The mysteries of the deep hold great intrigue for many readers and stories about giant sea creatures abound. This is a fast-paced account of how the nightmarish stories told by sailors, from the ancient Greeks and the Vikings to more modern American fisherman, were finally put to rest. These salty old tales led to a branch of science that studied Architeuthis dux, the giant squid. The book is filled with ancient maps, many of them featuring drawings of giant sea serpents and krakens destroying ships. Side bars and inserts offer information about the writers, including Jules Verne, who popularized and perpetuated these frightening tales, and the explorers and scientists who finally debunked the myths. Photographs highlight the colossal squid finally found off the coast of New Zealand. Very little has been written about this real-life "monster", but elementary-aged readers will find more than enough here. A bibliography offers websites for further research.
Jeanette Larson, Books Editor, teaches children’s literature for the School of Library & Information Studies at Texas Woman’s University
