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A Children’s Book of Demons
Aaron Leighton. Koyama, $12 (48p) ISBN 978-1-927668-66-5
Leighton integrates a hands-on craft element into this
playful guide that invites readers to conjure gentle demons
by writing their sigils, which serve as “a phone number”
straight to the spirit. The demons necessitate specific summons
(a riddler named Corydon requires a sigil “drawn in bright
red, the colour of a clown’s nose—preferably while you’re
giggling”), and express specific characteristics and abilities
that range from pragmatic to gross. They include “Flatulus,”
whose talent is passing gas; “Quazitoro,” an expert at finding
missing objects; and “Spanglox,” “the best-dressed demon in
the underworld,” who offers cutting-edge fashion advice.
Leighton’s renderings of the multieyed, multiarmed, sharp-
toothed demons are outlandish without being creepy, and the
creative concept will likely inspire some readers to create
demons of their own. Ages 5–10. (July)Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide
Kelly Milner Halls, illus. by Rick Spears. Little Bigfoot, $16.99
(224p) ISBN 978-1-63217-210-5
Among the 50 cryptid animals and beasts introduced in
this guide are some that actually do—or once did—exist.
Alongside the real creatures (the extinct aquatic coelacanth
and the squirrellike isothrix barbarabrownae), subjects
include infamous monsters: the Chupacabra, Kraken, Bigfoot,
and Mothman, as well as those less familiar, such as the “Drop
Bear” (“a ferocious, large-dog-size koala cousin” that drops
from the trees) and the “Loveland Frog” (a bipedal
amphibian). For each subject, Halls includes a “Reality
Rating,” identifying whether the creature has been deter-
mined to be real, a hoax, or somewhere in between. Spears’s
ashy blue drawings have the impromptu feel of field sketches,
while facts and alleged eyewitness accounts lend further credence
to this fun handbook. Halls also provides a heartening message
to readers: for any cryptid proven nonexistent, there are
plenty of other weird and wonderful species to compensate.
Ages 7–up. (Sept.)Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts
Federica Magrin, illus. by Laura Brenlla. Lonely Planet Kids, $17.99
(96p) ISBN 978-1-78868-347-0
This oversize volume offers an international tour of mythical
and supernatural creatures, organized by world region.
Magrin introduces ghosts and mythological creatures of
Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Central and South
America, with maps featuring spot-art images of the individual
entities placed in their region of origin. (Monsters from Japan
and Greek mythology each receive their own listing, as do
water monsters and ghosts of famous folks.) The subjectsrange from the more generically menacing Boogeyman and La
Llorona to spirits and creatures tied to particular locations or
events. In Namibia, the ghosts of Kolmanskop occupy a town
“left to the sands of the desert,” while the toys left behind on
Mexico’s Island of the Dolls belong to a girl’s ghost. Brenlla’s
plucky cartoon renderings give the creatures the feel of
caricatures, mitigating the volume’s scare impact. Readers
will enjoy spotting familiar monsters and ghosts while
learning that things go bump in the night all around the
globe. Ages 9–12. (July)Monstrous: The Lore, Gore, and
Science Behind Your Favorite Monsters
Carlyn Beccia. Carolrhoda, $19.99 (148p) ISBN 978-1-5124-4916-7
Beccia explores the historical, scientific, and psychological
origins of eight notorious monster characters, including
Frankenstein’s monster, Dracula, zombies, Bigfoot, and
others. Beccia illustrates in a ghoulish cartoon style, while
infographics explore the monsters’
anatomical features and primary
characteristics. Additional sections
offer “How to” tips on surviving
creature attacks (“If you spot a baby
Bigfoot, you might be tempted to
play with it, especially if it is cute
and furry. Don’t”). Beccia explores the circumstances that
contributed to the lore behind each being while bringing a
scientific dimension to the playful concept. Alongside the
text’s logical explanations (Could the Kraken really be a giant
squid?), there is fun to be had, and readers will savor details
about how history, superstition, and human perception have
inspired some of the most feared and beloved monster legends.
Ages 9–14. (Sept.)The Big Book of Monsters: The Creepiest
Creatures from Classic Literature
Hal Johnson. Workman, $16.95 (176p) ISBN 978-1-5235-0711-5
This bookish guide to 25 monsters includes those originating
from largely Western mythology, novels, and fairy tales; the
entities include the Headless Horseman, Dorian Gray, Mr.
Hyde, the Invisible Man, and the Goblin Spider, among
others. Each is presented in a bold and playful portrait, while
text offers a brief synopsis of each tale. Sections explore the
cultural and historical context of the stories, as well as their
enduring influence; sidebars provide humorous stats for each
monster, including a “Fear Factor” rating. Johnson offers
entertaining insights into each monster’s origin story, while
suggesting that great literature creates characters that can
truly take on lives of their own—and what’s scarier (and
cooler) than that? Ages 10–up. (Sept.)Cryptids and Demons and Ghosts, Oh My!
Creaturely guides crawl to the shelves in time for Halloween.