The Monsters and Mythical Creatures series continues to be an ideal starting point for young researchers interested in the weird, mysterious, and paranormal. Using fleet, descriptive prose to communicate the impressively researched (and sourced) information, these medium-length works manage to rope in just about everything, from folklore to history to pop culture. Trolls is perhaps the most impressive volume, twining together the various strands of Norse legends into a coherent, readable, eye-opening narrative that begins in the ninth century and ends with Harry Potter. The layout is a bit bland, but the illustrations are fine and varied, the sidebars always illuminating, and the back matter robust. Monster hunters, come and get 'em.

Blurring fact and fiction, each volume begins with an overview of the historical and cultural origins of the featured creature, followed by an analysis of that monster in literature, film, and other media. Some of the many supporting pictures (photographs, illustrations, movies stills) are poorly placed. "Did You Know?" boxes add interest. Reading list, websites. Ind.