A compendium of curious contraptions A guessing game about history's most unusual artifacts

Gr 3--6--Drawing on historical objects from a range of places and times, this lift-the-flap exploration of history's mysteries is a quirky, engaging read. From Arctic snow goggles to automatons, readers explore clues to uncover the uses of a range of brightly illustrated historical artifacts; by lifting a flap they can find the answer. However, not all curious contraptions can be decoded, and the book includes the as-yet mysterious dodecahedron, dating back almost 2,000 years, that have been found across Europe. Theories abound, and the chance that readers might actually unravel this historical mystery feels possible, not patronizing. Eclectic information makes the book useful to readers who are browsing and exploring but it may not be as useful as a reference tool for those in search of specific information. However, the book will certainly spark questions and could easily launch a range of inquiries for readers faced with their first research project. For those who enjoy random facts, bite-sized information, and occasionally gross history, this book will offer them even more fuel for their curiosity. VERDICT A must-purchase text for history sleuths as well as for general use in schools or in classroom library reference collection.--Jen McConnel

More than two dozen puzzling artifacts from the past await readers' detective skills. Introductory pages explain just what archeology and anthropology can tell us about the lives of other cultures, and how objects speak of their makers and users. Clear, colorful, close-up illustrations of each object accompany tantalizing but clearly written clues about it, perhaps focusing on a detail, some information about the artifact's use, or the materials it was made of. A "Fact File" box adds further information. Some medical inventions, however helpful, are deeply scary, while others, like the stethoscope, are still used in refined versions. Weapons are another frightening group. Objects from around the world and across centuries include Inuit snow goggles, gameboards from Ur, an earthquake detector from China, a Roman lamp, Tipu Sultan's mechanical tiger, a leech barometer, an elaborate Turkish water clock, an Aztec "death whistle," Moses Quinby's 19th-century smoke dispenser for beekeepers, Viking chess pieces, and more. At least one object, the Roman dodecahedron, has not yet disclosed its purpose; readers are invited to speculate. The selection of items is excellent, and the information about them expansive. We're never too old for guessing games or lift-the-flap books, and here we also enter vividly into the realm of global cultures. An absorbing trip through an eclectic, fascinating museum of mostly ancient inventions. (glossary, index)(Informational picture book. 8-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.