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Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts
If you believe that all you need to fight an evil bloodthirsty fiend is garlic or holy water, think again. What you need is to keep a cool head and reach for your copy of Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts!
Have you heard of the headless man roaming Edinburgh Castle? Or the mysterious girl who asks for a ride to the cemetery and then disappears into the night? What about orcs, trolls, gremlins, krakens, bunyips and the Yara-Ma-Yha-Who?
Join famous monster hunter Van Helsing on a trip around the globe to find haunted castles, restless spirits, terrifying dragons, wicked witches, and more. Learn the defining characteristics of each beast, where it can be found and - most importantly - how to defeat it.
Organised by continent for easy monster-tracking, Lonely Planet Kids' Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts gives you the lowdown on the world's most famous ghosts and mythological creatures, each brought to life by Laura Brenlla's beautiful illustrations.
About Lonely Planet Kids: Lonely Planet Kids - an imprint of the world's leading travel authority Lonely Planet - published its first book in 2011. Over the past 45 years, Lonely Planet has grown a dedicated global community of travellers, many of whom are now sharing a passion for exploration with their children. Lonely Planet Kids educates and encourages young readers at home and in school to learn about the world with engaging books on culture, sociology, geography, nature, history, space and more. We want to inspire the next generation of global citizens and help kids and their parents to approach life in a way that makes every day an adventure. Come explore!
Have you heard of the headless man roaming Edinburgh Castle? Or the mysterious girl who asks for a ride to the cemetery and then disappears into the night? What about orcs, trolls, gremlins, krakens, bunyips and the Yara-Ma-Yha-Who?
Join famous monster hunter Van Helsing on a trip around the globe to find haunted castles, restless spirits, terrifying dragons, wicked witches, and more. Learn the defining characteristics of each beast, where it can be found and - most importantly - how to defeat it.
Organised by continent for easy monster-tracking, Lonely Planet Kids' Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts gives you the lowdown on the world's most famous ghosts and mythological creatures, each brought to life by Laura Brenlla's beautiful illustrations.
About Lonely Planet Kids: Lonely Planet Kids - an imprint of the world's leading travel authority Lonely Planet - published its first book in 2011. Over the past 45 years, Lonely Planet has grown a dedicated global community of travellers, many of whom are now sharing a passion for exploration with their children. Lonely Planet Kids educates and encourages young readers at home and in school to learn about the world with engaging books on culture, sociology, geography, nature, history, space and more. We want to inspire the next generation of global citizens and help kids and their parents to approach life in a way that makes every day an adventure. Come explore!
96 pages, Hardcover
Published July 16, 2019
5 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 17, 2020
I'm not too sure how I feel about this one. I liked it, that's for sure. I liked the design, the fact that it's so big, the fact that it has sections broken down by continents. I loved the color and the illustrations. But there were some things that didn't quite sit with me, and it concerns me that some of the things that I remarked were a little outlandish, and how outlandish other entries might be...
For example, the ghosts of the Salem Witches. I live in Boston and have spent many a day trip in Salem. I've visited countless witch museums, tours, and artifacts. And none of them have mentioned witch ghosts, and I felt like the small entry really downplayed the fact that it was femicide. So if that was incorrect, what else in here was incorrect? And I know that this is for children and they might be playing it up a little bit, but when there are so many things that go bump in the night--like the Winchester House, for example, which really is crawling with ghosts, I see no reason to get the facts wrong on these witches.
It also felt strange that some monsters and ghosts had a "How to Beat It" section, and many others didn't. Certainly there must be a Wikipedia article out there that shows you how to "beat" these monsters and their like. Especially when this isn't my first Monsters/Ghosts atlas rodeo which have a little more detail to them. (Also, as a side note, the inclusion of Tokyo Ghoul in an entry felt a little weird to me?) Being as big as this book was (maybe a foot tall), I was a little surprised by the amount of white space there was, that could have been filled by either more illustrations or more information.
Overall, I did enjoy it, though I wonder about the veracity of some entries. Beyond the fact, obviously, that these ghosts and monsters aren't necessarily real.
Review cross-listed here!
For example, the ghosts of the Salem Witches. I live in Boston and have spent many a day trip in Salem. I've visited countless witch museums, tours, and artifacts. And none of them have mentioned witch ghosts, and I felt like the small entry really downplayed the fact that it was femicide. So if that was incorrect, what else in here was incorrect? And I know that this is for children and they might be playing it up a little bit, but when there are so many things that go bump in the night--like the Winchester House, for example, which really is crawling with ghosts, I see no reason to get the facts wrong on these witches.
It also felt strange that some monsters and ghosts had a "How to Beat It" section, and many others didn't. Certainly there must be a Wikipedia article out there that shows you how to "beat" these monsters and their like. Especially when this isn't my first Monsters/Ghosts atlas rodeo which have a little more detail to them. (Also, as a side note, the inclusion of Tokyo Ghoul in an entry felt a little weird to me?) Being as big as this book was (maybe a foot tall), I was a little surprised by the amount of white space there was, that could have been filled by either more illustrations or more information.
Overall, I did enjoy it, though I wonder about the veracity of some entries. Beyond the fact, obviously, that these ghosts and monsters aren't necessarily real.
Review cross-listed here!
May 21, 2022
I'd give this book a three-and-a-quarter star rating. It was a very fun book about the many monsters and ghosts of the world, their characteristics, and how to beat them, if you ever happend to come across one. It gave you a lot of information about the creatures, so that you had a very thorough understanding of them. I also really enjoyed the pictures! I reccomend this book to people of all ages!
July 29, 2021
Love the illustrations and how the monsters are grouped by continent, my monster-loving kiddo approves!
August 5, 2019
3 stars, but an additional star for Laura Brenlla’s lovely illustrations. The highlighted monsters were fairly random and the descriptions seemed a tiny bit phoned in. Still, wonderful to look at and overall very fun.
May 6, 2020
Great introductory guide for kids on monsters and similar creatures. The creatures are grouped together based on geographic region; most accompanying explanatory blurbs are short, but some are more in-depth for especially famous creatures.
-read in quarantine-
-read in quarantine-
July 10, 2021
This was a fascinating, funny, highly enjoyable book, that also teaches you a lot about the ghosts and monsters in legends all over the world. What I really liked was that the book took the tone of this being an adventures guide, and if you, the reader, could read about all these creatures and not get scared you faced the challenge. I think this would really appeal to children and young adults, as well as adults who like the topic. The book did not take the stance that all these creatures did not exist, which was refreshing for a book like this. It was not skeptical, it was just interesting and entertaining.
Each chapter focused on a different geographical area. Many of the ghosts, hauntings and monsters in this book were new to me, so that made it double exciting to read. Some of the creatures I liked included:
Europe
Green Lady - Haunting Castle Mey in Scotland, her death hides a tragic love story, though, unfortunately this story was never explained.
Laughing Ghost - In Chambercombe Manor resides this very friendly ghost
Greek Mythology, I knew about almost all of these
Ceto - This was new to me, a giant whale monster that lived in the waters off Greece.
Hydra - This multi snake headed creature terrorized Ancient Greece, though the drawing in this book made it look more like a creature with multiple bird heads.
Mid-East
Ail - A spirit that inhabits the Hindu Kush mountains, her eyes are almost white, and if you're not respectful she could attack.
Tiamat - Lives near the Persian Gulf and she is an incredibly strong female deity in the form of a dragon.
Asia
Sirin - This is the Russian form of the Greek creature, though they are similar in almost every way. The Russian version has human hands at the ends of its wings that the Greek type does not.
Kitsune - A mystical, powerful fox, with up to 9 tails.
Africa
Mokele-Mbembe - One of my favorite monster legends, about a dinosaur supposedly still living in the jungles of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Roc - This giant bird with superhuman strength lives on Madagascar
Simons Town Ghosts - A wide variety of spirits haunts this town, including a captain and mystery woman.
North America
Julie Brown - The spirit of a supposed former witch that lives in the swamps in Louisiana
Haunted Violin - This spectral musical instrument is housed at the Martha Washington Inn.
Central and South America
Cipactli - A monstrous cross between a crocodile and a fish
La Llorona - This has always been one of my favorite ghost stories.
Australia
Spirits of Monte Cristo - This haunted homestead is the location for numerous ghosts
Last Challenge
This was at the very end of the book, and it offered the adventurous reader some final monsters and ghosts to tackle among them the Kraken and the ghost of Anne Boleyn.
The illustrations were all vivid, and brightly colored, though, in my view they did not always correctly represent the creature, the hydra being a prime example. Also, in several cases the text that stated the title of the creature was almost the same color as the background it sat on, making it very hard to read. If you enjoy spooky spirits and mythical monsters, try this book!
Each chapter focused on a different geographical area. Many of the ghosts, hauntings and monsters in this book were new to me, so that made it double exciting to read. Some of the creatures I liked included:
Europe
Green Lady - Haunting Castle Mey in Scotland, her death hides a tragic love story, though, unfortunately this story was never explained.
Laughing Ghost - In Chambercombe Manor resides this very friendly ghost
Greek Mythology, I knew about almost all of these
Ceto - This was new to me, a giant whale monster that lived in the waters off Greece.
Hydra - This multi snake headed creature terrorized Ancient Greece, though the drawing in this book made it look more like a creature with multiple bird heads.
Mid-East
Ail - A spirit that inhabits the Hindu Kush mountains, her eyes are almost white, and if you're not respectful she could attack.
Tiamat - Lives near the Persian Gulf and she is an incredibly strong female deity in the form of a dragon.
Asia
Sirin - This is the Russian form of the Greek creature, though they are similar in almost every way. The Russian version has human hands at the ends of its wings that the Greek type does not.
Kitsune - A mystical, powerful fox, with up to 9 tails.
Africa
Mokele-Mbembe - One of my favorite monster legends, about a dinosaur supposedly still living in the jungles of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Roc - This giant bird with superhuman strength lives on Madagascar
Simons Town Ghosts - A wide variety of spirits haunts this town, including a captain and mystery woman.
North America
Julie Brown - The spirit of a supposed former witch that lives in the swamps in Louisiana
Haunted Violin - This spectral musical instrument is housed at the Martha Washington Inn.
Central and South America
Cipactli - A monstrous cross between a crocodile and a fish
La Llorona - This has always been one of my favorite ghost stories.
Australia
Spirits of Monte Cristo - This haunted homestead is the location for numerous ghosts
Last Challenge
This was at the very end of the book, and it offered the adventurous reader some final monsters and ghosts to tackle among them the Kraken and the ghost of Anne Boleyn.
The illustrations were all vivid, and brightly colored, though, in my view they did not always correctly represent the creature, the hydra being a prime example. Also, in several cases the text that stated the title of the creature was almost the same color as the background it sat on, making it very hard to read. If you enjoy spooky spirits and mythical monsters, try this book!
November 2, 2019
If there are any children in your home, they are sure to find a monster they recognize in The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts by Frederica Magrin. In this book, they can follow the monster hunter, Van Helsing, as he guides them through his world of terrifying monsters!
This large, hardcover book is full of legendary monsters, ghosts, and gouls from around the world. It is broken up into sections for each continent, along with a few other special pages as well for Greek Mythology, Japanese Monsters, Water Monsters, and Ghosts of Famous Figures. Each section begins with a map showing where the monster or ghost can usually be found. The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is published by Lonely Planet Kids, so you know there is thoughtful geography and research behind each legend. The descriptions of each monster are bite-sized, with just the right amount of information for school-age readers, and each page is full of the beautiful, colourful illustrations by Laura Brenlla.
My 7 year old was interested in learning about new monsters and ghosts from around the world, and he was happy to see some in the book that he already recognized such as the Loch Ness Monster, Dracula, Trolls, Frankenstein's Monster, Ogopogo, and the Jackalope. He was especially excited to find some of the Harry Potter creatures in the book like the Phoenix and the Basilisk.
The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is one of the coolest books we've added to our children's library this year, and I think it would make the perfect birthday or holiday gift for any young reader. It's available now from your favourite bookseller.
This large, hardcover book is full of legendary monsters, ghosts, and gouls from around the world. It is broken up into sections for each continent, along with a few other special pages as well for Greek Mythology, Japanese Monsters, Water Monsters, and Ghosts of Famous Figures. Each section begins with a map showing where the monster or ghost can usually be found. The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is published by Lonely Planet Kids, so you know there is thoughtful geography and research behind each legend. The descriptions of each monster are bite-sized, with just the right amount of information for school-age readers, and each page is full of the beautiful, colourful illustrations by Laura Brenlla.
My 7 year old was interested in learning about new monsters and ghosts from around the world, and he was happy to see some in the book that he already recognized such as the Loch Ness Monster, Dracula, Trolls, Frankenstein's Monster, Ogopogo, and the Jackalope. He was especially excited to find some of the Harry Potter creatures in the book like the Phoenix and the Basilisk.
The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is one of the coolest books we've added to our children's library this year, and I think it would make the perfect birthday or holiday gift for any young reader. It's available now from your favourite bookseller.
August 2, 2019
Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is an adorable, educational map of the many monsters of mythology and the ghosts of legend. Covering most of the world's continents (sorry, Antarctica) it presents a map with the name and location of various creatures. The following pages have additional information on them, some of it "fact" from the stories, while some of it is more silly in nature to appeal to kids.
Honestly, I would've loved a book like this when I was a kid. Heck, I loved it now! The illustrations were cute, the info was fairly interesting, and overall I could see this being the beginning of a child's interest in mythology and legend, especially that of other cultures.
The only thing I wasn't a fan of? Some of the creatures were less myth/legend-based and more pop culture (like the entire spread on King Kong.) There are so many cool, creepy, and weird stories out in the world!
Honestly, I would've loved a book like this when I was a kid. Heck, I loved it now! The illustrations were cute, the info was fairly interesting, and overall I could see this being the beginning of a child's interest in mythology and legend, especially that of other cultures.
The only thing I wasn't a fan of? Some of the creatures were less myth/legend-based and more pop culture (like the entire spread on King Kong.) There are so many cool, creepy, and weird stories out in the world!
August 1, 2021
We read this for a geography resource for a monsters, mythology, and ghosts unit study. My daughter really enjoyed it, the amount of text and pacing seemed good, and the illustrations were great. She said some things didn’t match up with what she’s heard about particular monsters before, but I’m unsure if that’s on her memory, variation in monster lore, or an actual issue with the book. One complaint from me was one I have about a lot of middle grade in this vein - I wish they would include phonetic spellings underneath the names of monsters, I alternated between potentially butchering them and googling pronunciations.
August 28, 2019
Very cute illustrations and good information about various monsters, ghosts, and other creepy creatures. If you're sharing this with kids, make sure to get other books about these monsters, as it's for sure going to spark a lot of interest in young readers.
December 20, 2019
The illustrations were fantastic (I want the end papers made into wrapping paper!) and the brief text explanations of the various monsters, ghosts, spirits, demons and other spooky creatures from around the world were interesting, if a bit superficial. Overall a well-designed nonfiction book.
June 11, 2025
Fun quick reference to ghosts all over the world. It was a good tool to teach my son about the different areas of the world and what they all believe it. Big heavy book, but brought up a lot of good conversations.
August 1, 2020
Fun read with the kiddos introducing them to all of the monsters!
January 29, 2022
This is a super fun way to explore monsters all over the world. Fantastic illustrations
February 23, 2022
This was great. My kid loved finding out about different superstitions from around the globe, and he wants to know more about a lot of the creatures we read about. He's definitely my boy...
March 9, 2023
Loaded with obscure and underrepresented crypids and creatures, this oversized volume is a huge favorite for fans of the dark, creepy, and weird.
May 13, 2023
It's a very interesting read about all kinds of ghosts and monsters around the world 🌏and it's seas 🌊 !!
July 31, 2019
I loved the idea of a kids' book charting the location of monster stories around the world - it's in part what I look for in a destination!
The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts by LonelyPlanetKids.com is a gorgeous looking book, with Laura Brenlla's fabulous Tiki-esque style (which reminds me a bit of Shag's art). It's an atlas, so the large maps of continents and regions give a cute overview before each section, and an appendix introduces various water monsters of the world as well as a checklist of the ghosts of famous figures, including Anne Boleyn.
The conceit of the whole book is given in the introduction, where Dr Van Helsing welcomes young readers to his version of Monster Hunting 101 on where to find all these creatures and what to do if you encounter them.
Because The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is aimed at young readers (9-12 years) the entries are fun and on the silly side. For some readers they might be a little light on, though some better known beasties, like Dracula, have double-age entries with more detail.
The book also places folklore, urban legends and fictional characters all on the same footing without mentioning origins. An entry on Frankenstein's Monster makes no mention of Mary Shelley any more than the one on King Kong mentions RKO Pictures or creator Merian C Cooper. Actual locations thought to be haunted, like hotels and ghost towns, are noted with the same weight as indigenous folklore. (Having said that, I was amused to see drop bears and bunyips listed with equal weight in the Australian section.)
I don't know if kids will find that as frustrating as I did - it's a shame that the origins of these stories aren't acknowledged, especially for entries that have an individual creator.
Still, The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is a charming book and a great starting point for doing some extra googling on folklore, fiction and urban legends before heading for these parts of the world!
The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts by LonelyPlanetKids.com is a gorgeous looking book, with Laura Brenlla's fabulous Tiki-esque style (which reminds me a bit of Shag's art). It's an atlas, so the large maps of continents and regions give a cute overview before each section, and an appendix introduces various water monsters of the world as well as a checklist of the ghosts of famous figures, including Anne Boleyn.
The conceit of the whole book is given in the introduction, where Dr Van Helsing welcomes young readers to his version of Monster Hunting 101 on where to find all these creatures and what to do if you encounter them.
Because The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is aimed at young readers (9-12 years) the entries are fun and on the silly side. For some readers they might be a little light on, though some better known beasties, like Dracula, have double-age entries with more detail.
The book also places folklore, urban legends and fictional characters all on the same footing without mentioning origins. An entry on Frankenstein's Monster makes no mention of Mary Shelley any more than the one on King Kong mentions RKO Pictures or creator Merian C Cooper. Actual locations thought to be haunted, like hotels and ghost towns, are noted with the same weight as indigenous folklore. (Having said that, I was amused to see drop bears and bunyips listed with equal weight in the Australian section.)
I don't know if kids will find that as frustrating as I did - it's a shame that the origins of these stories aren't acknowledged, especially for entries that have an individual creator.
Still, The Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts is a charming book and a great starting point for doing some extra googling on folklore, fiction and urban legends before heading for these parts of the world!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews