Supernatural beings have acquired a pleasantly edgy, pop-culture status. Ideas that once inspired genuine fear are now, by and large, associated more with fictional adventure, romance, and a little danger. The series here incorporate modern-day monster fantasies into the bigger picture of world folklore and documented history. These series are strewn with enough spookiness to keep fans of monsters reading for a long time to come.

Preschool - Grade 4

COLICH, Abby. Unicorns. ISBN 978-1-4109-3800-8; ISBN 978-1-4109-3807-7. LC 2009052411. GUILLAIN, Charlotte. Dragons. ISBN 978-1-4109-3804-6; ISBN 978-1-4109-3811-4. LC 2009052419. ————. Fairies. ISBN 978-1-4109-3802-2; ISBN 978-1-4109-3809-1. LC 2009052415. ————. Mermaids. ISBN 978-1-4109-3803-9; ISBN 978-1-4109-3810-7. LC 2009052417. ————. Vampires. ISBN 978-1-4109-3801-5; ISBN 978-1-4109-3808-4. LC 2009052414. RISSMAN, Rebecca. Werewolves. ISBN 978-1-4109-3805-3; ISBN 978-1-4109-3812-1. LC 2009052422. ea vol: illus. by Christian Slade. 32p. (Mythical Creatures Series). illus. maps. photos. reprods. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Raintree. 2010. PLB $29; pap. $7.99. Gr 2-4—This series is a whirlwind world tour through the environs of fantastical creatures: their appearance, presence in various cultures, and magical characteristics. Large, bold descriptors head each two- to three-page, large-font chapter, with each page consisting of one-third text and two-thirds full-color illustration. Occasional "Did You Know?" sidebars add visual interest even though the fact-bytes are not that different from the type of information presented in the main body. For example, in Unicorns, one such section describes Shadhavar, a Persian version of a unicorn, but the same amount of information about the Asian Qilin, rather than being presented in a sidebar, appears a few pages later in the main text. The illustrations include images of the creatures in period art. A section at the end of each title sums up why people used to think the creatures were real and why the myths have been discounted. Straightforward and accessible choices. RISSMAN, Rebecca. Pirates. diag. map. ISBN 978-1-4109-3787-2; ISBN 978-1-4109-3792-6. LC 2009045462. SMITH, Siân. Sea Mysteries. chart. map. ISBN 978-1-4109-3786-5; ISBN 978-1-4109-3791-9. LC 2009045448. VEITCH, Catherine. Sea Monsters. ISBN 978-1-4109-3788-9; ISBN 978-1-4109-3793-3. LC 2009045674. VIGLIANO, Adrian. Shipwrecks. ISBN 978-1-4109-3785-8; ISBN 978-1-4109-3790-2. LC 2009045442. ea vol: 32p. (Legends of the Sea Series). illus. photos. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. Raintree. 2010. PLB $29; pap. $7.99. Gr 1-3—Scooby Doo-scary illustrations and short sentences pair well here. Each volume begins with four or five statements that readers are informed may be either true or false. The basics about each subject are then presented, and the answers revealed in sidebars. For instance, in Pirates, after the statement that "Blackbeard used to make people think he was on fire," brief facts about other famous pirates are given and Rissman explains that, to scare his victims, Blackbeard would light strips of cloth and tuck them into his beard, making him look as though he was on fire. The narratives appear in large fonts and consist of two-to-three sentences per page. Full-color, modern photographs and period and original drawings appear throughout. Each volume concludes with an activity such as drawing a sea monster or learning to solve mysteries. Concisely written with attention-getting layouts. TROUPE, Thomas Kingsley. The Legend of Bigfoot. illus. by Dumm, Brian Caleb. charts. map. ISBN 978-1-4048-6032-2. LC 2009050173. ————. The Legend of the Bermuda Triangle. illus. by Aon, Carlos. map. ISBN 978-1-4048-6034-6. LC 2009050168. ————. The Legend of the Vampire. illus. by Oksana Kemarskaya. ISBN 978-1-4048-6031-5. LC 2009050170. ————. The Legend of the Werewolf. illus. by D.C. Ice. ISBN 978-1-4048-6033-9. LC 2009050177. ea vol: 32p. (Legend Has It Series). illus. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Picture Window. 2010. PLB $26.65. Gr 2-4—Using a few sentences per page and easy-to-follow writing, Troupe describes the origins and basic elements of each legend. Large, dynamic fonts are interspersed throughout, giving the text an extra dose of drama and excitement: "In 1957, Albert Ostman claimed he had been kidnapped by bigfoots." Each artist's style is pitch-perfect for the subject, from the frenetic, action-packed images in Werewolf to the shadowy, sophisticated cartoon images in Vampire. The highly stylized figures are sometimes even a little funny, as when artist D.C. Ice shows the sour-faced contortions of werewolf transformation. All of the illustrations convey an appropriately spooky or mysterious mood without being gruesome. Mildly scary stories with major kid appeal.

Grades 5 and Up

AXELROD-CONTRADA, Joan. Ghoulish Ghost Stories. illus. reprods. ISBN 978-1-4296-4574-4. LC 2010001364. KOPP, Megan. Scary Folktales. ISBN 978-1-4296-4571-3. LC 2010001683. O'SHEI, Tim. Bone-Chilling Myths. illus. reprods. ISBN 978-1-4296-4573-7. LC 2010001356. ————. Creepy Urban Legends. ISBN 978-1-4296-4572-0. LC 2010001362. ea vol: 32p. (Edge Books: Scary Stories Series). photos. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Capstone. 2010. PLB $26.65. Gr 4-6—The conversational writing style and simple sentence structure in this series facilitates use. At the beginning of each volume, the authors define the featured genre. The stories that follow escalate from "Scary" to "Very Scary" and "Freaky Scary" but they are calibrated to suit the audience. An icon of a teen's face appears at the beginning of each story, with his comically dramatic facial expressions rating each. The selections are complemented by "Fear Facts" throughout, which provide oddball information such as, "According to a 2007 U.S. survey, 34 percent of Americans believe in ghosts" (Ghost Stories). Colorful, captioned illustrations appear on each page. Captivating, kid-friendly reading. BENNETT, Adelaide. Ancient Werewolves & Vampires: The Roots of the Teeth. ISBN 978-1-4222-1802-0; ISBN 978-1-4222-1955-3; ISBN 978-1-4222-9571-7. LC 2010023796. ————. Global Legends and Lore: Vampires & Werewolves Around the World. ISBN 978-1-4222-1810-5; ISBN 978-1-4222-1963-8; ISBN 978-1-4222-9563-2. LC 2010025778. ETINGOFF, Kim. Howling at the Moon: Vampires and Werewolves in the New World. ISBN 978-1-4222-1805-1; ISBN 978-1-4222-1958-4; ISBN 978-1-4222-9568-7. LC 2010022670. ————. The Science of the Beast: The Facts Behind the Fangs. ISBN 978-1-4222-1808-2; ISBN 978-1-4222-1961-4; ISBN 978-1-4222-9565-6. LC 2010023660. INDOVINO, Shaina C. Dracula and Beyond: Famous Vampires & Werewolves in Literature and Film. ISBN 978-1-4222-1803-7; ISBN 978-1-4222-1956-0; ISBN 978-1-4222-9570-0. LC 2010020684. ————. Transylvania and Beyond: Famous Vampires & Werewolves in Old Europe. ISBN 978-1-4222-1809-9; ISBN 978-1-4222-1962-1; ISBN 978-1-4222-9564-9. LC 2010020684. MARTIN, Nicholas. Fighting the Fangs: A Guide to Vampires and Werewolves. ISBN 978-1-4222-1804-4; ISBN 978-1-4222-1957-7; ISBN 978-1-4222-9569-4. LC 2010025187. SANNA, Emily. Pop Monsters: The Modern-Day Craze for Vampires and Werewolves. ISBN 978-1-4222-1806-8; ISBN 978-1-4222-1959-1; ISBN 978-1-4222-9567-0. LC 2010025186. STEWART, Sheila. The Psychology of Our Dark Side: Humans' Love Affair with Vampires and Werewolves. ISBN 978-1-4222-1807-5; ISBN 978-1-4222-1960-7; ISBN 978-1-4222-9566-3. LC 2010025294. ea vol: 64p. (The Making of a Monster: Vampires & Werewolves Series). illus. photos. reprods. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Mason Crest. 2010. PLB $22.95; pap. $9.95; ebook $22.95. Gr 7 Up—These explorations of the world-wide origins and transmogrifications of the fanged and furry spans centuries and encompasses folklore, books, and movies. The writing is engaging and accessible, and peppered easily with teen vernacular: "Lost and lonely, Lilith haunted the shadows between the rocks and hills. People whispered about her, passing stories of her between them like movie DVDs" (Ancient Werewolves). Large, clear photographs and period and contemporary drawings appear on every other page or so. There is little overlapping of material. First-rate entertainment. BURGAN, Michael. Dracula's Dark World. reprods. ISBN 978-1-936087-96-9; ISBN 978-1-936088-74-4. LC 2010014029. LUNIS, Natalie. Tut's Deadly Tomb. illus. reprods. ISBN 978-1-936087-98-3; ISBN 978-1-936088-76-8. LC 2010008025. PERSON, Stephen. Ghostly Alcatraz Island. illus. reprods. ISBN 978-1-936087-97-6; ISBN 978-1-936088-75-1. LC 2010011128. ————. Voodoo in New Orleans. illus. ISBN 978-1-936087-99-0; ISBN 978-1-936088-77-5. LC 2010004976. STERN, Steven L. Witchcraft in Salem. illus. reprods. ISBN 978-1-936088-00-3; ISBN 978-1-936088-78-2. LC 2010004683. ea vol: 32p. (HorrorScapes Series). maps. photos. bibliog. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Bearport. 2010. PLB $25.27; ebook $25.27. Gr 4-9—History and mystery mingle in these vivid accounts of real events and their spectral side effects. The texts often employ a dramatic tone: "The young boyars plodded past the palace of Prince Vlad Dracula…They were paying the price for angering their prince." (Dracula's Dark World). Most of the illustrations are photographs of models acting out described events. Digital altering plays with true perspective and proportion, giving the photos a nightmarish appearance. The depiction of violence and terror is graphic. A photo in Dracula's Dark World shows people impaled on stakes, and others boiling to death in a vat. Alcatraz Island shows a model posing as a dead prisoner, head askew and eyes rolled back so only the whites show. These titles are well-written and of high interest, but marred by gratuitously morbid illustrations. DIPRIMIO, Pete. The Sphinx. map. ISBN 978-1-5841-5931-5. LC 2010006560. LAROCHE, Amelia. The Chimaera. map. ISBN 978-1-5841-5925-4. LC 2010011151. ORR, Tamra B. Medusa. chron. ISBN 978-1-5841-5928-5. LC 2010011145. ————. The Monsters of Hercules. map. ISBN 978-1-5841-5927-8. LC 2010028764. ————. The Sirens. map. ISBN 978-1-5841-5931-5. LC 2010006560. ROBERTS, Russell. The Cyclopes. ISBN 978-1-5841-5926-1. LC 2010006556. ————. The Minotaur. ISBN 978-1-5841-5929-2. LC 2010006557. TRACY, Kathleen. Cerberus. map. ISBN 978-1-5841-5924-7. LC 2010026968. ea vol: 48p. (Monsters in Myth Series). illus. photos. reprods. further reading. glossary. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Mitchell Lane. 2010. PLB $29.95. Gr 4-8—Tapping into the voracious interest many kids have for monsters in general, this series introduces the varied and fascinating origins of some of the most popular monsters in mythology. Each title begins with a dramatic retelling of a hero's encounter with the creature, and the cliffhanger ending works as a compelling segue into its background. Before returning to the story, each author goes on to provide information on how the monster came to be, variations of it in different cultures, and its appearance in art and modern culture. Each volume is full of colorful, clear illustrations of the beast as interpreted by painters and sculptors. The fluid writing style and the thoroughness with which each monster is covered makes for fun and educational reading. First rate. HIRSCHMANN, Kris. Vampires in Literature. ISBN 978-1-60152-134-7. LC 2010010104. KALLEN, Stuart A. Vampire History and Lore. ISBN 978-1-60152-132-3. LC 2010005866. ROBSON, David. Encounters with Vampires. ISBN 978-1-60152-133-0. LC 2010010100. STEWART, Gail B. Vampires: Do They Exist? ISBN 978-1-60152-110-1. LC 200904312. WOOG, Adam. Vampires in the Movies. ISBN 978-1-60152-135-4. LC 2010017982. ea vol: 80p. (The Vampire Library Series). photos. reprods. further reading. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. ReferencePoint. 2010. PLB $26.95. Gr 8 Up—The entertaining Literature, History and Lore, and Movies describe the metamorphosis the vampire persona has undergone since its early role as a truly feared monster in Babylonia and its appearance in popular 19th-century tabloid stories, to its cinema debut in a 1916 German movie and beyond. With little overlapping material, the titles describe how the characteristics of a vampire have changed as people's understanding of the world around them has developed. "Strange as It Sounds…" sidebars house oddball facts such as "The first script of the Twilight film was very different from the book. Bella was a track star, and FBI agents used Jet Skis to chase evil vampires" (Literature). The thoroughness with which the subjects are treated and the connections made to literature and cinema make these books excellent choices. Encounters and Do They Exist? describe in more detail how, in the past, people's ignorance about illness and death, and truly brutal historical figures (Countess Bathory and Vlad Dracula are two) led to a belief in vampires. Both titles go on to describe modern-day instances of vampirism. These volumes are darker than the other three, as the details are explicit: Encounters, for example, describes how a student stabbed his elderly neighbor 22 times, then removed her heart and drank her blood, "in an apparent attempt to turn himself into a vampire." Of additional concern with these two titles is the vagueness of some of the source notes, especially where interviews are concerned. KOPP, Megan. Real-Life Vampires. ISBN 978-1-4296-4578-2. LC 2010001691. MARX, Mandy R. Great Vampire Legends. ISBN 978-1-4296-4576-8. LC 2010001689. RAINEY, Rich. Vampire Life. ISBN 978-1-4296-4577-5. LC 2010001692. ea vol: 32p. (Edge Books: Vampires Series). illus. photos. reprods. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Capstone. 2010. PLB $26.65. Gr 4-6—Written in a breezy, conversational style, this small but dynamic series is a Sunday buffet for vampire fans. In Real-Life Vampires, Kopp's mini-lessons on bats, leeches, ticks, and mosquitoes illustrate why nature's real blood-suckers might be scarier than the fictional coffin-dwelling, cape-wearing ones. Great Vampire Legends explains why people long ago believed that vampires walked among them, and how science and empirical observation disproved those beliefs. Vampire Life describes how traditional vampire characteristics (sleeping in coffins, being pale, and having fangs) grew out of oral tradition, books, and movies. Dramatic fonts and liberal use of captioned, full-color photographs, movie stills, and drawings add to the appeal. MALAM, John. Ghosts. ISBN 978-1-59566-750-2. LC 2010008529. ————. Vampires. ISBN 978-1-59566-749-6. LC 2010008528. ————. Werewolves. ISBN 978-1-59566-748-9. LC 2010008527. ————. Witches. ISBN 978-1-59566-747-2. LC 2010014136. ea vol: 32p. (QEB Monster Mania Series). illus. photos. reprods. chron. glossary. index. CIP. QEB. 2010. PLB $28.50. Gr 4-8—These titles cover the basics: where the stories originated; how the monsters are "born"; and their appearance, behavior, strengths, weaknesses, and favorite locales. A few "Scary Stories" from various countries are included in each volume. For the most part, the author uses phrases such as "…no one knows what ghosts are, or even if they exist…", but in Vampires, one story comes with the preamble, "What you are about to read is absolutely true…." While the wording might be just for dramatic effect, it is worth noting. Period photographs and drawings, along with cartoon-style drawings created for the series, appear to be taped to the pages, giving the appearance that the books are old and worn. A few realistic-looking spots and stains add to the illusion. These titles will be a hit with the ghoulishly inclined, and apart from Vampires, are worth adding to library shelves. The Bottom Line

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These books leave no coffin unopened, providing something for every young devotee of the fanged and furry, ghoulish and ghostly. Integrated into all of the fang-fare are curriculum-worthy elements of history, literature, and folklore. Picture Window's "Legend Has It," Heinemann's "Legends of the Sea," Mason Crest's "The Making of a Monster: Vampires and Werewolves," Mitchell Lane's "Monsters in Myth" and the Movies, Literature, and History and Lore volumes of ReferencePoint's "Vampire Library" are well-written, well-documented and attractively designed series, ideal for their intended audiences. Heinemann's "Mythical Creatures" and Capstone's "Edge Books: Scary Stories" and "Edge Books: Vampires" are less successful as they lack documentation. Because of graphic depictions of violence, and/or poor execution, Bearport's "Horrorscapes," QEB's "QEB Monster Mania," and Vampire Encounters and Vampires: Do They Exist? from ReferencePoint's "Vampire Library" are poor choices.