Alien Investigation: Searching for the Truth About Ufos and Aliens
Gr 4-6-The author begins with an alien alter ego named Yllek (Kelly spelled backwards) who is planning a possible journey through space. His perspective is sprinkled throughout this historical survey of UFO and extraterrestrial sightings, providing a humorous touch to the information. Beginning with a 1947 incident over Washington State, the narrative succinctly describes similar incidents in such places as Florida, Iran, Arizona, China, and New Mexico. One-page interviews with the witnesses of UFO/ET sightings inject personal details into the description. Possible terrestrial explanations follow each incident. Jaunty full-color illustrations flash off every page and provide a good contrast between what people claim to have seen and what the experts think they may have seen-clouds, lightning, and other weather phenomena; secret U.S. planes; weather balloons, etc. A double-page world map pinpoints modern sightings. A bibliography of books and websites and lists of UFO organizations and festivals might lead readers further into the field. While not as comprehensive as Eric Elfman's Almanac of Alien Encounters (Random, 2001) or as skeptical as Judith Herbst's UFOs (Lerner, 2005), this attractive, balanced view will update collections.-Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VAα(c) Copyright 2011.  Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.  No redistribution permitted.