FROM THE PUBLISHER

With a foreword by the award-winning fantasy author Jonathan Stroud, and illustration by some of the world's best illustrators including John Howe, the Fantasy Encyclopedia is a spectacular one-stop guide to the creatures and people of folklore and fantasy. From goblins and fairies to dragons and Dracula, this encyclopedia covers them all with sparkling, readable text and stunning illustrations. Discover how the magic of stories throughout the centuries has kept these creatures alive in traditions and cultures around the world. Using a highly visual approach, featuring more than 400 photographs and illustrations, this book will introduce readers to each fantasy character within its habitat and genre. Cross-reference boxes direct readers to popular books and movies starring these fantastical creatures. This is a must-have for any fantasy enthusiast!

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature - Dianne Ochiltree

Subtitled "A Guide to Fabulous Beasts and Magical Beings---From Elves and Dragons to Vampires and Wizards," this large, lush, and lavish hardcover reference book does all that and more. Its 144 pages categorize and characterize literally hundreds of mystic, mythical beings. The chapters are arranged loosely by 'families' or types of creatures found in written and oral traditions worldwide, such as "The Little People," "Elementals and Nature Spirits," "Mysterious Animals," "Fabulous Beasts," Mythical Beings," "Magic Makers," "Shape-Shifters," "Ghosts, Spirits and the Undead." There are three handy reference tools at the back of the book: a list of creatures by place of origin, a glossary of terms found in the text as they relate to fantasy creatures, and a complete index where various fantasy terms or creatures are discussed in this comprehensive text. Additionally, there is a foreword by acclaimed fantasy author Jonathan Stroud and an introductory remark by author Judy Allen on the nature of fantasy fiction both in folklore and modern media. The full-color illustrations are gorgeous and as varied as the creatures themselves, having been drawn from various contemporary and historical sources--sculptures, paintings, etchings, folk art objects, and of course a few of those famous, still-disputed photographs like the 1934 'snapshot' of the Loch Ness monster. Readers do not need to be 'into' fantasy to enjoy perusing this tome. This title would be a great addition for home, school, or library shelves. 2005, Kingfisher/Houghton Mifflin Company, Ages 10 up.

School Library Journal

Gr 4-8-While the information on this collection of humanlike and beastlike creatures from myth and fantasy literature might be titled an encyclopedia, it's not a true reference book. Students won't unearth much that they can use for reports on vampires, satyrs, or lake monsters besides a paragraph-or-two-long description of the creature and a sidebar (without any bibliographic information) offering some sample juvenile or YA-oriented books, movies, or TV shows in which it has appeared. Very few historical figures or authors are mentioned, and the cultures from which these various mythical figures sprang are not always acknowledged. The minuscule article on the roc, the giant bird of Arabian Nights fame, doesn't even mention that the tales of this creature originated in the Middle East. The book is filled with full-color photos, some reproductions, and a jumble of other illustrations ranging in quality from decent to barely so-so. Purchase this as a browsing item-pure and simple-for young people with an interest in fantasy.-Walter Minkel, New York Public Library Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.