When a dark shadow passes overhead, do you stop? Or, do you run? Infamous sky monsters have haunted our imaginations for centuries. The Thunderbird, steeped in Native American folklore, supposedly controls evil by throwing lightning. The Jersey Devil is said, to roam the Pine Barrens of South Jersey, terrorizing anyone who crosses its path. And, the cryptic warnings of Mothman have worried residents of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, since the 1960s. In A Guide to Sky Monsters: Thunderbirds, the Jersey Devil, Mothman, and Other Flying Cryptids, authors T. S. Mart and Mel Cabre introduce 20 flying cryptids with legends that span the United States. With 70 hand-drawn illustrations, A Guide to Sky Monsters details our fascination with these creatures and describes both historical evidence found in the fossil record and the specifics of modern-day sightings. By studying the fact, fiction, and pop culture surrounding these notorious beasts, Mart and Cabre help us lean into the question, "What if?" A Guide to Sky Monsters, perfect for the believer and skeptic alike, addresses the wider truths about flying cryptids and leaves us all to wonder whether that breeze was the wind or a wing.
"Gilbert Ford has conjured up a winner with this spirited, tender-hearted page-turner. You can't help pulling for funny, spunky Maria as her lonely quest becomes a treasure hunt of the heart."
Sheila Turnage, Newbery Honor author of Three Times Lucky
"The fun, sparkly supernatural mystery kept me turning pages, but Maria's bright heart anchored me to the story. Her deep friendships"
