Monstrous
The Lore, Gore, and Science behind Your Favorite Monsters
Binding: Hardcover
Age 9+
Children's & Young Adult: General Non-Fiction
An encyclopedia of monsters delves into the history and science behind eight legendary creatures, from Bigfoot and the kraken to zombies and more.
Find out each monster's origin story and the real-world history that informed it, and then explore the science of each creature in fun and surprising ways. Tips and infographics—including monster anatomy, how to survive a vampire attack, and real-life giant creatures of the deep sea—make this a highly visual and fun-to-browse book.
Creators
Carlyn Beccia lives in Massachusetts. She's an author, illustrator, graphic designer, and historian.
Reviews
Informative and entertaining throughout for readers undead or otherwise.
Kirkus Reviews
Extraordinarily clever and phenomenally entertaining, this graphics-forward resource intrepidly investigates the science behind eight monsters and cryptids, digging into the possibilities of their existence, exploring ways to react in case of a hypothetical encounter, and drawing real-world parallels.
Booklist
Beccia explores the historical, scientific, and psychological origins of eight notorious monster characters, including Frankenstein’s monster, Dracula, zombies, Bigfoot, and others. Beccia illustrates in a ghoulish cartoon style, while infographics explore the monsters’ anatomical features and primary characteristics. Additional sections offer ‘How to’ tips on surviving creature attacks (‘If you spot a baby Bigfoot, you might be tempted to play with it, especially if it is cute and furry. Don’t’). Beccia explores the circumstances that contributed to the lore behind each being while bringing a scientific dimension to the playful concept. Alongside the text’s logical explanations (Could the Kraken really be a giant squid?), there is fun to be had, and readers will savor details about how history, superstition, and human perception have inspired some of the most feared and beloved monster legends.
Publishers Weekly
