Zombies

What good is an education if you don't learn about the imminent threat of zombies? This high-interest, low-reading-level entry into the That's Spooky! series introduces the very basics: how to spot one (zombies look dirty and bloody), how you become one (a curse or virus), how a zombie behaves (it especially wants brains!), and other gleaned-from-movies tips. No nod to any historical basis is supplied, though there is mention of the film Night of the Living Dead and Michael Jackson's Thriller. Frisch puts the important part they're not real! at the back, like a shocker ending. Movie stills and actors in heavy makeup give this just the right putrid pizazz, and the final spread, Learn to Spot a Zombie, will provide the requisite ghoulish chuckles.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2010 Booklist

Gr 1-3-These image-heavy guides to monsters of myths and legends strike a delightful balance between creepy and cheesy. Large stills from movies and stock photographs are paired with pages of information on abilities and characteristics of these scary subjects. Each title gives a solid overview, with text that provides wide coverage in a short amount of space. The visuals are intriguing and grotesque but not too terrifying. Amusing features include a page that instructs readers in how to spot each creature (the vampire, for example, has notable "red eyes," "pointy teeth," "black cape," "pale skin," and "leftover blood" lingering on the corner of his mouth) and a guide to acting and/or dressing as a ghost, mummy, etc. Though the books lack consistency (historical significance is discussed for mummies, for example, but not for witches), overall they are satisfying additions, especially around Halloween. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.