Click the cover to order the book
Illustration by Rick Spears
(c) 2007
WARNING: Chupacabras Sighting in YOUR Neighborhood!
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Did you see THAT? (Home Page)
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Welcome to the website for TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS, our nonfiction
exploration of cryptozoology just for kids ages 8 to 12 (and their parents). Writing
this book was a true labor of love. All three of us have been lifelong cryptid
fans, and set out to present the evidence so young readers could make up their
own minds.
We are grateful for the support of some of cryptozoology's rock stars,
including Loren Coleman (shown here with author Kelly Milner Halls at the Maine State Reading Awards, May 2008), Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum, and Craig Woolheater, along with
dozens of other witnesses and skeptics who took the time to help make the book
worthwhile.
Our biggest challenge, apart from photographic evidence of the cryptids,
was having more content than we had space. We hope to correct that problem by
posting more mysteries on this website in days to come. Until then,
Cryptomundo.com and Cryptozoology.com can't be beat.
We hope you enjoy TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS, a book we think every young
explorer would like to own.
Kelly Milner Halls
Rick Spears
Roxyanne Young
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"Tales of the Cryptids is a delightful book
that is both informative and entertaining for young and old alike.
For
months it has occupied a prominent spot on the end table in our family
room, and my boys have all devoured it, enthralled by the engaging
layout and artwork. It will certainly spark the imaginations of a rising generation of cryptozoologists."
Jeff
Meldrum,
Associate
Professor of Anatomy & Anthropology
Idaho
State University
author,
Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science
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PROMO, first half hour...
The sighting of an eagle with the face of a man ... in Malaysia does speak
to the book we're going to talk about later in this hour, a few minutes with one
of the co-authors of Tales of the Cryptids, Mysterious Creatures that May or May
Not Exist, an investigation by Halls, Spears and Young. It's really a
children's book and it's perfect for people who are into cryptozoology who want
to share their love and passion for these animals, these mysterious creatures,
the humanoids, that if you have this book you can send it to either kids or
grand kids...
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Review Excerpts
We've heard from KIRKUS, Booklist, VOYA, some of the world's leading experts in cryptozoology, and the real experts: the kids! Come see!
"...a delight for casual browsers and for would-be cryptozoologists alike."
- Kirkus Review, August 15, 2006
"Most kids love monsters, and Halls, Spears, and Young obviously had a grand time pulling up creepy critters to feed readers' fertile imaginations."
- School Library Journal,
November 2006
"Regional differences of similarly evolved beasts, historical accounts, scientific principles, and excellent storytelling make this account a cross-curriculum title...It is a fascinating book to browse or devour in one sitting."
-Beth Gallaway, VOYA
"Authors Halls, Rick Spears, and Roxyanne Young make a valiant attempt to find what is true and provable...and their keen interest in the topic produces an earnest but ironic tone, like watching the History Channel."
- Booklist,
November 15, 2006
"...Tales of the Cryptids, Mysterious Creatures that May or May
Not Exist, an investigation by Halls, Spears and Young. It's really a
children's book and it's perfect for people who are into cryptozoology who want
to share their love and passion for these animals, these mysterious creatures..."
- Ian Punnett, host, Coast to Coast Live with Ian Punnett
We've been boingboing'd!
"...Loren Coleman has posted his Top Cryptozoology Books of 2006. I like the looks of his pick for kids, Tales of the Cryptids: Mysterious Creatures That May or May Not Exist. My son is only eight-months-old, but I'm going to get this for him anyway. Gotta start 'em young." -
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"CRYPTIDS is worthy of being in every children's library in the world. It is time for cryptozoology to be seen as the new frontier of learning it is, and [this] book is one I would highly recommend for kids."
- Loren Coleman, the world's greatest living cryptozoologist and author of over 25 books, including Becoming a Cryptozoologist
"I would also highly recommend Tales of the Cryptids for any child who has an interest in this subject matter. Heck, I would even recommend it for those that don’t. It covers the whole gamut of cryptozoology. It is a great book! "
- Craig Woolheater, co-founder of the Texas Bigfoot Research Center and Cryptomundo.com
"Your book is really terrific. My kids have read and reread it. It has a spot on the end table. Personally, I especially like the art on pg. 6. Something about it comes closest to what I imagine seeing one day from the edge of the campfire light."
- Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum, author of Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science, Idaho State University professor and Bigfoot Field Researcher
"Anyone interested in Big Foot, Nessie, the Bunyip or a dozen other mysterious creatures would delight to find this under the tree."
- St. Louis Dispatch, Best Books of 2006
"I was ecstatic to find TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS on the new non-fiction shelf in the library children’s room. So ecstatic, in fact, that I kept the book hidden in my office until I had a chance to sit down and read it myself. It is fabulous, fabulous, fabulous (that’s one for each of the book’s three co-creators."
- Loree Griffin Burns, www.loreeburns.com
"...a fun book that respects the possibilities of the unknown and encourages kids to ask questions."
- Rebecca Hogue Wojahn
http://rhwojahn.livejournal.com/
Children's Librarian and VOYA reviewer
"Here is a book that young boys will have a hard time to tear from. This book explores ancient myths that still bind most of our imaginations even till this day..."
- Tony Medeiros, Sandbox World
Book Reviews for Kids |
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Costume maker Roberto Greco of Olympia, WA made quite a ripple on the
Cryptomundo blog when he posted video of his Sasquatch sighting . When he
explained the photos and video were from he and his wife, Lizette's, latest Halloween option for kids,
he said he was inspired by a book his seven-year-old son checked out of the library -- TALES OF
THE CRYPTIDS -- to do more research and create the suits.
We're thrilled to know we sparked a little Bigfoot-mania at the Greco
household. And it's in that spirit we share this photo from the Greco Flickr
account. Be sure to check out others, if you have time.
Click here to see Lil Squatch on his bike
And here's their upcoming Bigfoot toy , inspired by their seven-year-old son's drawings, which were inspired by Tales of the Cryptids!.
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 | | Altamaha-Ha model created for Rock Eagle Museum of Natural History in Eatonton, Georgia by Rick Spears. |
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Awards and Honors for Tales of the Cryptids
We're thrilled to pieces to announce the following honors:
Lone Star Reading List 2007-2008
Maine Student Book Award List 2007/2008
New York Public Library Recommended Reading 2006
Chicago Public Schools Recommended Reading List 2007-08
Reading Matters, Janet Allen Workshop Titles 2007
Pennsylvania State Library Association Titles for 2006
Kathleen Baxter's Return of the Booktalkers List 2007
2006 ALA YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers nominee
2006 Top 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, New York Public Library
2006 CYBILS Literary Award Nominee, Non-fiction Category
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Read more...
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Fan Fiction
They say that imitation is the sincerist form of flattery, but what one young man did after reading Tales of the Cryptids goes way beyond. He's written our very first Fan Fiction! Go, Tanner!
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Read more...
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 | | August 29, 2006 -- Cryptids coverage in the Atlanta Journal Constitution's News for Kids section. Watch for Cryptid art contest winners in the AJC on Halloween! |
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 | | As featured in TALES OF THE CRYPTIDS. Art by Rick Spears. |
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| Tales of the Cryptids is hit with readers! |
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| Is Tales of the Cryptids a hit? Could be. Let's put it this way...would your seven-year-old leave the pool to READ just ANY book? I didn't think so. |
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