Gods, monsters, farm animals, and bitcoin: There is a unique selection of series to choose from this season. Children will be introduced to fairy tales, tall tales, and mythology with beautiful new books. But there is an extra helping of mysterious and creepy titles for readers who want to learn about alien abductions, haunted locations, near-death experiences, or the Bermuda Triangle. A common feature is using children’s personal interests to strengthen reading and introduce new and exciting topics for future exploration.

Elementary

Dolbear, Emily. Alfred Bulltop Stormalong. illus. by Kathleen Petelinsek. ISBN 9781503850064.
––––. Calamity Jane. illus. by Kathleen Petelinsek. ISBN 9781503850040.
––––. John Henry. illus. by Kathleen Petelinsek. ISBN 9781503850057.
––––. Molly Pitcher. illus. by Kathleen Petelinsek. ISBN 9781503850033.
York, M. J. Casey Jones. illus. by Michael Garland. ISBN 9781503849990.
––––. Johnny Appleseed. illus. by Michael Garland. ISBN 9781503850002.
––––. Paul Bunyan. illus. by Michael Garland. ISBN 9781503850019.
––––. Pecos Bill. illus. by Michael Garland. ISBN 9781503850026.
ea vol: 24p. (Tall Tales). The Child’s World. Aug. 2021. Tr. $28.50.
Gr 1-3 –Famous American tall tales are retold for a new generation. The author uses conversational language to relay the story and follows it with an examination of the tale. Readers learn about historical facts that may have been the basis for the story as well as which aspects are made up. They also learn about different versions of the same story. The author expertly points out the exaggerated elements that make it a tall tale. Vibrant illustrations are scattered throughout the book and the pages are bordered with bold colors. The series is a treat to look at, but young readers might find the conversational language difficult to read. However, it does include excellent read-aloud stories, which is a fitting way to learn about oral tales. VERDICT Recommended for school libraries.

Rodriguez, Alicia. Cluckerella. ISBN 9781427151582.
––––. Goatlilocks and the Three Bears. ISBN 9781427151599.
––––. Little Red Riding Horse. ISBN 9781427151605.
––––. Pignocchio. ISBN 9781427151612.
––––. Rampunzel. ISBN 9781427151629.
––––. Sheeping Beauty. ISBN 9781427151636.
illus. by Srimalie Bassani. ea vol: 16p. (Farmyard Fairy Tales). Crabtree/Blossoms Beginning Readers. Jul. 2021. Tr. $19.99.
PreS-Gr 3 –This gorgeously illustrated series retells classic fairy tales with farm animal characters. Each story is short and simple, with one to two sentences per page and plenty of white space. The real gems are the full-page illustrations of whimsical animals in fairytale settings that are sure to please any kid. Each book provides guided questions to ask before, during, and after reading the story, plus writing prompts based on the book. Possible answers are included. VERDICT Recommended. Caregivers who want to help their children practice reading skills will appreciate the guidance found in this series.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Ha, Christine. Aphrodite. ISBN 9781637380109.
––––. Apollo. ISBN 9781637380116.
––––. Ares. ISBN 9781637380123.
––––. Athena. ISBN 9781637380130.
––––. Hades. ISBN 9781637380147.
––––. Hera. ISBN 9781637380154.
––––. Poseidon. ISBN 9781637380161.
––––. Zeus. ISBN 9781637380178.
ea vol: 32p. (Greek Gods and Goddesses). North Star Editions/Apex. Aug. 2021. Tr. $28.50.
Gr 3-6 –Readers learn about eight gods and goddesses in this colorful new series. Each book details prominent stories ­featuring the deity in Greek mythology, how ­followers honored them, and their special ­powers or positions among the pantheon. The series features bright backgrounds and eye-catching photos of statues, locations, and artifacts along with classical paintings to illustrate the tales. The information is relayed in bite-size paragraphs surrounded by plenty of white space. Boxes are used to break up the text into easy-to-manage segments. Each book includes comprehension questions, an index, a glossary, and further reading suggestions. VERDICT Hand this approachable series to struggling readers with an interest in mythology.

Hamilton, S.L. The World’s Meanest Monsters. ISBN 9781532194856.
––––. The World’s Most Ghoulish Ghosts. ISBN 9781532194863.
––––. The World’s Most Menacing Mummies. ISBN 9781532194870.
––––. The World’s Most Vile Vampires. ISBN 9781532194887.
––––. The World’s Scariest Zombies. ISBN 9781532194894.
––––. The World’s Wildest Werewolves. ISBN 9781532194900.
ea vol: 48p. (Xtreme Screams). Abdo/A&D Xtreme. Aug. 2021. Tr. $31.36.
Gr 3-7 –Extreme indeed! Readers will need strong stomachs for some of the books in this series featuring the world’s most famous dark legends. Monsters, zombies, vampires, each classic horror movie villain is examined. Short chapters, sometimes only one paragraph, describe the creature’s history, global incarnations, and media treatment. Readers learn how the creatures are created and how they can be killed, along with identifiable features. The author does an excellent job debunking famous monster sightings and offering plausible explanations for some widely held beliefs. For example, “zombies” may have been drugged or afflicted with terrible illnesses that resembled rotting flesh. Images of the diseases deepen understanding but will turn off squeamish readers. The pages have minimal text and colorful images with bolded vocabulary and text boxes. Back matter includes a content quiz, glossary, online resources, and index. VERDICT Reluctant readers with a thirst for horror will devour these books while also being introduced to world cultures, history, and medicine. Recommended.

Thomas, Rachael L. Blockchain and Cryptocurrency. ISBN 9781728404608.
––––. Classic Codes and Ciphers. ISBN 9781728404615.
––––. Digital Cryptology. ISBN 9781728404639.
––––. Professional Cryptologists. ISBN 9781728404585.
––––. Secrets of Navajo Code Talkers. ISBN 9781728404592.
––––. Secrets of Steganography. ISBN 9781728404622.
ea vol: 32p. (Cryptology—Alternator Books). Lerner. Aug. 2021. Tr. $29.32.
Gr 4-7 –This series shines a spotlight on cryptology, both its long history and its place in the modern world. Young readers will be introduced to influential people in the history of cryptology and their contributions to the field. They will also discover the importance of digital cryptology in the cyber age. The series examines complicated subjects such as blockchain with simplified language, but it might still be too difficult for some younger readers to understand. Throughout the books, the author includes “STEAM spotlights,” which draw attention to one of the STEAM subjects within cryptology. For example, the use of art to create Sumerian cuneiforms, technology to encrypt digital data, and math to use frequency analysis. Each book also includes a craft, glossary, resources, and index. VERDICT Quality material for a research paper but only someone really interested in the topic would pick it up otherwise.

Troupe, Thomas Kingsley. Haunted Graveyards and Temples. ISBN 9781427155542.
––––. Haunted Hospitals and Asylums. ISBN 9781427155559.
––––. Haunted Hotels. ISBN 9781427155566.
––––. Haunted Houses and Mansions. ISBN 9781427155573.
––––. Haunted Prisons. ISBN 9781427155580.
––––. Haunted Ships and Lighthouses. ISBN 9781427155597.
ea vol: 32p. (The Haunted!). Crabtree/Branches. Jul. 2021. Tr. $23.93.
Gr 3-8 –The spooky factor is dialed up in this series exploring famously haunted locations from around the world. Each title begins with a narrative that sets just the right tone, complete with creaky floors and whispering winds to place readers in the haunted location. Every landmark gets a short description including any historical importance, followed by a brief retelling of alleged ghostly encounters. Most of the landmarks receive about three pages of information delivered in short paragraphs. The majority of pages are filled with photos and creepy digital artwork. “Frightening facts” are included in text boxes throughout the chapters with interesting information. Vocabulary words are highlighted in purple. While the ghosts might be the focus of the books, readers will also be introduced to historic buildings, medical procedures, and mental health practices. VERDICT Recommended. Reluctant readers and fans of spooky books will enjoy this series.

Upper Middle School to High School

Hale, K. A. Mummies. ISBN 9781678202101.
Hustad, Douglas. Alien Abductions. ISBN 9781678202040.
––––. Haunted Houses. ISBN 9781678202088.
Moon, Walt K. Zombies. ISBN 9781678202125.
Spalding, Maddie. Ghosts. ISBN 9781678202064.
ea vol: 80p. (Mysterious and Creepy). ReferencePoint/BrightPoint. Oct. 2021. Tr. $31.95.
Gr 6-9 –Alien abductions, zombies, and haunted houses are just some of the subjects featured in this series. Each book begins with a bulleted overview of the topics to be discussed and a narrative introduction. The following chapters use large text surrounded by plenty of white space broken up by captivating images and text boxes. Vocabulary words are bolded. The author does not sensationalize the topics or discount them. A holistic approach is used that relays popular beliefs as well as mundane explanations that may disprove ghosts or aliens, but the author is respectful of readers’ beliefs. A lot of information is covered including popular culture, folklore, history, science, and religion but it never feels like information overload. Back matter includes a glossary, source notes, resources, and an index. ­VERDICT Recommended. This series provides a down-to-earth examination for some out-of-this-world topics.

Karst, Ken. Alien Abductions. ISBN 9781640263581.
––––. Bermuda Triangle. ISBN 9781640263611.
––––. Near-Death Experiences. ISBN 9781640263659.
––––. Sea Monsters. ISBN 9781640263666.
ea vol: 80p. (Odysseys in Mysteries). The Creative Company/Creative Education. Jul. 2021. Tr. $44.20.
Gr 7 Up –Readers interested in an academic review of mysterious phenomena will be well served by this series. Each book begins with an attention-grabbing introduction—a young child’s past-life memories or Christopher Columbus’s Bermuda Triangle experience. But the tone quickly turns to a reasoned examination of the history, science, and beliefs surrounding each mystery. Readers will learn about famous tales such as H.G. Wells’s “The War of the Worlds” broadcast and Plato’s recounting of Er’s near-death experience. Colored text boxes and large photos and illustrations break up the pages. The books conclude with a bibliography, glossary, index, and list of websites. VERDICT Valuable research material for unusual topics.