The Monsters in Myth series makes a convincing bid for entry onto crowded mythology shelves by focusing on the pantheon of beasties in place of the marquee heroes: gods and goddesses. The text in each is drily straightforward, though peppered with a few dramatic reenactments of choice fracases. Still, the books are thorough and respectful of a number of ancient and modern sources and bend over backward to navigate often contradictory, interlinked legends. The Sphinx explains that though the human-headed lion was known to Greeks primarily as the riddling antagonist of Oedipus, it held a loftier spot as a protector in Egyptian society. A number of paintings and photos break up the otherwise text-heavy pages, and copious chapter notes and reading suggestions conclude. This is by no means entry-level stuff, but for kids handy with the basics and ready to delve deeper, these books will be of great use.