Post by Mark T. Locker.

M is for Monster: a fantastic creatures alphabet

There are a lot of alphabet books out there. Some of them are good, some are entertaining, and a very few of them are both well-done and informative. Sleeping Bear Press publishes the lion’s share of the good and informative ones. From A is For Axel: an ice skating alphabet to Z is Zeus: a Greek mythology alphabet and all the letters in between, this publisher has probably released an alphabet book on a subject of you or your offspring’s interest at some point or another.

There are also all manner of books about monsters. Not all of them are so culturally-leaning as this one. Not only does it mention the classic Western monsters like werewolves and vampires, it also dips into Eastern and Native American legend as well. From the Chinese story of Xing Tian to the giant bird known as Roc, this book covers a wide range of mythical beasts in twenty-six short letters. Each creature is accompanied by a short rhyme as well as an in-depth discussion in the side bar. We learn about the origins of Frankenstein, cultural aspects of Baba Yaga in Russian literature and television, and anecdotes about the Hippogriff.

We have read this book every day since I brought it home from the library. It’s informative and a little creepy without being downright scary. It is an excellent find for kids who like to be spooked a little bit.