Full Text Review(s)
"Flesh-eating Tub Frogs, Google-Eyed Wart Floppers, Northern Boulder Beasts, and Toe-Eaters are just four of the twenty-seven fictional monsters described in this field guide. Each monster is given a two-page spread that includes the monster’s fictional Latin name plus its habitat, diet, distinguishing features, life cycle, and safety measures that one should take when around these creatures. The descriptions also include one large drawing and several smaller sketches of the beasts. Humorous "eye-witness" accounts of encounters with some of the monsters are also detailed.

The book is a light-hearted look at made-up beasts—some sketched as dangerous to humans and others described as mere pests. Olander’s sketches are the real stars in this book. The art is predominantly black-and-white and will surely inspire middle school students to do lots of tracing or otherwise recreate these drawings. The descriptions are brief and tend to describe the more gory aspects of monsters such as the Wearm, who enters humans through the ear canal—"the more squishy earwax there is, the quicker the invasion." This field guide is handsomely put together and is an extremely fast read. Olander’s imaginative creatures, creative drawings, and humorous tidbits of information make this book great for reluctant readers, especially boys. Those interested in drawing and monsters will also find some joy here."

"This colorful volume is chock-full of fascinating and humorous details. The encyclopedic entries provide information about the life cycles, habitats, diets, and unique characteristics of unusual creatures. Recommended safety measures are also included when applicable since some of these creatures eat children. The inspired format resembles a well-used scrapbook with page edges that look as if they are folded, frayed, and browned. Through a clever and imaginative use of mixed mediums that include ink, pencil, watercolor, oil paint, and Adobe Photoshop, Olander depicts stained and crumpled notebook paper filled with field observations including pictures and diagrams, a reproduction of a 100-year-old "wood-panel painting" of a "Snouted Grabber stealing someone’s silver," and archival papyrus scraps. Color is used sparingly to great effect: the blue eyes of a Patooty, fuchsia eyes of a Flesh-Eating Tub Frog, red teeth of a Razor-Twigged Tree Beast, and, of course, the bold, red "DANGER TO HUMANS" warnings. The spread that follows the title page includes a brief explanation of the "science of monstrology"; the "key traits" of a person who can "see a monster," including "an open mind"; and a list of tools recommended for anyone considering field study. This superb, playfully farcical presentation with its multiple levels of humor will capture children’s imagination . Warning for squeamish readers: there are references to toilets, sewage, flatulence, and places ‘where the sun don’t shine.’"