Kelly Milner Halls

Every cryptid you've ever heard of (Bigfoot and Loch Ness Monster, certainly) and far more you've likely never heard of (The Fouke Monster of Arkansas, anyone?) fill the pages in this text-packed field guide. Creatures are represented from every corner of the globe, Africa to Australia, Canada to Cameroon including such legendary hoaxes as the Cardiff Giant and the Piltdown Man, Milner-Halls includes a Reality Rating scale of 1 star (the cryptid has been confirmed as a hoax) to 6 stars (the creature once known as a cryptid has been proven real). Throughout the pages, she has scattered bonus material such as a list of Cartoon Cryptids (cryptids that have appeared in popular cartoon series) and a page about the International Museum of Cryptozoology in Portland, Maine. Illustrations nicely suit a "field guide" that never takes itself too seriously. This is the kind of book any fan of cryptids will love to pore over.… (meer)

This is really enjoyable. I appreciate the artwork, the "reality rating," the pronunciation guide, and the factoids and the interesting asides about cryptid-related things. I like the inclusion of straight-up hoaxes and the explanations of them. I think this would be a great book to have at home to dip in and out of vs. a straight read-through, although it would be fine for that too if it's your jam.

There is an appendix with cryptids sorted by type; I would have liked another with cryptids sorted by region (although region is mentioned next to the cryptid in the existing appendix). There is a "Read More About It" section with further information, although specific sources aren't cited in the text. There is a glossary.

I received an electronic ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.… (meer)

When I saw the cover of this book, I thought it would be a good one for boys. I am always looking for ways to entice boys to read and what better way than animals that eat dead stuff. Death Eaters: Meet Nature's Scavengers by Kelly Milner Halls is a middle grade nonfiction book that shows a lot about decomposition and the many animals that assist with that.

This book is not a fun read, but the subject matter is fascinating, and important. Death eaters come in all shapes and sizes, live on land, in the air and in the sea. I knew about some of them, but not all. Everyone has probably seen maggots and vultures, but I did not realize that raccoons also ate the dead. I found this book to be well written and organized. The text will be difficult for younger readers, but middle grades should be all right with it. I like how this book not only shows and tells about decomposition, but how that is helpful to other life. The ending anecdote from the author finding a dead kitten, shows children that as much as death is sad, there can be meaning in that death. The photos in the book are quite good and give some up close pictures of various death eaters. There is also a good glossary and resources at the book for further investigation. This is a good book for schools and classrooms, especially when studying animals, life cycles, habitats etc. The publisher, Millbrook Press, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, opinions and ideas are my own.… (meer)