Vampires and Other Bloodsuckers

April 1, 2013

Gr 2-5-Each volume introduces a different paranormal creature and focuses on the stories surrounding it. Some titles attempt to examine the origin of their supernatural subjects. For example, Ghosts asks, "If ghosts aren't spirits of the dead, what are they?" which should prompt students to ponder the truth of the paranormal stories without providing hard and fast answers on whether or not these beings exist. Grotesque images and color and black-and-white photos (most look digitally enhanced) illustrate each page. The effect is often artificial and sometimes comical, but delightfully creepy anyway. Text boxes shaped like headstones deliver scary tidbits and anecdotes. Folklore is the main focus of the texts, but there are some notable exceptions for pop culture (e.g., Dracula and the "Twilight" series get nods in Vampires). Features such as "A Werewolf's Diary" and "Ghosts Around the World" are silly, but nonetheless entertaining.

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July 1, 2013
This series introduces readers to six types of paranormal creatures. Each formulaic volume relates various accounts of reported encounters with ghosts, zombies, extraterrestrials, and the like. The texts are accessible and less sensationalized than the illustrations, which are a distracting and sometimes confusing mix of photographs and computer graphics. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)