Trending: How and Why Stuff Gets Popular

Gr 3-7--This engaging resource provides an overview of how fads are created and describes historic and contemporary popular trends. From hula-hoops and Crocs to swallowing goldfish, this book is sure to capture readers' attention and help students understand fads, popularity, and trends including malicious propaganda. Each fad is presented on a double-page spread with two main sections ("Here's the Story" and "What Does It All Mean?") that provide a look at how the fad became popular and then showcase what we can learn from its rise. Important information is peppered with humor. The 48-page book opens with a table of contents and a double-page introduction. The content is arranged in four chapters ("What Makes a Fad?," "Spread the Word," "Made, Not Born," and "Bad Fads"). A double-page spread highlights conclusions, and one page features an index and a list of selected sources. In each chapter, the engaging cartoon illustrations use yellow as the consistent color paired with one additional color of green, purple, blue, or red. VERDICT This resource will unlock some of the mysteries of fads and trends with interesting examples and solid information; ultimately, readers will be able to recognize trends and make better decisions based on their own interests rather than succumbing to herd mentality.--Helen Foster James, University of California at San Diego