Monster Myths: The Truth About Water Monsters

Grade 4-6-- Rabin investigates the more popular "water monsters": sharks, piranahs, octopuses, killer whales, alligators, and crocodiles. Chapters on each of them are followed by a "Rogues' Gallery" of lesser lights in the monster genre, such as horseshoe crabs, moray eels, stingrays, goosefish, and the like. As might be expected, this is a text that does not cover the creatures or their habits in any depth, but rather focuses on debunking in a pop-style manner, which will attract monster-lovers and amateur marine biologists alike. (The latter may be disappointed at the fragmentary material.) Tips are given to avoid some basic problems with potentially dangerous creatures: "Don't go swimming where the sharks are." (A toughie, as sharks can be almost anywhere.) Heavily illustrated with excellent full-color photos, including a jaws-agape moray eel on the cover, the book has great eye-appeal. It's sure to be popular, if not the book most consulted for research. --Patricia Manning, Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.