Creatures of the Paranormal

From movies, books, and television to the stories told around campfires, ghosts are a big part of American culture. Many believe these creatures exist only within the stories people tell, but that doesn't mean they're not still fascinated with the idea of ghosts. This innovative volume explores stories of these supernatural beings throughout American history. Through an enthralling narrative, spooky images, and fascinating sidebars, readers will learn about legends featuring many different kinds of ghosts and examine how they relate to the events and people that inspired the popular tales.

From ancient times to early America to modern times, witches have fascinated nearly every culture. Readers will explore elements and folklore commonly associated with witchcraft, the hysteria about witches in early America and its causes, and modern-day witchcraft. They'll examine how witches have influenced artistic expression, from ancient classics such as The Odyssey to contemporary depictions in popular books, television shows, and movies. Photographs, illustrations, and sidebars draw learners to exciting concepts and evocative images that give meaningful context to the evolution of these supernatural beings in our history and our modern perceptions.

Most people today see vampires as entertaining supernatural creatures popularized by the many book, television, and movie series that abound in popular fiction, but where do these stories originate? Many cultures around the world have tales of undead blood-sucking creatures. Exploring these supernatural beings within the context of American historical accounts and legends will enable students to understand the relationship between the time in which such stories were believed and the actual events that inspired them. Accompanied by full-color images and sidebars with fascinating details, this volume will capture the interest of any student intrigued by vampire stories.

Stories of werewolves originate in one form or another in many cultures. Accompanied by vivid color illustrations and intriguing sidebars, this thrilling text draws the connection between popular fiction and the actual events and legends that inspired werewolf tales in the Americas. Students will explore the relationship between the historical perceptions of true events and the scary, life-threatening stories they engendered. Readers will examine how perceptions of these supernatural beings have changed over time and why they continue to dominate in literature, television, and movies.

Do UFOs and aliens exist? Many people claim they don't. Many others are convinced that not only do they exist, but that in order to avoid widespread panic, the U.S. government released several reports that intentionally covered up all existing proof. Exciting text, accompanied by spine-tingling full-color images and intriguing sidebars, discusses some of the sightings and abductions that have been reported from around the world since the late 1800s. Readers will discover just what people have claimed to witness and experience and what the experts have to say about these strange reports.

For years, zombies have been a staple in horror movies. More recently, they've become a popular topic in many television shows as well. Throughout American history, people have told tales of those who have died but not quite left their bodies behind. The undead come in many forms depending on the specific legend. Through engaging text, accompanied by captivatingly creepy images and informative sidebars, readers will learn how the stories told about zombies have changed over the years, along with people's beliefs about them. This intriguing volume is a must-have for those interested in the paranormal.