Monsterology: The Complete Book of Monstrous Beasts
Grade 3–6—A big, colorful entry in the series that introduced readers toDragonology(2003),Pirateology(2006), andWizardology(2005, all Candlewick), this latest mock-nonfiction title explores such legendary beasts as kelpies, griffins, bunyips, and krakens. The smattering of "facts" revealed about these storied creatures, while based on Greek myths and the legends of other cultures, are generously fictionalized. The attractive illustrations, both color and monochrome, are done by several hands in 19th-century styles and provide a lot of detail for readers to get lost in. Although the book is not exactly circulation-friendly—it includes several faux documents that can be removed from the book-it should be a big hit among fantasy fans as a browsing item.—Walter Minkel, Austin Public Library, TXCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.