(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Minalima. Entertaining poems about eighteen legendary creatures (e.g., chupacabra, Loch Ness Monster, Nandi Bear) are displayed on faux-newspaper pages, signs, and bottle labels. The crisp digital illustrations have a slightly edgy feel; the sophisticated (and chaotic) presentation makes this most appropriate for middle-grade readers. This is an inventive and contemporary twist on well-loved mysteries. Information about the cryptids appears on the back endpapers.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) K-3 Illustrated by David Slonim. From one hairy monster to ten wriggling snakes, a costumed boy describes his older brother's mounting collection of ghoulish Halloween pets while fretting over their parents' imminent discovery of the creepy menagerie. Well-paced rhythm and meter, an unexpected twist when the lights are turned on, and creature-filled full-spread illustrations deliver a humorous, tension-filled story that begs to be read aloud.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Troy Cummings. An author writing a story with "absolutely no bears" caves to children's offstage demands for "MORE BEARS!" The bear population increases exponentially until the author demands that they all leave. The execution of this offering's meta-narrative premise feels a little forced. Cummings's illustrations have a humorous retro style.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ethan Long. From a boy who's disappointed with his pet banana to a fisherman who goes home to his wife after a fish grants his wish--for a wife--these poems, with strong rhythms and clever rhymes, are fun to read aloud. Long's black-and-white drawings match the tone, but the pages without art are too dull. Nesbitt reads some of his poems on an accompanying CD.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley