(4) 4-6 Illustrated by David Foote. Ostensibly the newly recovered journal of an intrepid explorer, Dr. Wiggins's story documents his discovery of various creatures, now extinct, from around the world. Blume's catalog of imaginary beings is punctuated by factual footnotes that may be of interest to budding archaeologists. Otherwise, the conceit feels too contrived to sustain the story, even with the help of Foote's darkly humorous sketches.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by David Foote. To dispel romantic notions about fairies, narrator Miss Edythe McFate supplies grotesque descriptions and grim cautionary anecdotes about the creatures, all accompanied by appropriately dark and spiky illustrations. Lots of folkloric information is provided, along with some modern-sounding details (e.g., thieves being punished with flying snot). After all that, the assertion that we should attempt to help fairies flourish is perplexing.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem