Gr 4-7-These intriguing books are packed with an expansive diversity of mythological creatures that ranges from Icelandic giants to Chinese dragons. Folktales and myths familiar to many readers, such as those of Paul Bunyan and Polyphemus, the Greek Cyclops of Homeric fame, are placed within an international context with legends ranging from the Eastern European "flesh eating hag with fangs," Baba Yaga, to the trolls of Norway's Hedal Woods (Giants). A wealth of sidebars and captions on hippogriffs, great horned serpents, and Irish fairies adds depth to the compelling narratives. Supported by vibrant color illustrations, these fascinating and well-written tales will integrate well with social-science curriculums. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Got a kid who's sick of vampires and mummies? This entry in the QEB Mythologies series is filled with some of the weirdest creatures ever conceived. Need proof? Take Humbaba (Iraqi myth), the hideous giant with a face of coiled intestines. Or the Flying Head (Iroquois folktale), a giant you guessed it flying head. Using a hodgepodge design that encourages browsing, Malam sprints through the sagas of Heracles and Jason, and makes frequent side trips into stories hailing from Scandinavia to the Middle East. For a book so steeped in classicism, it's a little light on historical context for the most part, these could be the author's wild imaginings. But the layout, designed as if printed upon an ancient map or scroll, is great, and Follenn's artwork a rousing example of graphic novel-style menace. (The section on Humanoid monsters looks rather like a Marvel artist's sketchbook of potential new villains.) With a great grasp of lesser-known evils, this boasts countless jumping-off points for those so inclined.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2010 Booklist

Drawing on multicultural myths, legends, and tales, Malam describes creatures that have captured human imagination. Dramatic illustrations provide continuity across the series, which alternates stories with general descriptions. Occasional redundancies, factual inaccuracies, and conflation of fantasy and reality ("There have been many races of giants, and most of them lived when the world was very young") are distracting. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Mythologies titles: Dragons, Fairies, Giants, and Monsters.] Copyright 2010 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.