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lattelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not too sure how I feel about this one. I liked it, that's for sure. I liked the design, the fact that it's so big, the fact that it has sections broken down by continents. I loved the color and the illustrations. But there were some things that didn't quite sit with me, and it concerns me that some of the things that I remarked were a little outlandish, and how outlandish other entries might be...
For example, the ghosts of the Salem Witches. I live in Boston and have spent many a day trip in Salem. I've visited countless witch museums, tours, and artifacts. And none of them have mentioned witch ghosts, and I felt like the small entry really downplayed the fact that it was femicide. So if that was incorrect, what else in here was incorrect? And I know that this is for children and they might be playing it up a little bit, but when there are so many things that go bump in the night--like the Winchester House, for example, which really is crawling with ghosts, I see no reason to get the facts wrong on these witches.
It also felt strange that some monsters and ghosts had a "How to Beat It" section, and many others didn't. Certainly there must be a Wikipedia article out there that shows you how to "beat" these monsters and their like. Especially when this isn't my first Monsters/Ghosts atlas rodeo which have a little more detail to them. (Also, as a side note, the inclusion of Tokyo Ghoul in an entry felt a little weird to me?) Being as big as this book was (maybe a foot tall), I was a little surprised by the amount of white space there was, that could have been filled by either more illustrations or more information.
Overall, I did enjoy it, though I wonder about the veracity of some entries. Beyond the fact, obviously, that these ghosts and monsters aren't necessarily real.
Review cross-listed here!
For example, the ghosts of the Salem Witches. I live in Boston and have spent many a day trip in Salem. I've visited countless witch museums, tours, and artifacts. And none of them have mentioned witch ghosts, and I felt like the small entry really downplayed the fact that it was femicide. So if that was incorrect, what else in here was incorrect? And I know that this is for children and they might be playing it up a little bit, but when there are so many things that go bump in the night--like the Winchester House, for example, which really is crawling with ghosts, I see no reason to get the facts wrong on these witches.
It also felt strange that some monsters and ghosts had a "How to Beat It" section, and many others didn't. Certainly there must be a Wikipedia article out there that shows you how to "beat" these monsters and their like. Especially when this isn't my first Monsters/Ghosts atlas rodeo which have a little more detail to them. (Also, as a side note, the inclusion of Tokyo Ghoul in an entry felt a little weird to me?) Being as big as this book was (maybe a foot tall), I was a little surprised by the amount of white space there was, that could have been filled by either more illustrations or more information.
Overall, I did enjoy it, though I wonder about the veracity of some entries. Beyond the fact, obviously, that these ghosts and monsters aren't necessarily real.
Review cross-listed here!
libraryrobin's review against another edition
5.0
Loaded with obscure and underrepresented crypids and creatures, this oversized volume is a huge favorite for fans of the dark, creepy, and weird.
librarypatronus's review against another edition
4.0
We read this for a geography resource for a monsters, mythology, and ghosts unit study. My daughter really enjoyed it, the amount of text and pacing seemed good, and the illustrations were great. She said some things didn’t match up with what she’s heard about particular monsters before, but I’m unsure if that’s on her memory, variation in monster lore, or an actual issue with the book. One complaint from me was one I have about a lot of middle grade in this vein - I wish they would include phonetic spellings underneath the names of monsters, I alternated between potentially butchering them and googling pronunciations.
akmargie's review against another edition
4.0
The illustrations were fantastic (I want the end papers made into wrapping paper!) and the brief text explanations of the various monsters, ghosts, spirits, demons and other spooky creatures from around the world were interesting, if a bit superficial. Overall a well-designed nonfiction book.
jennbairos's review against another edition
5.0
If there are any children in your home, they are sure to find a monster they recognize in The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts by Frederica Magrin. In this book, they can follow the monster hunter, Van Helsing, as he guides them through his world of terrifying monsters!
This large, hardcover book is full of legendary monsters, ghosts, and gouls from around the world. It is broken up into sections for each continent, along with a few other special pages as well for Greek Mythology, Japanese Monsters, Water Monsters, and Ghosts of Famous Figures. Each section begins with a map showing where the monster or ghost can usually be found. The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is published by Lonely Planet Kids, so you know there is thoughtful geography and research behind each legend. The descriptions of each monster are bite-sized, with just the right amount of information for school-age readers, and each page is full of the beautiful, colourful illustrations by Laura Brenlla.
My 7 year old was interested in learning about new monsters and ghosts from around the world, and he was happy to see some in the book that he already recognized such as the Loch Ness Monster, Dracula, Trolls, Frankenstein's Monster, Ogopogo, and the Jackalope. He was especially excited to find some of the Harry Potter creatures in the book like the Phoenix and the Basilisk.
The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is one of the coolest books we've added to our children's library this year, and I think it would make the perfect birthday or holiday gift for any young reader. It's available now from your favourite bookseller.
This large, hardcover book is full of legendary monsters, ghosts, and gouls from around the world. It is broken up into sections for each continent, along with a few other special pages as well for Greek Mythology, Japanese Monsters, Water Monsters, and Ghosts of Famous Figures. Each section begins with a map showing where the monster or ghost can usually be found. The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is published by Lonely Planet Kids, so you know there is thoughtful geography and research behind each legend. The descriptions of each monster are bite-sized, with just the right amount of information for school-age readers, and each page is full of the beautiful, colourful illustrations by Laura Brenlla.
My 7 year old was interested in learning about new monsters and ghosts from around the world, and he was happy to see some in the book that he already recognized such as the Loch Ness Monster, Dracula, Trolls, Frankenstein's Monster, Ogopogo, and the Jackalope. He was especially excited to find some of the Harry Potter creatures in the book like the Phoenix and the Basilisk.
The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is one of the coolest books we've added to our children's library this year, and I think it would make the perfect birthday or holiday gift for any young reader. It's available now from your favourite bookseller.
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