My Web Site - Tales of the Cryptids

Tales of the Cryptids

Coming Fall 2006 from Darby Creek Publishing!

"...a delight for casual browsers and for would-be cryptozoologists alike."
- Kirkus Review, August 15, 2006

"Most kids love monsters, and Halls, Spears, and Young obviously had a grand time pulling up creepy critters to feed readers' fertile imaginations."
- School Library Journal,  November 2006

"Regional differences of similarly evolved beasts, historical accounts, scientific principles, and excellent storytelling make this account a cross-curriculum title...It is a fascinating book to browse or devour in one sitting."
- Beth Gallaway, VOYA

"Authors Halls, Rick Spears, and Roxyanne Young make a valiant attempt to find what is true and provable...and their keen interest in the topic produces an earnest but ironic tone, like watching the History Channel."
- Booklist, November 15, 2006

"...Tales of the Cryptids, Mysterious Creatures that May or May Not Exist, an investigation by Halls, Spears and Young. It's really a children's book and it's perfect for people who are into cryptozoology who want to share their love and passion for these animals, these mysterious creatures..."
- Ian Punnett, host, Coast to Coast Live

"...Loren Coleman has posted his Top Cryptozoology Books of 2006. I like the looks of his pick for kids, Tales of the Cryptids: Mysterious Creatures That May or May Not Exist. My son is only eight-months-old, but I'm going to get this for him anyway. Gotta start 'em young."
boingboing'd! - David Pescovitz

"...The book offers young readers an intriguing look at Bigfoot and similar phenomenon that have been sighted all over the world. From the Loch Ness Monster and sea serpents to Mothman and Pterodactyls, scientists study evidence relating to each alleged sighting..."
- Marge Freking, Book Notes
Minnesota State University's
Center for Children's and Young Adult Books

"CRYPTIDS is worthy of being in every children's library in the world. It is time for cryptozoology to be seen as the new frontier of learning it is, and [this] book is one I would highly recommend for kids."
- Loren Coleman, the world's greatest living cryptozoologist and author of over 25 books, including Becoming a Cryptozoologist

"I would also highly recommend Tales of the Cryptids for any child who has an interest in this subject matter. Heck, I would even recommend it for those that don’t. It covers the whole gamut of cryptozoology. It is a great book! "
- Craig Woolheater, co-founder of the Texas Bigfoot Research Center and Cryptomundo.com

"Your book is really terrific. My kids have read and reread it. It has a spot on the end table. Personally, I especially like the art on pg. 6. Something about it comes closest to what I imagine seeing one day from the edge of the campfire light."
- Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum, author of Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science, Idaho State University

"Anyone interested in Big Foot, Nessie, the Bunyip or a dozen other mysterious creatures would delight to find this under the tree."
-St. Louis Dispatch, Best Books of 2006

"I was ecstatic to find TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS on the new non-fiction shelf in the library children’s room. So ecstatic, in fact, that I kept the book hidden in my office until I had a chance to sit down and read it myself. It is fabulous, fabulous, fabulous (that’s one for each of the book’s three co-creators."
- Loree Griffin Burns, www.loreeburns.com

"...a fun book that respects the possibilities of the unknown and encourages kids to ask questions."
- Rebecca Hogue Wojahn
Children's Librarian and VOYA Reviewer

"Here is a book that young boys will have a hard time to tear from. This book explores ancient myths that still bind most of our imaginations even till this day..."
- Tony Medeiros, Sandbox World
Book Reviews for Kids

Rick and I were guests of the Decatur Book Festival on September 2 and the AJC was kind enough to support that festival with this wonderful press coverage and NFK cryptid art contest. Many thanks to the AJC for their generosity. And many thanks to the Decatur Book Festival for letting me share in the fun.

August 29, 2006, Atlanta Journal Constitution

Courtesy of Nimba Creations

Courtesy of Bone Clones.

Rick working on an Altamaha-ha baby model for the Rock Eagle Museum of Natural History in Eatonton, GA.

P.T. Barnum's FeeJee Mermaid hoax.

One of two bookmarks created by Darby Creek to promote CRYPIDS. Awesome, huh?

How good is the book? These two actually skipped some of the end-of-school pool party to READ it! From Roxyanne Young's website and her first school visit to promote CRYPTIDS. For a look at more Roxy pictures, click this image!

Reviews

Children's Literature

The authors of this Junior Library Guild selection have all been interested in the mysterious and the imagination since their childhood. They all remember strange creatures that lurked in the "gloom of night" that both frightened and intrigued them. As Young says, "Our stories are sacred things. They define us as human beings and teach us how we're supposed to fit into the world. But sometimes we find pieces that don't quite fit, and that's when things get really, really interesting." This book provides the history behind the study of cryptids, or the study of "animals that may or may not be real." The authors provide both supported and unsupported tales, including information about these unusual animals based on scientific facts, pictures, and tales or stories of sightings. Discussion of the more famous cryptids include: Bigfoot (Yeti, Swamp Ape, Sasquatch, etc); the Loch Ness Monster and other sea serpents; the Mokele-mbembe (and other dinosaur- like animals); cryptic mammals like the Amazonian Mapinguari, the North American hyena, and the Goat Sucker or Chupacabras. The "Cryptid Close-Up" provides the name, other names, sighting locations, length, weight, and physical characteristics. Illustrations and pictures of a cryptid, as well as drawings or pictures of actual animals, are included to give the reader an idea of how a cryptid may look. Map inserts show where these animals have been sighted. Readers will enjoy the "Imagine…" introductions to the different types of cryptids that paint a picture of how it might feel to hear or see one of these strange creatures. They will also appreciate the well written descriptions and history of the various animals that are or may be supportedby expert testimonies and scientific discovery. The authors also point out that in many instances no proof exists to support the theories of some cryptids. The "Cryptodictionary," a listing of the "mysterious creatures that may or may not exist," includes a reality index that labels verified animals with five bullets, while those with one bullet are a verified hoax. Those in between are animals about whom stories have been told but may never have been sighted or had numerous sightings and have no scientific verification. A bibliography of books, articles, interviews, and web sites will provide the interested reader with a wealth of information on this topic.

VOYA

Yeti, Yowie, or Sasquatch-the elusive North American ape called by any other name probably smells as . . . gamey? The authors indulge their fascination with legendary animals in this fact-packed, highly visual volume about Bigfoot, Nessie, Chupacabras, and Mokele. Well organized into four categories, each section begins with a shiver-inducing "Imagine . . ." that segues into a second-person point of view premise that an iconic cryptid is real. Each creature gets a quick fact box that covers names, sightings, height, weight, and characteristics. Notable scientists share their observations and research, and the journalistic-style interviews with credible experts provide depth and authority. Maps abound. The images are plentiful and run the gamut of artist's models and renditions to photographs. The preface states that the authors hope readers approach the book with a healthy dose of skepticism. Hoaxes are prevalent, but refutes of faked evidence are also provided, and they are quick to point when authenticity is dubious, balancing the coelacanth (once thought extinct before live specimens were discovered) with the feejee mermaid (a ruse perpetrated by P. T. Barnum in the mid-1800s). A "Reality Index" at the end of the book weighs all the data-or lack thereof-to verify and debunk each cryptid discussed. Regional differences of similarly evolved beasts, historical accounts, scientific principles, and excellent storytelling make this account a cross-curriculum title. Nearly every article cited is available free online. It is a fascinating book to browse or devour in one sitting.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-7-Most kids love monsters, and Halls, Spears, and Young obviously had a grand time pulling up creepy critters to feed readers' fertile imaginations. From old big leaguers like Bigfoot and his kin, and Nessie and her ilk, they pop down to the minors with Mokele-mbembe and Olitu, and on into the bush leagues with the Bunyip and the Caddy. To spice up the roster, the authors provide "found" information on former cryptids such as the coelacanth and the Chacoan peccary, and data on pure hoaxes like the Piltdown Man and the Cardiff Giant. Pure scientists will bridle at cryptozoology passing itself off as anything but a pseudoscience, but readers will scramble to find data on such eerie apparitions as the Chupacabra and the Mongolian Death Worm. The conversational text makes for fun reading, and a plethora of pictures (photos and drawings in both color and black and white) will prove enticing. A cryptidictionary provides a full roster of "mysterious creatures that may or may not exist" in tidy alphabetical order, complete with a "reality index" rating for each one. For a personal reality check after all this engaging hoopla, try Sally M. Walker's super Fossil Fish Found Alive (Carolrhoda, 2002), Richard Ellis's readable The Search for the Giant Squid (Lyons, 1998), and Kathy Darling's exciting Komodo Dragon on Location (Lothrop, 1997), or, for a truly icky experience, Christopher Maynard's Micromonsters (DK, 1999), which deals with human parasites (not for the squeamish!).-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

So do they exist, or don't they? Written for readers willing to keep open minds, this populous gallery of rare creatures, locally prominent monsters and possible survivors from prehistory fills readers in on the evidence for Bigfoot, Nessie, Champ and the lesser-known likes of the giant anaconda, the flying Kongamato (evocatively translated as "overwhelmer of boats") and the blood-sucking Chupacabra. It also introduces such confirmed discoveries as the giant squid, the coelacanth and the Chacoan peccary. Interspersing interviews with scientists and even special effects artists, the authors cover sightings worldwide and down through history, present an array of speculative explanations, sum up with a large "Cryptidictionary" that includes exposed hoaxes, and close with a rich list of relevant web sites and other resources. Pictures of reconstructed models, plus plenty of small watercolor and pencil sketches from Spears, flesh out a scant assortment of blurry photos. Despite occasional stumbles-the authors can't seem to agree on just how many times the "Skunk Ape" has been sighted in the Southeastern U.S.-a delight for casual browsers and for would-be cryptozoologists alike. (Nonfiction. 8-11)Junior Library Guild selection