Unicorns

In the latest installment of the myth-busting Behind the Legend series, Peabody takes on another creature of questionable authenticity: the majestic unicorn. Citing scholarly documents and sacred texts, centuries-old remedies and modern-day fiction, Peabody tracks the one-horned wonder and our ever-waffling belief in it from 400 BCE to today. Originally documented by figures such as Pliny the Elder, Aristotle, and Julius Caesar, the elusive equine also makes appearances in the Old Testament and ancient Chinese legends. But wait! Throughout, Peabody follows these potential proofs with additional context. The case of corresponding historical accounts, for example, can perhaps be likened to a game of telephone. And the original texts of the Bible? Peabody reminds readers these underwent numerous translations. Tejido's winsome black-and-white illustrations and Peabody's interwoven page-length asides, covering everything from the macabre beginnings of dice to a poison-peddling vigilante, further enrich the narrative. Exuberant, intentionally inconclusive, and appended with sources and fantasy-tinged further reading, this resource is ideal for honing scientific reasoning and research skills and, just maybe, kindling hope in die-hard unicorn-believers.--Shemroske, Briana Copyright 2018 Booklist

This fascinating series looks at the myths surrounding legendary creatures. Also explored are the factual or scientific bases that provide reasonable explanations for how these creatures may have entered into folklore. Each chapter is further divided into subsections and sidebars, which makes for easily digestible information. The cartoon-style illustrations tend toward dark and brooding and fit well with the subject matter. Reading list. Bib. [Review covers these Behind the Legend titles: Unicorns, Werewolves, and Zombies.] (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.