOR KIDS: EXAMPLE OF 1ST AMENDMENT FREE PRESS ISSUES

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. Tony Sarg, famous as the inventor of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons, Macy's officials and newsmen cooperated in a huge publicity stunt. The fake news generated was valued at thousands of dollars of free publicity.

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.

Read this incredible true story of how Tony Sarg and the press knowingly fooled everyone with fake news.

Author: Darcy Pattison, Peter Willis
Publisher: Mims House
Published: 09/12/2017
Pages: 34
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.25lbs
Size: 8.20h x 8.30w x 0.10d
ISBN: 9781629440835
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.9
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 189821 / Nantucket Sea Monster: A Fake News Story


Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 10/01/2017
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2018 pg. 211

About the Author
Pattison, Darcy: - "AUTHOR - DARCY PATTISON Children's book author Darcy Pattison finds inspiration in writing about science, nature and history; twice her books have been honored as NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books. Her nature picture books include Abayomi, the Brazilian Puma: The True Story of an Orphaned Cub (Mims House), an NSTA 2015 Outstanding Science Trade Book; Wisdom, the Midway Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and Other Disasters for Over 60 Years (Mims House), a starred review in Publisher's Weekly; Desert Baths (Arbordale), an NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book 2013; and, Prairie Storms (Arbordale). Burn: Michael Faraday's Candle (Mims House, Spring 2016) 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 (Harcourt), which received an Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature Honor Book award, starred reviews in BCCB and Kirkus, and has been published in a Houghton Mifflin textbook; Searching for Oliver K. Woodman (Harcourt); 19 Girls and Me (Philomel); and 11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph: A Military Family Story (Mims House). 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"Willis, Peter: - With over 20 years 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. Previous books include BURN: MICHAEL FARADAY'S CANDLE.

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