cryptid creatures...in russia?
CRYPTID CREATUREs: A field guide-- Fall 2019 SAsquatch/Little Bigfoot
REVIEWS
Loren Coleman
Director, International Museum of Cryptozoology
Portland, ME
Highly recommend CRYPTID CREATURES: A Field Guide by Kelly Milner Halls, illus by Rick Spears. Rarely do I talk of a kids’ book for birthday & holiday shopping, but this one’s a good title for 2019. Loren also named the book one of the top cryptozoology books of 2019 HERE. Thanks, Loren!
Publisher's Weekly
September 2019
Among the 50 cryptid animals and beasts introduced in this guide are some that actually do—or once did—exist. Alongside the real creatures (the extinct aquatic coelacanth and the squirrellike isothrix barbarabrownae), subjects include infamous monsters: the Chupacabra, Kraken, Bigfoot, and Mothman, as well as those less familiar, such as the “Drop Bear” (“a ferocious, large-dog-size koala cousin” that drops from the trees) and the “Loveland Frog” (a bipedal amphibian). For each subject, Halls includes a “Reality Rating,” identifying whether the creature has been determined to be real, a hoax, or somewhere in between. Spears’s ashy blue drawings have the impromptu feel of field sketches, while facts and alleged eyewitness accounts lend further credence to this fun handbook. Halls also provides a heartening message to readers: for any cryptid proven nonexistent, there are plenty of other weird and wonderful species to compensate.
Kirkus
May 2019
A collection of creepy cryptids for the courageous connoisseur.This alphabetic encyclopedia of 50 creatures rates each from one to six stars, where one is a confirmed hoax (Australia's Drop Bear, a killer koala conceived to scare tourists) and six is a creature once known as a cryptid that is now accepted as real (Peru's Isothrix barbarabrownae, an elusive tree squirrel). In addition, Halls classifies each by type: aerial, aquatic, humanoid, etc., and offers a comparison to a familiar real-world animal (e.g. the Dingonek from Kenya is "cat-like"). Along with the date and location of the first putative sighting, each entry offers a "factoid," a summary of eyewitness accounts, and usually three black-and-white pencil illustrations: the adult beast, its skull, and a baby or juvenile version. Factoids are tidbits not included in the eyewitness accounts that usually relate the beast's history. Here and there throughout the text are single-page "Cryptid Extras," including a rundown of cryptid appearances in cartoons and video games and the address of the International Museum of Cryptozoology in Portland, Maine. A list of cryptids by type, many more than are in this volume, a further reading list of books and online articles, and a glossary close this fantastical field guide. Just enough info to whet the appetites of budding cryptozoologists. (Nonfiction. 8-14)
Kid Lit Reviews
November 2019
Cryptid Creatures is a well-researched and written field guide of 50 cryptid creatures—there are so many more—from Ahools to Yetis. Anyone who has even the slightest interest in cryptid creatures needs to check out this book. For each animal, listed alphabetically (with enunciation where needed), the author created an quick information box containing its name, when and where it was first spotted, the type of cryptid it is, and the probability of it being a real animal or a hoax. The author then offers a narrative for each cryptid offering any known facts and eyewitness accounts.
The artist adds several sketches of each creature, including a skull and an infant. Many of these made me cringe as Spears renders some of these cryptids creepier than I imagined. The Dover Demon looks like an alien from Area 51. More than one looks similar to Bigfoot. The Piltdown Man looks like he is from the age of cavemen, though only first seen in 1912 England. I think Spears did a magnificent job of illustrating each creature and without those images Cryptid Creatures would lose its flair.
More via link!
Manhattan Book Review
October 2019
You probably know Bigfoot, the Jersey Devil, or the Mothman. (Perhaps not personally, but still.) But did you know there’s a whole world of cryptids that might be out there? For instance, have you heard of the Loveland Frog, the Tsuchinoko, or the Dover Demon? Exactly. Mother Nature has all sorts of tricks up her sleeves, and whether these creatures are real or mythical, they’re bound to excite the imagination.
Let your imagination (or your nightmares) run wild with Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide. This is a handbook that explores all sorts of cryptid creatures that have been reportedly spotted over the years. Unlike many books about paranormal creatures, this one doesn’t choose sides. Instead it opts to include hoaxes and rediscovered creatures alongside unproven ones. The book even goes so far as to offer a “reality rating” for each creature, employing a scale of one to six stars, running the gamut from “proven as a hoax” to “confirmed as a real creature.”
As fun as the write-ups are for each creature, the real highlight of the book is the drawings that accompany each entry. Drawn in a pencil-sketch style that evokes birdwatchers and other observers, the cryptids come to life in unexpected fashion. (And the sketches of what the artist imagines the younger versions of the cryptids would look like are anime-adorable, with big eyes and softened features.)
Cryptid Creatures is a joyful romp through a world of possibility.
School Library Connections
September 2019
Mimicking traditional field guides in size and layout, this book introduces readers to 50 creatures that witnesses claim to have encountered throughout history and up to the present day. The book devotes two to three pages per entry, starting with a chart that contains dates and locations of reported sightings, category of cryptid (e.g. terrestrial, ape-like, aquatic, cat-like), and a “reality rating” that evaluates how likely it is that the creature truly exists. Multiple eyewitness accounts are provided, spanning decades and sometimes centuries, with some sightings as recent as 2018. Spears’ speculative black-and-white drawings are engaging as well as helpful for readers examining the believability of these creatures. The book’s introduction challenges young people to think critically and evaluate the information provided and encourages them to do further research on their own. Back matter includes a “Read More About It" section filled with books and websites to help young investigators get started. Those who already own Halls, Spears, and Young’s Tales of the Cryptids (Darby Creek 2006) will be happy to know that although this field guide seems inspired by that book’s “cryptidictionary,” many new creatures are featured, and descriptions and eyewitness accounts are updated and expanded for classic favorites like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. This is a solid addition for libraries serving elementary and middle school students. Michelle Glatt, Librarian, Chiddix Junior High School, Normal, Illinois -- Recommended
Early Book Review
BlogLovin' Sharon the Librarian
Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide, written by Kelly Milner Halls and illustrated by Rick Spears, is currently scheduled for release on September 24 2019. Cryptozoology is the study of mysterious creatures that fall between the realm of real and imaginary on the scientific spectrum. Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide offers a closer look at fifty of these amazing creatures, examining the best possible evidence for each, including scientific papers, magazine and newspaper articles, and credible eyewitness accounts. These fifty cryptids are arranged in order alphabetically, and in addition to speculative illustrations, include details like when they were first reported, whether they are terrestrial, aerial, or aquatic, and each have a reality rating of 1 to 6, in which 1 means that the cryptid has been confirmed as a hoax, and 6 means the cryptid has been proven as real. This guide might inspire curious readers to investigate more on their own, and maybe even help to prove if a cryptid is a hoax or is real.
Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide is a book that I think will be in my house hold as soon as it is released in print, as my children and I love this sort of thing. This book takes a look at some common (and some less known) creatures of legend and lore. I like that fossil evidence, eye witness accounts, and scientific research is used to really look at whether these cryptid creatures could be real, or could have been in the past. I also like that the probability of these creatures existing is looked at logically to try to understand obstacles and dangers they would face, or could cause, in the areas they are expected to live. I also like how towards the end of the book the creatures are listed again, but by creature types rather than in alphabetical order. It is interesting to see how common some cryptid types are across cultures, while others are very specific to a particular region. The endpages with additional reading will help readers further explore the subject, and information on the creatures that interest them most. I think this is a well done collection, and it will please many interested readers from a variety of ages and reading levels.
Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide is an interesting and well researched look at fifty creatures in cryptozoology. While this only touches the surface of such creatures and legends, it is a great resource and read for those interested.
Four Stars -- A Great Book!
Weekend Notes
September 2019
Cryptids are animals which are believed by some people to exist, but for whose existence there is not currently sufficient scientific evidence, like the Chupacabra, or the Yeti. Cryptozoology is the search for such creatures, based mainly on anecdotes and supposed sightings. Sometimes cryptids turn out to really exist, or to have once existed, while others are proven to be deliberate hoaxes or mistakes. Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide looks at 50 such creatures, with the aim of providing the best available evidence for their existence. It is written by Kelly Milner Halls, author of In Search of Sasquatch and Alien Investigation: Searching for the Truth about UFOs and Aliens, and illustrated by Rick Spears.
The creatures are arranged in alphabetical order, and given a rating from 1 to 6, with 1 being "proven a hoax" and 6 being "proven real" (and therefore no longer a cryptid). There is information about where each creature has been sighted, or was rumoured to exist, the history of any sightings or evidence as well as references to some of the creatures in popular culture. The illustrations are quite cute, and the text is simple and straightforward, suited to younger readers and there is a nice range of creatures covered, including a fair few I'd never heard of. As an Australian, I was delighted to see that Drop Bears were included.
I'm a little dubious about the ratings, since Bigfoot is rated at 5 ("may be confirmed as real in the not so distant future"). The author mentions the famous Patterson-Gimlin film that is supposed to be a sighting of the creature, but fails to mention criticism of the film, including the claim of Bob Heironomus, a labourer, that Gimlin offered to pay him $1000 to dress up as Bigfoot for the film. Perhaps Bigfoot is a favourite of the author's and she just really wants them to exist.
Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide is a fun book which will probably appeal to animal lovers and people who are interested in mysteries and historical hoaxes. It's not the most detailed or accurate information about cryptids available, but it does cover a fair few of them and is a quick, easy read.
Author's Note: I interviewed Bob Gimlin face-to-face. He denies Heironomus's claim. along with a string of other claims. I found Gimlin quite credible and could not find Heironomus or any of his associates for interview.
School Library Journal
September 1, 2019
For lovers of bigfoot, ten-foot squid, and other unusual and maybe not real beasts, this “field guide” shares about 50 of these creatures known as cryptids. According to the introduction, cryptozoology is the study of real and imaginary animals that have been observed but not scientifically documented. These cryptids are listed in alphabetical order and start with a text box with first sighting, location, type of cryptid and a reality rating with stars. One star is a hoax, and si stars means it has been proven to be real. Each entry has about three pages that include a drawing of an adult, a detail of a body part (arm, skull, tentacle), and a drawing of what the young animal looks like. Unfortunately, none of this information has cited resources to indicate where the information about each creature was found. And although there are a few pages devoted to materials for further reading and the book contains lots of details, including eyewitness accounts that appear to creat a sense of truth, how much can readers believe when even the topic is questionable? VERDICT What could have been a wonderful browsing title for lovers of strange beasts is visually unappealing with a disappointing format. Small size, dense text, and pen drawings will not draw excited young readers into this title. A larger format with some color would have been a wonderful addition, but in this format, most readers will be disappointed or bored. – Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City
Author's Note: Ms. Lissim seems concerned about my sourcing. For her benefit, and for the benefit of others, the bibliography is included HERE -- 11 books, 6 interviews, 146 articles, 22 websites and 14 videos.
April 21, 2019
Hello Mrs. Halls,
I finished reading your new book and I think its amazing. I love how you talked about modern 21st century references and the relevance of cryptozoology in current pop culture (The International Cryptozoology Museum, The Cryptkins toys, Cartoon series, etc.). I also love the upgraded reality rating system you made in the book and how unbiased it was regardless of the particular cryptid's fame. For example the odds of the Loch Ness monster being real is very unlikely, but nevertheless there is some unexplainable evidence that cannot be easily dismissed and so the 3 star rating is just right. I love the website links you added at the end for further research and how you referenced reputable cryptozoologists such as Loren Coleman and Ivan T Sanderson. Needless to say I loved it; the fact it mentions obscure cryptids, teaches more about popular ones, and gives you information to pursue on your own. I have absolutely no complaints and the drawings by Mr. Spears are amazing. Its a perfect sequel to Tales of the Cryptids. Thank you so much for letting me read it and I'll cherish it just as much as its prequal. Thank you :)
-Sincerely
Aiven P.
Loren Coleman
Director, International Museum of Cryptozoology
Portland, ME
Highly recommend CRYPTID CREATURES: A Field Guide by Kelly Milner Halls, illus by Rick Spears. Rarely do I talk of a kids’ book for birthday & holiday shopping, but this one’s a good title for 2019. Loren also named the book one of the top cryptozoology books of 2019 HERE. Thanks, Loren!
Publisher's Weekly
September 2019
Among the 50 cryptid animals and beasts introduced in this guide are some that actually do—or once did—exist. Alongside the real creatures (the extinct aquatic coelacanth and the squirrellike isothrix barbarabrownae), subjects include infamous monsters: the Chupacabra, Kraken, Bigfoot, and Mothman, as well as those less familiar, such as the “Drop Bear” (“a ferocious, large-dog-size koala cousin” that drops from the trees) and the “Loveland Frog” (a bipedal amphibian). For each subject, Halls includes a “Reality Rating,” identifying whether the creature has been determined to be real, a hoax, or somewhere in between. Spears’s ashy blue drawings have the impromptu feel of field sketches, while facts and alleged eyewitness accounts lend further credence to this fun handbook. Halls also provides a heartening message to readers: for any cryptid proven nonexistent, there are plenty of other weird and wonderful species to compensate.
Kirkus
May 2019
A collection of creepy cryptids for the courageous connoisseur.This alphabetic encyclopedia of 50 creatures rates each from one to six stars, where one is a confirmed hoax (Australia's Drop Bear, a killer koala conceived to scare tourists) and six is a creature once known as a cryptid that is now accepted as real (Peru's Isothrix barbarabrownae, an elusive tree squirrel). In addition, Halls classifies each by type: aerial, aquatic, humanoid, etc., and offers a comparison to a familiar real-world animal (e.g. the Dingonek from Kenya is "cat-like"). Along with the date and location of the first putative sighting, each entry offers a "factoid," a summary of eyewitness accounts, and usually three black-and-white pencil illustrations: the adult beast, its skull, and a baby or juvenile version. Factoids are tidbits not included in the eyewitness accounts that usually relate the beast's history. Here and there throughout the text are single-page "Cryptid Extras," including a rundown of cryptid appearances in cartoons and video games and the address of the International Museum of Cryptozoology in Portland, Maine. A list of cryptids by type, many more than are in this volume, a further reading list of books and online articles, and a glossary close this fantastical field guide. Just enough info to whet the appetites of budding cryptozoologists. (Nonfiction. 8-14)
Kid Lit Reviews
November 2019
Cryptid Creatures is a well-researched and written field guide of 50 cryptid creatures—there are so many more—from Ahools to Yetis. Anyone who has even the slightest interest in cryptid creatures needs to check out this book. For each animal, listed alphabetically (with enunciation where needed), the author created an quick information box containing its name, when and where it was first spotted, the type of cryptid it is, and the probability of it being a real animal or a hoax. The author then offers a narrative for each cryptid offering any known facts and eyewitness accounts.
The artist adds several sketches of each creature, including a skull and an infant. Many of these made me cringe as Spears renders some of these cryptids creepier than I imagined. The Dover Demon looks like an alien from Area 51. More than one looks similar to Bigfoot. The Piltdown Man looks like he is from the age of cavemen, though only first seen in 1912 England. I think Spears did a magnificent job of illustrating each creature and without those images Cryptid Creatures would lose its flair.
More via link!
Manhattan Book Review
October 2019
You probably know Bigfoot, the Jersey Devil, or the Mothman. (Perhaps not personally, but still.) But did you know there’s a whole world of cryptids that might be out there? For instance, have you heard of the Loveland Frog, the Tsuchinoko, or the Dover Demon? Exactly. Mother Nature has all sorts of tricks up her sleeves, and whether these creatures are real or mythical, they’re bound to excite the imagination.
Let your imagination (or your nightmares) run wild with Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide. This is a handbook that explores all sorts of cryptid creatures that have been reportedly spotted over the years. Unlike many books about paranormal creatures, this one doesn’t choose sides. Instead it opts to include hoaxes and rediscovered creatures alongside unproven ones. The book even goes so far as to offer a “reality rating” for each creature, employing a scale of one to six stars, running the gamut from “proven as a hoax” to “confirmed as a real creature.”
As fun as the write-ups are for each creature, the real highlight of the book is the drawings that accompany each entry. Drawn in a pencil-sketch style that evokes birdwatchers and other observers, the cryptids come to life in unexpected fashion. (And the sketches of what the artist imagines the younger versions of the cryptids would look like are anime-adorable, with big eyes and softened features.)
Cryptid Creatures is a joyful romp through a world of possibility.
School Library Connections
September 2019
Mimicking traditional field guides in size and layout, this book introduces readers to 50 creatures that witnesses claim to have encountered throughout history and up to the present day. The book devotes two to three pages per entry, starting with a chart that contains dates and locations of reported sightings, category of cryptid (e.g. terrestrial, ape-like, aquatic, cat-like), and a “reality rating” that evaluates how likely it is that the creature truly exists. Multiple eyewitness accounts are provided, spanning decades and sometimes centuries, with some sightings as recent as 2018. Spears’ speculative black-and-white drawings are engaging as well as helpful for readers examining the believability of these creatures. The book’s introduction challenges young people to think critically and evaluate the information provided and encourages them to do further research on their own. Back matter includes a “Read More About It" section filled with books and websites to help young investigators get started. Those who already own Halls, Spears, and Young’s Tales of the Cryptids (Darby Creek 2006) will be happy to know that although this field guide seems inspired by that book’s “cryptidictionary,” many new creatures are featured, and descriptions and eyewitness accounts are updated and expanded for classic favorites like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. This is a solid addition for libraries serving elementary and middle school students. Michelle Glatt, Librarian, Chiddix Junior High School, Normal, Illinois -- Recommended
Early Book Review
BlogLovin' Sharon the Librarian
Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide, written by Kelly Milner Halls and illustrated by Rick Spears, is currently scheduled for release on September 24 2019. Cryptozoology is the study of mysterious creatures that fall between the realm of real and imaginary on the scientific spectrum. Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide offers a closer look at fifty of these amazing creatures, examining the best possible evidence for each, including scientific papers, magazine and newspaper articles, and credible eyewitness accounts. These fifty cryptids are arranged in order alphabetically, and in addition to speculative illustrations, include details like when they were first reported, whether they are terrestrial, aerial, or aquatic, and each have a reality rating of 1 to 6, in which 1 means that the cryptid has been confirmed as a hoax, and 6 means the cryptid has been proven as real. This guide might inspire curious readers to investigate more on their own, and maybe even help to prove if a cryptid is a hoax or is real.
Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide is a book that I think will be in my house hold as soon as it is released in print, as my children and I love this sort of thing. This book takes a look at some common (and some less known) creatures of legend and lore. I like that fossil evidence, eye witness accounts, and scientific research is used to really look at whether these cryptid creatures could be real, or could have been in the past. I also like that the probability of these creatures existing is looked at logically to try to understand obstacles and dangers they would face, or could cause, in the areas they are expected to live. I also like how towards the end of the book the creatures are listed again, but by creature types rather than in alphabetical order. It is interesting to see how common some cryptid types are across cultures, while others are very specific to a particular region. The endpages with additional reading will help readers further explore the subject, and information on the creatures that interest them most. I think this is a well done collection, and it will please many interested readers from a variety of ages and reading levels.
Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide is an interesting and well researched look at fifty creatures in cryptozoology. While this only touches the surface of such creatures and legends, it is a great resource and read for those interested.
Four Stars -- A Great Book!
Weekend Notes
September 2019
Cryptids are animals which are believed by some people to exist, but for whose existence there is not currently sufficient scientific evidence, like the Chupacabra, or the Yeti. Cryptozoology is the search for such creatures, based mainly on anecdotes and supposed sightings. Sometimes cryptids turn out to really exist, or to have once existed, while others are proven to be deliberate hoaxes or mistakes. Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide looks at 50 such creatures, with the aim of providing the best available evidence for their existence. It is written by Kelly Milner Halls, author of In Search of Sasquatch and Alien Investigation: Searching for the Truth about UFOs and Aliens, and illustrated by Rick Spears.
The creatures are arranged in alphabetical order, and given a rating from 1 to 6, with 1 being "proven a hoax" and 6 being "proven real" (and therefore no longer a cryptid). There is information about where each creature has been sighted, or was rumoured to exist, the history of any sightings or evidence as well as references to some of the creatures in popular culture. The illustrations are quite cute, and the text is simple and straightforward, suited to younger readers and there is a nice range of creatures covered, including a fair few I'd never heard of. As an Australian, I was delighted to see that Drop Bears were included.
I'm a little dubious about the ratings, since Bigfoot is rated at 5 ("may be confirmed as real in the not so distant future"). The author mentions the famous Patterson-Gimlin film that is supposed to be a sighting of the creature, but fails to mention criticism of the film, including the claim of Bob Heironomus, a labourer, that Gimlin offered to pay him $1000 to dress up as Bigfoot for the film. Perhaps Bigfoot is a favourite of the author's and she just really wants them to exist.
Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide is a fun book which will probably appeal to animal lovers and people who are interested in mysteries and historical hoaxes. It's not the most detailed or accurate information about cryptids available, but it does cover a fair few of them and is a quick, easy read.
Author's Note: I interviewed Bob Gimlin face-to-face. He denies Heironomus's claim. along with a string of other claims. I found Gimlin quite credible and could not find Heironomus or any of his associates for interview.
School Library Journal
September 1, 2019
For lovers of bigfoot, ten-foot squid, and other unusual and maybe not real beasts, this “field guide” shares about 50 of these creatures known as cryptids. According to the introduction, cryptozoology is the study of real and imaginary animals that have been observed but not scientifically documented. These cryptids are listed in alphabetical order and start with a text box with first sighting, location, type of cryptid and a reality rating with stars. One star is a hoax, and si stars means it has been proven to be real. Each entry has about three pages that include a drawing of an adult, a detail of a body part (arm, skull, tentacle), and a drawing of what the young animal looks like. Unfortunately, none of this information has cited resources to indicate where the information about each creature was found. And although there are a few pages devoted to materials for further reading and the book contains lots of details, including eyewitness accounts that appear to creat a sense of truth, how much can readers believe when even the topic is questionable? VERDICT What could have been a wonderful browsing title for lovers of strange beasts is visually unappealing with a disappointing format. Small size, dense text, and pen drawings will not draw excited young readers into this title. A larger format with some color would have been a wonderful addition, but in this format, most readers will be disappointed or bored. – Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City
Author's Note: Ms. Lissim seems concerned about my sourcing. For her benefit, and for the benefit of others, the bibliography is included HERE -- 11 books, 6 interviews, 146 articles, 22 websites and 14 videos.
April 21, 2019
Hello Mrs. Halls,
I finished reading your new book and I think its amazing. I love how you talked about modern 21st century references and the relevance of cryptozoology in current pop culture (The International Cryptozoology Museum, The Cryptkins toys, Cartoon series, etc.). I also love the upgraded reality rating system you made in the book and how unbiased it was regardless of the particular cryptid's fame. For example the odds of the Loch Ness monster being real is very unlikely, but nevertheless there is some unexplainable evidence that cannot be easily dismissed and so the 3 star rating is just right. I love the website links you added at the end for further research and how you referenced reputable cryptozoologists such as Loren Coleman and Ivan T Sanderson. Needless to say I loved it; the fact it mentions obscure cryptids, teaches more about popular ones, and gives you information to pursue on your own. I have absolutely no complaints and the drawings by Mr. Spears are amazing. Its a perfect sequel to Tales of the Cryptids. Thank you so much for letting me read it and I'll cherish it just as much as its prequal. Thank you :)
-Sincerely
Aiven P.
Cryptid creature bibliography
Susan Lissim who wrote a review for the School Library Journal suggested there was no way to evaluate the sources I used to create Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide. For Ms. Lissim and others curious, my complete bibliography is available HERE. Briefly, it includes 11 books (professionally published), 6 interviews I did, one-on-one, 146 articles, 22 websites and 14 videos. I worked VERY hard trying to source the eyewitness stories via reliable publications.
