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374 pp.
| Candlewick
| October, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-9234-6$16.99
(2)
4-6
Twelve-year-old anxious perfectionist Miranda Cho joins her absentminded cryptozoologist mom on one last Bigfoot hunt, determined to convince her to abandon "make-believe" pursuits and get a real job. Their expedition to the Olympic National Park rainforest becomes a survival adventure, complete with potential werebears, fairy villages, and Bigfoot's cave. This engaging yarn blurs myth and reality; third-person narration amplifies the wildness of Miranda's spiraling thoughts and the almost mystical forest.
181 pp.
| Dutton
| November, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7352-3176-4$14.99
(3)
4-6
Unicorn Rescue Society series.
Illustrated by
Hatem Aly.
Created by Jesse Casey, Adam Gidwitz, and Chris Smith. This collaboratively created series--told through the two newest members of a worldwide society of misfits dedicated to saving mythical creatures--is witty, fast-paced, hilarious, and great fun. Starring upper-elementary-age New Jersey kids Elliot and Uchenna, each book focuses on a different creature in need of protection. Abundant black-and-white drawings spotlight the zany characters and add to the laughs. Review covers these Unicorn Rescue Society titles: The Basque Dragon, The Creature of the Pines, and Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot.
122 pp.
| Abrams/Amulet
| September, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4197-3122-8$12.99
(3)
1-3
Big Foot and Little Foot series.
Illustrated by
Felicita Sala.
Young Sasquatch Hugo, who lives in a cavern in the North Woods, accidentally meets a nine-year-old human named Boone. The two strike a fast friendship and together enjoy looking for "mysterious creatures"--when not attending school or working to overcome their cultural differences. Lively adventures for young cryptozoologists, with short chapters and copious drawings that make for nonintimidating page layouts. Review covers these Big Foot and Little Foot titles: Big Foot and Little Foot and The Monster Detector.
137 pp.
| Abrams/Amulet
| April, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4197-2859-4$12.99
(3)
1-3
Big Foot and Little Foot series.
Illustrated by
Felicita Sala.
Young Sasquatch Hugo, who lives in a cavern in the North Woods, accidentally meets a nine-year-old human named Boone. The two strike a fast friendship and together enjoy looking for "mysterious creatures"--when not attending school or working to overcome their cultural differences. Lively adventures for young cryptozoologists, with short chapters and copious drawings that make for nonintimidating page layouts. Review covers these Big Foot and Little Foot titles: Big Foot and Little Foot and The Monster Detector.
(4)
PS
Each of fifteen spreads uses one word to describe a year in the life of a sasquatch and a lumberjack, from "strangers" (they meet) to "winter" (they ice-skate together) to "friends" (they watch the sunset arm-in-arm). Too bad the chunky cartoonish art fights with the story's tenderness. Sharp-eyed readers can track a mouse and a camera from spread to spread.
64 pp.
| Owlkids
| May, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-77147-277-7$16.95
(3)
1-3
Illustrated by
Aurélie Grand.
In this chapter-book graphic novel, Jay hopes to find Bigfoot on the Junior Ranger campout, even though his troopmates tease him for believing. Meanwhile, Sass, a female Sasquatch adopted by bears who forbid her to go near humans, anonymously pranks (somewhat dim-witted) Jay until a brief but meaningful encounter. The humor is amusing, and the visual storytelling is accessible to young readers.
(3)
YA
Nerdy Samantha narrates the story of her quirky middle-class Jewish family's time on a televised Sasquatch-hunting competition. Though she's much less enthusiastic than other family members, the prize money would help with her premed ambitions. What follows is a requisite romance with prep-school boy Devan and snobbery from the show's other contestants in this unusual but funny Pride and Prejudice takeoff.
40 pp.
| Scholastic/Levine
| June, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-85973-8$16.99
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Dave Pressler.
How should Bigfoot shop for shoes? That's just one of his big back-to-school worries, not all of which are because of his size ("What if I can't stand still for class pictures? AGAIN!"). A major part of this humorous book's appeal is Pressler's larger-than-life illustrations. A relatable story to reassure young readers that school isn't that scary (and neither is Bigfoot).
(4)
4-6
Paul's, Jack's, and Hector's fathers were friends in college. The dads decide to take the boys on a camping trip to Bear Falls, where there are rumors of a Sasquatch on the loose. In spite of numerous mishaps, the boys manage to bond during their wilderness adventures. Plenty of action and gross-out humor should entertain readers of this otherwise predictable story.
297 pp.
| Simon Pulse
| March, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4814-6351-5$17.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4814-6353-9
(3)
YA
Since her brother died a decade ago, Leah has kept a secret from her grieving family: she routinely watches the Sasquatches in the nearby forest. One day, a teenage human boy appears with the creatures. Leah's life intertwines with his until a revelation threatens both their families. Park's novel goes deeper than just a boy-meets-girl story, offering heartbreak, emotional growth, and the act of defining family.
309 pp.
| Crown
| May, 2017
|
TradeISBN 978-1-5247-0012-6$16.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-5247-0013-3$19.99
|
EbookISBN 978-1-5247-0014-0
(4)
4-6
Lemonade Liberty Witt is grieving her mother's death and angry at being brought from San Francisco to a backwoods town to live with her estranged grandfather. Lem reluctantly teams up with a boy obsessed with finding Bigfoot. Humor--along with mysterious sightings--helps offset the heartbreak. Although the plot has a few unbelievable twists, the characters will work their way into readers' hearts.
(4)
4-6
Littlest Bigfoot series.
In this sequel to The Littlest Bigfoot, twelve-year-old Alice searches for clues to her true, non-human identity; her Bigfoot friend Millie pursues her dreams of stardom in the "No-Fur" world; and Bigfoot-hunter Jeremy becomes reluctantly involved with a shady government agency. Although the revelation at the end feels particularly far-fetched, the characters and their struggles ring true, and action, suspense, and plot twists abound.
96 pp.
| Kids Can
| September, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-1-77138-054-6$18.95
(3)
4-6
Illustrated by
Phil McAndrew.
This clever book discusses whether Frankenstein's monster, vampires, bigfoot, zombies, werewolves, and sea monsters could really exist. Interweaving historical and current facts and stories with clearly explained science (in Frankenstein's case: genetic engineering, electricity, and the nervous system), Becker creates a wonderfully accessible, lively book. Loaded with sidebars, cartoon illustrations, diagrams, maps, and charts for kids to pore over. Ind.
32 pp.
| Whitman
| September, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8075-3003-0$16.99
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
John Hassett.
After the lights are off at bedtime, little boy Bob sees different pairs of glowing eyes around his bedroom. His trusty flashlight reveals friendly faces wishing him goodnight, including a big guy who'll elicit chuckles from readers. Cartoonish illustrations saturated in dark blues, reds, and greens emphasize the simple, repetitive text, which is surprisingly suspenseful yet also reassuring to soothe bedtime anxieties.
282 pp.
| Viking
| November, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-451-47480-3$16.99
(4)
4-6
After Max Helsing and the Thirteenth Curse, Max is ready for a school camping trip and a break from monster hunting. But when people start disappearing, rumors about Sasquatches start flying. It's up to Max to figure out what's going on without rousing suspicion from his classmates and principal. Pages from the Helsing family monster book periodically supplement the story but also disrupt the flow.
(4)
1-3
Calico: Pony Girls series.
Illustrated by
Paula Franco.
Four girls experience growing pains of friendship at Storm Cliff Stables camp. Dani, who's from Costa Rica, constantly feels one-upped by her overachiever cousin, Gabriela; Carly hates following rules; Kianna, still seven, faces challenges as the youngest. New readers will have fun horsing around with the girls in these high-interest if facile stories. Average-quality illustrations emphasize the cast's racial diversity. Review covers the following Calico: Pony Girls titles: Carly, Daniela, Gabriela, and Kianna.
40 pp.
| Disney/Hyperion
| May, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4231-5233-0$16.99
(3)
PS
Illustrated by
Bob Staake.
In this successor to Don't Squish the Sasquatch!, Señor Sasquatch wants to sit by the pool unsplashed: when wet, his fur gets "all squizzlefied." Unfortunately, a series of animal-mash-up pool guests (Mr. Octo-Rhino, Miss Goat-Whale, etc.) don't get the memo; later they join forces to placate the squizzlefied party. The first-rate silliness features tastefully goofy art.
(4)
4-6
In alternating chapters, Weiner tells the stories of three misfit children: Alice, a large, lonely girl with wild hair and distant parents; Millie, a Yare ("what humans called Bigfoots") child intent on leaving her overbearing tribe; and Jeremy, a boy obsessed with finding a Bigfoot. After careful character development, the book's cliffhanger ending feels rushed, but readers will care about these kids.
(3)
K-3
After the narrator encounters Sasquatch in the woods, she gets to know him ("Sasquatch likes: Video games / Teriyaki chicken..."). Then, so others can get to know him too, she makes "this book!" (hence the text on lined pages). In a clever touch: two of the cartoonish renderings of Sasquatch, all against photographic backdrops, are blurry, suggesting actual photos. A genial offering.
(4)
K-3
Autobiographies You Never Thought You'd Read series.
Introducing the mythical creature in an autobiographical format, this volume attempts to answer questions about Bigfoot--including "How old am I?" and "Do I really exist?"--by referencing beliefs and theories from a variety of different cultures. The setup is hokey and the content slim, but kids will learn basic Sasquatch lore. The illustrations are mildly amusing. Reading list. Glos., ind.