Half-Human Monsters and Other Fiends
Reading Level Grade 4Interest Level Grades 3 – 8Copyright 2013
Reviewed
Reading Level Grade 4Interest Level Grades 3 – 8Copyright 2013
ReviewedCould half-human, half-ape creatures really roam the Himalayan Mountains and the forests of North America? If tales of Bigfoot, Yeti, and Sasquatch are just stories, why do so many people report seeing these monsters in remote areas around the world? What would it be like to come upon a footprint of the Abominable Snowman or catch sight of Mothman, and how can you tell if the creature lurking down the path is part human and part beast? In Half-Human Monsters and Other Fiends, young readers will read historical stories and modern-day accounts of encounters with half-human monsters. Kids will get all the facts they need to help them spot Bigfoot, Mothman, ghouls, and other supernatural creatures. Children will also investigate the truth behind the stories, exploring the fears and superstitions of different cultures and looking at the scientific facts that might explain the seemingly unexplainable. If you love a nerve-racking story but also want to investigate the truth behind the myths, this is the book for you!
The grotesque, horrifying depictions of halfhuman monsters in this title from the Not Near Normal: The Paranormal series will no doubt draw interest from curious readers. The (un)usual suspects are each accounted for: Bigfoot, the chupacabra, the Loch Ness monster, and so forth. But lesserknown creatures are also given their due. For instance, the mothman of West Virginia opens this freaky roundup with eyewitness accounts as well as theories about its origin. Owen goes a step further, providing logical or skeptical explanations for each creature profiled in the book. The field of cryptozoology is introduced as well and reminds readers that some animals, like pandas and giant squids, were once creatures of myth before scientists were able to discover and study them. Illustrations run the gamut from scary to silly, but, generally, this title's design is appropriately shiver inducing.
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