Tag: cryptids

Posted in Fiction, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Uncategorized

Dan Santat does it again with Sashimi!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Sashimi, by Dan Santat, (Apr. 2026, Roaring Brook Press), $8.99, ISBN: 9781250360007

Ages 8-12

Yes, I am one of those readers that will pick up anything with Dan Santat’s name on it, but can you blame me? Beekle? Are We There Yet? The Cookie Fiasco? Then you have A First Time for Everything and The Aquanaut… trust me, I can go on and on. My point is, Dan Santat is one of the most versatile author-illustrators out there, and I love everything he creates. His newest graphic novel, A Fishboy Named Sashimi is another home run for me. The town is Barnacle Bay, and they have their own cryptid: The Beast of Barnacle Bay. When new kid Sashimi shows up at the school, he befriends Joey, whose grandfather – GASP – has been hunting The Beast for years. Which poses a big problem for Sashimi, who’s in Barnacle Bay trying to find the Beast, because he wants to find others like him. Filled with laugh-out-loud moments and sight gags aplenty, this is a great “fish out of water” story (ugh, I’ll show myself out) with a lovable main character. Highlights include Sashimi trying Mouthbomb, a soda outlawed in three states for its sugar content, and Sashimi befriending a little octopus named Tako… in a supermarket. Endearing, fast-paced, and with the promise of two additional adventures, this is a must-add to collections. It’s going to fly off the shelves. Promise. A Fishboy Named Sashimi has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist.

Thanks again to Roaring Brook Press, who also sent me this awesome water bottle, assuring that I finally drink water while I’m at work!

Posted in Fiction, Middle Grade, Teen, Tween Reads

Tales from the TBR: Dear Mothman by Robin Gow

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Dear Mothman, by Robin Gow, (March 2023, Amulet Books), $18.99, ISBN: 9781419764400

Ages 10-14

Noah is a sixth grader whose best friend, Lewis, has recently died in a car accident. Lewis was also the only other trans boy in their school, leaving Noah bereft. Remembering Lewis’s favorite cryptid, Mothman, Noah begins writing to Mothman as he works through his feelings and hopes Mothman will eventually connect with him. As Noah works through his grief, he starts making new friends at school, but is reticent to share Mothman – or, inititally himself – with them. When he decides to make his science fair project about Mothman, his classmates laugh at him and his teachers attempt to steer him in another direction, but Noah is focused: he believes Mothman is in communication with him, and he’s determined to find him. He heads off into the woods to find the cryptid for himself. Written in verse in the form of journal entries and characters’ thoughts, Dear Mothman is an aching exploration of grief and identity. There are beautiful moments, like the formation of Noah’s new friends and relationships and deeply moving moments as Noah delves into his loss, being open about his identity, and his fledgling relationship with Hanna, a fellow classmate. I loved every single moment I spent with this novel. A paperback version released in October 2024. Cryptids are a surprising and fun trend for tweens these days, so take the opportunity to engage your readers and put this one on your shelf.

Dear Mothman has starred reviews from School Library Journal and Booklist. It was a Bookpage selection, an Indie Next pick, and a 2024 Lambda Literary Award Winner (LGBTQ+ Middle Grade).

Posted in Middle Grade, Non-fiction

Is it Real? Loch Ness Monster – Candace Fleming explores cryptids

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Is it Real? Loch Ness Monster, by Candace Fleming, (March 2025, Scholastic Focus), $8.99, ISBN: 9781339037936

Ages 8-12

I loved books like these when I was a kid. Candace Fleming, award-winning kidlit author, has a new book coming out in March. The first in a new series, Is it Real? Loch Ness Monster is perfect for paranormal and science fiction fans. Fleming combines storytelling with nonfiction and puts the reader behind the investigator’s desk, inviting them sharpen research skills. Using case studies, photos, and analysis and research, Fleming leads readers through the process of evaluation and critical thinking to decide for themselves whether or not the Loch Ness Monster could be considered fact, fiction, or maybe something in between. Using a fictitious database in the story as an example, Fleming instructs readers on how to use search terms to retrieve best results, and shows readers how photos can be emphasized to tell a different story. Back matter includes additional resources. Is it Real? makes research and deduction fun and should make a good purchase for collections where creature books do well.

Visit Candace Fleming’s author website for free activities and teaching guides.

Candace Fleming is the versatile and acclaimed author of more than twenty books for children and young adults, including Crash from Outer Space: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying Saucers, Alien Beings, and Roswell; The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun’s Tomb; The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II; The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh, winner of the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award; the Sibert Award winner Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera; the Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner and Sibert Honor Book The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of the Russian Empire; and the critically acclaimed Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. Visit Candace Fleming online at candacefleming.com.

Posted in picture books

Nessie surfaces in a new story!

Posted on by Rosemary Kiladitis

Nessie, by Ilse De Keyzer/Illustrated by Dana Martens, (Nov. 2024, Clavis), $19.95, ISBN: 9798890630872

Ages 6-10

The mysterious Loch Ness “monster” lives on in a touching new story. Rhona is a young girl accompanying her Uncle Allister on a boat ride down Loch Ness, where he’s determined to capture Nessie and get his picture in the paper. He eschews nets and fish in favor of… pancakes! Everyone loves pancakes, right? Rhona gleefully flings the pancakes out of the boat, but only a random duck is taking the offering. Will Nessie appear, and will Uncle Allister see her? Misty greens and blues add to the dreamlike feel of this imaginative and gentle story. The pages are wordy, making this a better choice for first and second graders. Nessie is a story of exploration, imagination, and Scottish folklore that readers will return to again and again.

Extend the fun with Nessie and Scottish-themed coloring pages, or this fun Loch Ness paper craft from Glenn Jones art.