Monstrous

Bursting with blood, guts, history, and science, this book is a must-have for monster lovers of all ages

Could Dr. Frankenstein's machine ever animate a body? Why should vampires drink from veins and not arteries? What body parts are best for zombies to eat? (It's not brains.)

This fascinating 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.

"A fantastically researched, absolutely delectable approach to science education."—starred, Booklist

"Informative and entertaining throughout for readers undead or otherwise."—starred, Kirkus Reviews

Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Kirkus Best Middle-Grade Book Booklist Top of the List 2019 Texas Topaz Reading List Dogwood Book List for Nonfiction Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books Booklist Top 10 Sci-Tech Books for Youth Just One More Page Reading List Junior Library Guild Selection

“"Science and history are scary fun subjects in Carlyn Beccia's fascinating dissection of eight storied creatures from film and folklore. "Vampires, zombies, werewolves and other mythical monsters have induced fear in audiences for ages. But in Monstrous, Beccia tickles her audience's prefrontal cortexes with eye-opening biology, riveting physics, savory nutrition and more, to prove that 'Science is stronger than fear.' Using gruesome history (like the story of Dracula's namesake, Prince Vlad Dracula, who impaled his enemies with stakes and left their remains to the vultures) or bizarre fun facts (such as pigs created with spinach genes), Beccia ingeniously pulls back the curtain on the supernatural. The infographics throughout help simplify the complex scientific concepts she explains, making them consumable--and enjoyable--for young readers. Even math becomes enticing when calculating why King Kong is too big for reality. "Whether a budding scientist or a horror film buff, middle-grade readers of all stripes will be captivated by the inner workings of these famous monsters. "Discover: The joy of science is uncovered in Monstrous by examining eight of fiction's scariest creatures."--Shelf Awareness”

"A fantastically researched, absolutely delectable approach to science education."—starred, Booklist

"Informative and entertaining throughout for readers undead or otherwise."—starred, Kirkus Reviews

"Beccia tickles her audience's prefrontal cortexes with eye-opening biology, riveting physics, savory nutrition and more, to prove that 'Science is stronger than fear.'"—Shelf Awareness

"In 'Monstrous,' which is filled with Beccia's sharp and funny illustrations, you can learn loads of basic monster facts (such as 'Where to find the Kraken and other sea creatures' and 'The anatomy of Godzilla'), as well as more offbeat information (such as 'How to communicate with a werewolf' and 'How to become as immortal as a vampire')."—Washington Post

"[R]eaders will savor details about how history, superstition, and human perception have inspired some of the most feared and beloved monster legends."—Publishers Weekly

"[T]he connections to history and science also make the text fascinating and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny."—School Library Journal

Carlyn Beccia (pronounced Betcha) is an author, illustrator and graphic designer. Beccia's children's books, including Monstrous, The Raucous Royals, I Feel Better with a Frog in My Throat, and They Lost Their Heads, have won numerous awards including the Golden Kite Honor, the International Reading Association's Children's and Young Adult Book Award, and the Cybils Award. If you would like to know what she has in her zombie preparedness kit, visit her at Carlyn Beccia (pronounced Betcha) is an author, illustrator and graphic designer. Beccia's children's books, including Monstrous, The Raucous Royals, I Feel Better with a Frog in My Throat, and They Lost Their Heads, have won numerous awards including the Golden Kite Honor, the International Reading Association's Children's and Young Adult Book Award, and the Cybils Award. If you would like to know what she has in her zombie preparedness kit, visit her at

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