Fact or Phony?

The human body is full of amazingly complex systems. Science has helped explain so much about the way our bodies work, but there are still plenty of myths some consider as fact. Are human bones really four times as strong as concrete? How close can someone sit to a TV before damaging his or her eyes? This fun, informative book separates fact from fiction through the use of engaging fact boxes and specific scientific research to debunk some of the myths surrounding the human body.

William Shakespeare wrote some of the most famous plays in history, but there is plenty of misinformation about his life and times. This book dives into those so-called "facts" and discovers what's real and what's fake with entertaining ease. Did Shakespeare really burn down the Globe Theatre? Did he write all of his plays on his own? Brilliant fact boxes help provide historical context to Shakespeare's life and works, while "The Bard's Best Bits" add Shakespeare quotes and phrases we still use in everyday life to this day.

The world is full of amazing animals, but some "facts" about them often seem too strange to be true. Do goldfish really have short memories? Is cow flatulence really ruining the ozone layer? This book takes a magnifying glass to some of the wildest things people say about animals to find the truth behind the exaggerations, misunderstandings, or even lies we accidentally spread as fact. Fact boxes throughout the book help readers separate the facts from fiction, and entertaining cartoons and illustrations add to the animal fun.