Amazon.com (ISBN 0609800175, Paperback)

W. Haden Blackman preys on our more eccentric curiosities with his fact-filled Field Guide to North American Monsters. Even the monster-shy will find it hard not to smile when they read sidebars such as "What does bigfoot eat?" (Everything from acorns and honey to tadpoles and salmon.) Seriously and exhaustively researched, this guide covers more than 100 monsters in the following categories: hairy humanoids, lake monsters and sea serpents, flying monsters, dwarves and giants, cryptid animals (animals heretofore unknown to science), beastmen and beastwomen ("humanoids" with numerous animalistic features), supernatural monsters, and the not readily classifiable enigmatic entities such as the bogeymen, phantom felines, and the infamous Mad Gasser of Mattoon.

Gleaned from Native American legends, American folklore, and modern sightings, this is the first-ever collection cataloging the vast expanse of bizarre creatures inhabiting North America. Laid out like a field guide to birds or mammals, the book helps the reader become familiar with each monster through photos (when available), drawings, and each creature's vital statistics: distinguishing features, range and habitat, diet, the source reporting the monster, and a rating of the likelihood of spotting each creature in the wild.

An avid monsterologist, the author offers useful suggestions for pursuing this rare field of study, including advice for how to behave during a monster encounter and a thorough sample questionnaire to use when interviewing monster eyewitnesses. --Kathryn True