Book Review: "The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters"

Title: The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters

Author: Judy Sierra

Illustrator: Henrik Drescher

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Copyright Date: 2005

Age Range: 7+ (Parents use caution)

"I did not make any of this up.

Do you know why you should have baby teeth handy when visiting the Midwest? Or why you should bring a cucumber with you when swimming in Japan? How good are you at solving Russian riddles? From Boston to Bejing, from Moscow to Mali, any place you visit has its own terrifying tales of very real creatures. Complete with handy "gruesomeness ratings," this guide offers all the important facts on some sixty-three folkloric monsters and how (if possible!) to survive an encounter with them. Meticulously researched by Judy Sierra and illustrated in grotesque detail by Henrik Drescher, here is the ultimate resource for any world traveler, armchair or otherwise, hoping to make it home alive. " The Gruesome Guide to World Monsters summary.

This is a great book to bring out for Halloween. A little bit older, this book gives information about roughly sixty mythic monsters from around the world. While technically a fiction book, as it is about fictional creatures, these fictional creatures have their place in folklore in the real world. Judy Sierra gives a brief description of the creature, their location, how dangerous they are, and if escape is thought to be possible. Henrik Drescher gives creepy illustrations that one review from Publisher's Weekly describes as "grotesque mixed-media illustrations [that] look like doodles after nightmares".

Neither the book nor the author have won awards for their work, but that doesn't mean that this book isn't worth checking out. A word of caution, however: it should be stressed to children that the creatures in this book aren't necessarily real. Because many myths and creatures are created to teach and frighten children into behaving, more gullible children may be frightened. That said, most children tend to enjoy this book, and having an idea about different creatures from different parts of the world.

I think that librarians, parents, and teachers can all have fun with introducing this book to youth. Writing assignments prompting children to create their own creatures and art assignments to create those creatures could be two activities based off of this book. Regardless if you use this book to teach or entertain, it would be a good addition to any collection.

Publisher's Weekly Review: https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7636-1727-1