Curious minds often wonder about the things we cannot see: fairies, ghosts, aliens, gods. It is no surprise that these topics might become even more popular during trying times such as these. The titles in this section seek to tap into that curiosity, sometimes providing answers, sometimes offering more questions. This season, publishers have books for readers looking for something creepy, fanciful, or mythological.

Elementary

Andrews, Elizabeth. Haunted Art. ISBN 9781098241216.
––––. Haunted Dolls. ISBN 9781098241223.
––––. Haunted Homes. ISBN 9781098241230.
––––. Haunted Jewels. ISBN 9781098241247.
––––. Haunted Places. ISBN 9781098241254.
––––. Haunted Ships. ISBN 9781098241261.
ea vol: 32p. (Hauntings). Abdo/Pop/DiscoverRoo. Jan. 2022. Tr $31.36.
Gr 3-5 –Haunted objects are the focus of this hair-raising series. Readers will be left with chills after reading about Little Robert, a haunted doll, or the SS Ourang Medan, a ghost ship. Each book in the series retells three haunting tales in easy-to-read text with bolded vocabulary and plenty of white space. Spooky images and text boxes with additional information round out the pages. The back matter includes questions, an index, and a glossary. QR codes are peppered throughout the books with links to videos, activities, and information that help flesh out the stories. This is not a research series and the author does not address alternative theories to hauntings and curses. VERDICT A wonderfully creepy way to build reading skills.

Erickson, Marty. Bigfoot. ISBN 9781503850279.
––––. Dragons. ISBN 9781503849792.
––––. Fairies. ISBN 9781503849761.
––––. The Loch Ness Monster. ISBN 9781503850286.
––––. Mermaids. ISBN 9781503849754.
––––. Trolls. ISBN 9781503849808.
––––. Unicorns. ISBN 9781503849778.
––––. Zombies. ISBN 9781503850293.
Gagliardi, Sue. Gnomes. ISBN 9781503850309.
Huddleston, Emma. Vampires. ISBN 9781503849785.
––––. Werewolves. ISBN 9781503849822.
Seigel, Rachel. Genies. ISBN 9781503849815.
ea vol: 24p. (Legendary Creatures). The Child’s World. Jan. 2022. Tr $28.50.
Gr 2-5 – This series hooks readers from page one with descriptive storytelling. The scene is set—a crumbling cemetery, a trail deep in the woods—and children are taken on a journey to learn all about dragons, vampires, fairies, and other fantastical creatures. The books discuss the history and possible origins of the creatures and how these beliefs have shown up in modern society. Striking images and helpful diagrams compare and contrast the creatures’ features in different world cultures. A phonetic glossary, index, further reading, and suggested websites are included. VERDICT Give this series to readers who are looking for narrative nonfiction.

Olson, Gillia M. Curious about Aliens. ISBN 9781681519791.
––––. Curious about Bigfoot. ISBN 9781681519807.
––––. Curious about Ghosts. ISBN 9781681519814.
––––. Curious about Haunted Places. ISBN 9781681519821.
––––. Curious about the Loch Ness Monster. ISBN 9781681519838.
––––. Curious about UFOs. ISBN 9781681519845.
ea vol: 24p. (Curious about Unexplained Mysteries). Amicus. Jan. 2022. Tr $31.35.
Gr 2-4 –What do ghosts look like? Who investigates UFOs? Is the Loch Ness Monster real? Each title poses a series of questions and provides short, skeptical answers. Two-page spreads feature a question-and-answer pairing accompanied by vibrant images and bolded vocabulary. For each mysterious phenomenon, the author tackles what proof (or lack of proof) exists, common beliefs around the creature, and possible alternative solutions. Readers are encouraged to keep researching with keyword suggestions, print and digital resources, and activities. A glossary and index are included. VERDICT The design is clean and the images are attention-grabbing, but there’s not much else that makes this series stand out among similar titles.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Bell, Samantha S. Centaur. ISBN 9781532196768.
––––. Medusa. ISBN 9781532196782.
Hudak, Heather C. Artemis. ISBN 9781532196744.
––––. Hades. ISBN 9781532196775.
––––. Poseidon. ISBN 9781532196805.
––––. Zeus. ISBN 9781532196812.
Sanderson, Whitney. Athena. ISBN 9781532196751.
––––. Pegasus. ISBN 9781532196799.
ea vol: 32p. (Greek Mythology). Abdo/Kids Core. Jan. 2022. Tr $32.79.
Gr 3-5 –Among the usual gods and goddesses, readers will learn about centaurs, Pegasus, and Medusa in this fascinating series. It is hard to make a series about Greek mythology feel fresh, but the authors manage to do just that. With easy-to-read yet richly detailed text, young readers will encounter stories about their favorite deities that are not often recounted in other series. Classical illustrations and photos of statues and antiquities accompany the text. Topics cover the deities in art, how they were worshipped, and how views of them may have evolved over time. Online content and primary sources are available for close reading exercises and text-to-text questions. Each title wraps up with legendary facts, a glossary, further reading, an index, and online resources from the publisher. VERDICT Greek mythology is perpetually popular among children. This series builds on that interest with exciting stories and interesting new details. An excellent addition to libraries.

Dalgleish, Sharon. UFOs. ISBN 9781637381663.
Gaertner, Meg. Atlantis. ISBN 9781637381595.
––––. The Bermuda Triangle. ISBN 9781637381601.
––––. Haunted Houses. ISBN 9781637381632.
––––. Stonehenge. ISBN 9781637381656.
Gagliardi, Sue. Crop Circles. ISBN 9781637381618.
Loye, Lily. Ghosts. ISBN 9781637381625.
––––. Psychics. ISBN 9781637381649.
ea vol: 32p. (The Unexplained). North Star Editions/Apex. Jan. 2022. Tr $28.50.
Gr 3-6 –Minimal text and a bold layout help set this series apart. Readers will be introduced to crop circles, Stonehenge, psychics, and many other topics through short paragraphs presented in text boxes surrounded by vivid images, drawings, and bright colors. The authors examine popular beliefs about these mysterious occurrences as well as skeptical explanations. For example, Atlantis may simply have been destroyed by a volcano and ships in the Bermuda Triangle may have sunk due to gas released from the ocean floor (or “ocean farts,” as the book calls them). Students can check their understanding with comprehension questions. A glossary, index, and suggested sources are included. VERDICT The small chunks of text will make this series more palatable to readers who ­struggle to pay attention.

Mason, Jenny. Alien Abductions. ISBN 9781632359308.
––––. Aliens in the Movies. ISBN 9781632359339.
––––. Alien Sightings and Encounters. ISBN 9781632359315.
––––. Alien Sites. ISBN 9781632359322.
––––. Communicating with Aliens. ISBN 9781632359346.
––––. Searching for Aliens. ISBN 9781632359353.
ea vol: 32p. (Aliens!). Bookstaves/12-Story Library. Jan. 2022. Tr $34.25.
Gr 3-5 –Fans of the TV show Ancient Aliens will find many familiar topics to dive into in this series. Conspiracy favorites like the Nasca lines, Puma Punku, and the Denver Airport each get their own chapter in Alien Sites. Famous abduction stories from around the world are featured in Alien ­Abductions, and a quick tour of everyone’s favorite Hollywood aliens can be found in Aliens in the Movies. But these books feature more than just a regurgitation of unproven theories. Stories like Puma Punku are decisively debunked and alternative theories to alien abductions are offered. Readers will learn about sleep paralysis and how current events can impact perceptions of UFOs. Throughout the books, ­readers will encounter sections titled “Think About It” that offer questions for further critical thinking. The text itself, which is written in short, concise sentences, leaves readers with plenty of topics for discussion. Back matter includes a glossary, index, and short list of further reading. VERDICT A series that is both entertaining and filled with facts.

GISH, Melissa. Bigfoot. ISBN 9781640264861.
––––. Elves. ISBN 9781640264878.
––––. Fairies. ISBN 9781640264885.
––––. Ghouls. ISBN 9781640264892.
––––. Hippogriffs. ISBN 9781640264908.
––––. Trolls. ISBN 9781640264915.
ea vol: 24p. (Amazing Mysteries). The Creative Company/Creative Education. Jan. 2022. Tr $31.35.
Gr 3-6 –How does Bigfoot communicate? Where do elves live? How do fairies party? Interested readers will learn the answers to questions they never thought to ask in this fact-filled series. Each creature has their roots traced back to their mythological origin story. Global belief and appearances are shared alongside historical and modern illustrations. When possible, photographic evidence is shared such as plaster casts of Bigfoot’s feet. The books move beyond the typical Western understanding of these myths and introduce readers to the Aziza, West African fairies that live in anthills, and the si’lwah, an ancient Arabian shapeshifting ghoul. While there is no glossary, vocabulary words can be found at the bottom of each page and contain some words that are sure to expand readers’ vocabulary. VERDICT An entertaining gateway into world culture and mythology. A great pick for reluctant readers.

Upper Middle School to High School

Buckey, A. W. Greek Mythology Gods. ISBN 9781678202545.
––––. Greek Mythology Stories. ISBN 9781678202620.
MacCarald, Clara. Greek Mythology Goddesses. ISBN 9781678202569.
––––. Greek Mythology Monsters. ISBN 9781678202606.
Spalding, Maddie. Greek Mythology Heroes and Villains. ISBN 9781678202583.
ea vol: 80p. (The World of Greek Mythology). ReferencePoint/BrightPoint. Mar. 2022. Tr $31.95.
Gr 7 Up –This series covers the usual territory concerning Greek mythology. Each book begins with a bulleted list of key points discussed in the text. The language is easy to read and written in short sentences surrounded by white space. Captioned images of statues, artwork, and antiquities accompany the text. Text boxes provide more detail about topics like the origin of the sphinx and traveling to the underworld. A glossary, source notes, index, and further research section are included. VERDICT There is nothing new in this ­series; only purchase if you are lacking Greek ­mythology books for reluctant readers.

Readers who like a creepy narrative will enjoy “Legendary Creatures” (The Child’s World) while children looking for a more global understanding of the beliefs surrounding popular legends will benefit from “­Amazing Mysteries” (The Creative Company/
Creative Education). True believers will like “Hauntings” (Abdo/Pop/DiscoverRoo) while someone looking for alternative explanations will want to turn to “Aliens!” (Bookstaves/12-Story Library). Curious readers will delight in this season’s attention to myth and mystery.