Monsters!

In 1934, a photograph in London's Daily Mail seemed to prove that a strange animal was living in Scotland's Loch Ness. But 60 years later, it was said to be a fake! That image created the look of the Loch Ness monster in the minds of people around the world. Without it, is there any proof for a creature in Loch Ness? Readers dive deep into this question, learning about the history of the myth and how it survives today. Full-color illustrations and historical photographs spark readers' imaginations, while fact boxes encourage critical thinking about a fascinating, high-interest topic.

The story of Perseus beheading Medusa has been told for more than 2,000 years. Even today, images of Medusa can be found in popular culture. Through accessible language and content, readers learn the story of Medusa and the Gorgons in monstrous detail, including how Medusa may have gotten her hair turned to snakes! Full-color photographs show modern and historic depictions of this famous myth while fun fact boxes give readers context for one of the greatest monster stories in Greek mythology.

There's little more terrifying than being chased by a moaning creature that wants to eat your flesh! Though zombies are currently popular on TV and in movies, stories of the undead have been around for centuries. The main content introduces readers to zombie tales from many cultures around the world in grisly detail via accessible language for reluctant readers. Full-color illustrations and photographs help readers imagine these monstrous myths while fun fact boxes debunk common beliefs and offer additional context for each terrifying tale.

One of the most monstrous myths in history is that of the Minotaur. A huge man with the head and furious temperament of a bull, the Minotaur was hidden in a labyrinth by King Minos. Readers learn the tale of the Minotaur through the story of the Greek hero Theseus, including its terrible end. Illustrations and photographs of historical objects appear in full color to enhance the main content. Written in accessible language, the tale of the Minotaur will engage even reluctant readers-especially if they're monster-movie fans!

Some of the most iconic pop-culture figures ever have been witches: the Wicked Witch of the West, the White Witch in The Chronicles of Narnia, Hermione in the Harry Potter books. But there's a long history of witch legends from around the world, including historical events condemning them, such as the Salem witch trials. This high-interest topic will engage even the most reluctant readers with tales of good and bad magic, spells, and torture. Full-color photographs and historical images show witch stories throughout the ages as fact boxes investigate the truth behind the myths and the reason behind the history.

It seems incredible that a huge, hairy human-ape could live in the forests of the Pacific Northwest without anyone knowing it's there for sure. However, there's still no real evidence for the existence of Bigfoot! Readers learn about the most famous Bigfoot sighting from 1967, which still hasn't been proved to be a hoax. Full-color images illustrate how many envision Bigfoot today, as well as similar cryptids found around the world, such as the Yeti. Accessible language paired with fascinating content about a modern monster draws in even unenthusiastic readers.

In 1931, the quintessential movie version of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein hit theaters. It starred Boris Karloff as the monster and spawned a whole series of sequels! Since then, Frankenstein's monster has become a terrifying icon in popular culture, especially around Halloween. Readers learn the original story of Frankenstein and how the book's content connected to the science of the day. Haunting images of the monster and movie stills from Frankenstein and other films engage readers' imaginations as accessible language allows even reluctant readers to find out more about this modern monster!

It's easy to imagine something lurking beneath the deep, dark waters of a loch, river, or sea. Since even today we don't know every animal that lives deep underwater, historical accounts of fearful creatures swimming below the surface seem to have simple explanations. This book explores the many myths and legends about sea creatures, some of which are centuries old! Full-color illustrations, paintings, and more from cultures around the world showcase the extraordinary imaginations behind some of these stories. In addition, fact boxes offer readers a chance to debunk historical accounts and understand why these tales began at all.

Some say the legend of the werewolf may have come from a rare condition of abundant hair growth called hypertrichosis. However the stories began, they've persisted to present-day pop culture, continuously drawing in new audiences. Written in simple, clear language, all readers can explore the history of the werewolf myth. The main content includes all aspects of this high-interest topic, including how werewolves change from man to beast, why they change, and how one becomes a werewolf. Full-color images and fact boxes add elements of both fantasy and reality to help readers navigate the line between truth and legend.

There's a very clear line from Bram Stoker's Dracula to the glut of vampire stories available in bookstores today. However, tales of bloodsucking creatures predate Dracula and exist in the mythology of many cultures. Covering the history of the vampire myth as well as how it's used today, the main content engages even reluctant readers with a high-interest topic. Full-color photographs and other images of vampires through the ages show how the depiction of this chilling creature has changed over time. Additional fact boxes add a dose of reality to a tale that's so well known, it sometimes feels like it could be true!