Dragons, giants, sea serpents-these are the monsters of yesteryear, but they lived only in the imagination. People today still like to create monsters, but everyone knows they aren't real. Or are they?
There are scary creatures in the world that may seem like monsters, and they can be very dangerous. But many "monsters" are less exciting and harmful than people would believe. The truth about these creatures-and some that live only in the human imagination-is in this book!
The black widow spider has a scary name and a deadly reputation, but its bite is rarely fatal.
"Killer bees" are honeybees which originally came from central and southern Africa and are not aggressive; however, they will defend themselves when threatened.
Komodo dragons are real. They are the world's largest lizards and live only one place on earth.
Up to forty feet long, it wriggles through the water like a giant eel, with tall red spines rising from its head. A sea serpent? No-a rarely-seen oarfish.
While a mythical vampire may "suck your blood," a real vampire bat usually prefers lapping its dinner from a cow's neck.
The reputations of these dangerous creatures - along with the others discussed in this book - begin to change as people understand them better. It's exciting to pretend, and to create scary monsters, but reading the truth about the real animals can be even more exciting.
LAURENCE PRINGLE
is known for his many fine books for young people on science and nature. He holds degrees in wildlife conservation from Cornell University and the University of Massachusetts, and for seven years he was an editor of Nature and Science, a children's science magazine published at the American Museum of Natural History. He has received awards from the National Wildlife Federation and the American Nature Study Society, and many of his books have been selected as Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association.
About Animal Monsters, Mr. Pringle says, "I've encountered alligators, wolves, scorpions, and poisonous snakes in the wild, but I was harmed just once - when I backed into a cactus while taking photos of a rattlesnake in Arizona." He lives in West Nyack, New York.
