Encyclopedia Mythologica

Gr 3 Up—In this pop-up stunner, Reinhart and Sabuda take on "ultimate villains" famed for "hungrily prowling the landscapes of yore, hoarding treasure and frightening the helpless." Six spectacular paper-engineered spreads introduce petrifying denizens of the classical Greco-Roman world (the Minotaur and Cerberus among others), "Terrible Serpents of the West" (famed wyverns and worms), majestic dragons of the Far East, dangerous deep-sea dwellers, vampires and their night-stalking compatriots, and ever-elusive "Modern-Age Monsters" that continue to "evade the prying scopes and sensors of scientific analysis" (the chupacabra, Sasquatch, etc.). Each chapter features a dramatic 3-D centerpéiece (Medusa brandishing sharp fangs and snarling viper locks; an elegant dragon with a spiraling, ruby-red, crepe-paper body; or a clasped-by-kraken sailing ship) surrounded by several foldout booklets presenting more information and pop-up effects. From the "fire-belching Chimera" to the "Himalayan Hulk" (the yeti), fearsome fiends from many different countries and cultures are highlighted, along with enticing tidbits from myths and legends that will encourage youngsters to explore further. In addition to showing readers that fear-invokers are as old as civilization itself, the well-written text makes interesting connections between monsters and aspects of modern-day life and culture, such as the ancient role of the dragon and tiger in kung fu, or the French water-spitting dragon that inspired architectural gargoyles. Another winner in a delightful series that combines solid content, handsome artwork, and a wow-inspiring presentation.—Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

Reinhart and Sabuda divide the wonderful world of dragons and monsters into six major categories, creating a glorious double-page pop-up for each. Not a millimeter of space is wasted; the pop-ups easily fold inside themselves and each spread additionally contains a series of foldout mini-books. The text, often showing humor, acts as extended captions for the illustrations.