(4) K-3 Fly!: Hollywood Monsters series. These slight volumes provide brief information (including broad plot summaries) about famous horror movies and their menacing protagonists. Readers learn about the "origin" of each creature (e.g., Stephen King conceived of Pennywise while crossing a bridge, a la the "Three Billy Goats Gruff"), its on-screen history, and its "legacy." Terrifying movie stills and other images enliven the presentation. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Fly!: Hollywood Monsters series. REVIEW MISSING

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Fly!: Hollywood Monsters series. These slight volumes provide brief information (including broad plot summaries) about famous horror movies and their menacing protagonists. Readers learn about the "origin" of each creature (e.g., Stephen King conceived of Pennywise while crossing a bridge, a la the "Three Billy Goats Gruff"), its on-screen history, and its "legacy." Terrifying movie stills and other images enliven the presentation. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Fly!: Hollywood Monsters series. These slight volumes provide brief information (including broad plot summaries) about famous horror movies and their menacing protagonists. Readers learn about the "origin" of each creature (e.g., Stephen King conceived of Pennywise while crossing a bridge, a la the "Three Billy Goats Gruff"), its on-screen history, and its "legacy." Terrifying movie stills and other images enliven the presentation. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Fly!: Hollywood Monsters series. These slight volumes provide brief information (including broad plot summaries) about famous horror movies and their menacing protagonists. Readers learn about the "origin" of each creature (e.g., Stephen King conceived of Pennywise while crossing a bridge, a la the "Three Billy Goats Gruff"), its on-screen history, and its "legacy." Terrifying movie stills and other images enliven the presentation. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) K-3 Fly!: Hollywood Monsters series. These slight volumes provide brief information (including broad plot summaries) about famous horror movies and their menacing protagonists. Readers learn about the "origin" of each creature (e.g., Stephen King conceived of Pennywise while crossing a bridge, a la the "Three Billy Goats Gruff"), its on-screen history, and its "legacy." Terrifying movie stills and other images enliven the presentation. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Monsters Unleashed series. Illustrated by Mark Oliver. Using the magic 3D printer that brought Freddie's monster doodles to life in the first book, a student outcast prints a monstrous insect--which quickly multiplies into a swarm. Freddie, his pals, and their own pet monsters must destroy the horde before it consumes everything in sight. Monster-movie fans will look past stock characters and enjoy the fast-paced action. Black-and-white illustrations enhance the goofy-creepy antics.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Monsters Unleashed series. Illustrated by Mark Oliver. When Freddie accidentally brings his monster doodles to life with a magic 3D printer, the creatures grow to enormous size and begin wreaking havoc. To stop them, Freddie and his best friend must team up with the bullies who inspired the beasts. Despite some shallow characterizations, the book's frantic action and creature-feature plot should entertain monster fans. Humorous black-and-white illustrations are included.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) K-3 Prayer Monsters series. Illustrated by Bonnie Pang. R. J., an orange monster girl, appears to be afraid of nothing. In reality, she fears spiders, dogs, and the dark. Her younger sister realizes that R. J. is hiding something and teaches her about the power of prayer. Written for young Christians (a New Testament quotation ends the book), this didactic text with brightly colored cartoon illustrations may be useful in religious settings.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Real Monsters series. After a somewhat lurid introduction, eight brief chapters provide overviews of the featured lizard's appearance, behavior, diet, habitat, and reproductive cycle as well as threats to its survival. High-quality stock photos accompany the accessible texts. Despite their sensationalized titles and pulp fiction–style design, the books actually address the misunderstood animals' "monstrous" reputations and advocate for their conservation. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Real Monsters titles: Gila Monster and Komodo Dragon.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Real Monsters series. After a somewhat lurid introduction, eight brief chapters provide overviews of the featured lizard's appearance, behavior, diet, habitat, and reproductive cycle as well as threats to its survival. High-quality stock photos accompany the accessible texts. Despite their sensationalized titles and pulp fiction–style design, the books actually address the misunderstood animals' "monstrous" reputations and advocate for their conservation. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Real Monsters titles: Gila Monster and Komodo Dragon.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Real Monsters series. After a somewhat lurid introduction, brief chapters provide overviews of the featured mammal's appearance, behavior, diet, habitat, and reproductive cycle as well as threats to its survival. High-quality stock photos accompany the accessible texts. Despite their sensationalized titles and pulp fiction–style design, the books actually address the misunderstood animals' "monstrous" reputations and advocate for their conservation. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Real Monsters titles: Tasmanian Devil and Spotted Hyena.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Real Monsters series. A strong, sturdy fighter, the rhinoceros beetle is the "superstar" of this high-interest nonfiction-series title. Did you know that rhinoceros beetles' horn shapes vary depending on their diet when young? Each spread has a bold title, simple text, and engaging photos to focus information about this amazing insect for early readers. A short comprehension quiz is provided at the end. Glos.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Real Monsters series. After a somewhat lurid introduction, brief chapters provide overviews of the featured mammal's appearance, behavior, diet, habitat, and reproductive cycle as well as threats to its survival. High-quality stock photos accompany the accessible texts. Despite their sensationalized titles and pulp fiction–style design, the books actually address the misunderstood animals' "monstrous" reputations and advocate for their conservation. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Real Monsters titles: Tasmanian Devil and Spotted Hyena.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Checkerboard Library: Real Monsters series. After a somewhat lurid introduction, eight or nine brief chapters provide overviews of each invertebrate's appearance, behavior, diet, habitat, and reproductive cycle as well as threats to its survival. High-quality stock photos (for the elusive squid, illustrations) accompany accessible texts. Despite sensationalized titles and pulp fiction–style design, the books actually address the misunderstood animals' "monstrous" reputations and advocate for their conservation. Glos., ind. Review covers these Checkerboard Library: Real Monsters titles: Giant Centipede and Giant Squid.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) K-3 Unmasking Monsters with Scooby-Doo! series. Illustrated by Scott Neely. In these books, Scooby thinks he sees a legendary creature ("rombie," "rampire," "rerewolf"), and the gang launches into a discussion of monster lore as Shaggy and Scooby try not to freak out. The speech-balloon text superficially covers appearance, behaviors, and weaknesses. The familiar--and not scary--cartoon illustrations and undemanding texts make these adequate introductions for young monster fans. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Unmasking Monsters with Scooby-Doo! titles: Scooby-Doo! And the Truth Behind Zombies, Scooby-Doo! And the Truth Behind Vampires, and Scooby-Doo! And the Truth Behind Werewolves.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Real-Life Monsters series. Illustrated by Simon Mendez. Appealing to offbeat, lurid, and macabre sensibilities, these titles are stuffed with facts about world's strangest marine and rainforest creatures. Some of the text is small and densely packed, and the photographs--prominently featuring razor-sharp teeth and bizarre bodily protuberances--would be better appreciated in larger format. Still, many a child will be fascinated by the contents of this series. Ind. Review covers these Real-Life Monsters titles: Creatures of the Deep and Creatures of the Rain Forest.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Real-Life Monsters series. Illustrated by Simon Mendez. Appealing to offbeat, lurid, and macabre sensibilities, this title is stuffed with facts about Earth's strangest insects and arachnids. Some of the text is small and densely packed, and the photographs--prominently featuring razor-sharp teeth and bizarre bodily protuberances--would be better appreciated in larger format. Still, many a child will be fascinated by the contents of this series. Ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Real-Life Monsters series. Illustrated by Simon Mendez. Appealing to offbeat, lurid, and macabre sensibilities, this title is stuffed with facts about Earth's strangest reptiles. Some of the text is small and densely packed, and the photographs--prominently featuring razor-sharp teeth and bizarre bodily protuberances--would be better appreciated in larger format. Still, many a child will be fascinated by the contents of this series. Ind.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Real-Life Monsters series. Illustrated by Simon Mendez. Appealing to offbeat, lurid, and macabre sensibilities, these titles are stuffed with facts about world's strangest marine and rainforest creatures. Some of the text is small and densely packed, and the photographs--prominently featuring razor-sharp teeth and bizarre bodily protuberances--would be better appreciated in larger format. Still, many a child will be fascinated by the contents of this series. Ind. Review covers these Real-Life Monsters titles: Creatures of the Deep and Creatures of the Rain Forest.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin