2025 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Unexplained
Another challenging letter, but this year I was able to pull together a fun list of books about unexplained phenomena. You know, things like Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, dragons, ghosts, witches, and more! Much of this list focuses on cryptozoology or “the study of unknown, legendary or extinct animals whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated”. But, there are still a few books that talk about things like “How colossal can a colossal squid be?” If you’ve got a reluctant reader at home, some of these books, might just entice them to try with really engaging covers and full of information for kids to ponder.
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2025 Blogging A to Z Challenge: Unexplained
100 Things to Know About the Unknown: A Fact Book for Kids
Scientists and historians have discovered a lot about our past, our future and how the world works, but SO MUCH remains unknown. This exciting information book filled with 100 fascinating and mind-blowing facts explores the edges of human knowledge and the vast world of science just waiting to be uncovered.
The Atlas of Monsters by Sandra Lawrence, illustrated by Stuart Hill
One day a collection of very old maps is found in a dusty library. They show where in the world monsters and creatures from mythology and folklore can be found. According to the notes left with the maps, they were made by Cornelius Walters, an intrepid explorer from the 15th century. But did Walters really make these elaborate maps, or is it all a hoax? The librarian who discovered them is not certain . . . and what are the strange messages in a cryptic code that Walters records in his ship’s log? The codes throughout, once cracked, may indeed lead to something sinister that will happen should the atlas ever be published!
The Book of Mysteries, Magic, and the Unexplained by Tamara Macfarlane, illustrated by Kristina Kister
Featuring bright and bold illustrations, Mysteries, Magic, and the Unexplained traces the story of myth and magic from ancient superstitions to medieval alchemy and divination to the modern-day fascination with UFOs.
This book for children aged 7-9 explores every aspect of magic through the ages and across many cultures. It traces the history of magic ritual from spells and potions to alchemy and divination, as well as investigating other mysteries of the paranormal. While it’s a fun read, it takes its subject seriously – taking a historical approach to the supernatural world across all cultures.Read more
Don’t Read This Book Before Bed: Thrills, Chills, and Hauntingly True Stories by Anna Claybourne
Love to tell scary stories around the camp fire? Like to solve mysteries? Brave enough to hear the truth about some pretty freaky phenomena? Then cuddle up with this spooky spine-tingler, filled with delightfully frightful true stories of real-life monsters, doomed domains, menacing mysteries, strange disappearances, and so much more.
Meet ghosts, ghouls, and zombies. Go inside haunted houses, hidden graveyards, and deadly secret passages. The Fright-o-meter rates each story for its level of scariness. Full of thrills and chills, this book will have you sleeping with a nightlight for sure. Read if you dare, but don’t say we didn’t warn you!
The Dragon Atlas: Legendary Dragons of the World by Anna Claybourne, illustrated by Pham Quang Phuc
Travel the globe to discover the facts behind this fierce creature of myth and legend. See them in their natural habitats, lurking in the swamps of West Africa or guarding their treasure in a cave-dwelling in Europe. Read exciting tales of dragons good and bad, including the story of the dragon-slaying princess Thanake of Africa and the epic tale of Assipattle and the giant sea dragon.
Beautifully illustrated maps pinpoint the locations of dragons around the globe, whilst special feature spreads take a closer look at dragon features, dwellings, and dragon sightings. From the spectacular Chinese dragon with its long snakelike body to the seven-headed Herensuge of the Basque region in Spain, this captivating compendium of dragon facts and exciting tales will take you on a mythical quest to discover all there is to know about these magnificent beasts.
Ghosts: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #14: A Good Night for Ghosts by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce, illustrated by Sal Murdocca
When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House Merlin Mission #14: A Good Night for Ghosts, they had lots of questions. What are some of the most famous ghost stories? Why do people believe in ghosts? Do most cultures have ghost stories? What are ghost hunters? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts.
Filled with up-to-date information, photos, illustrations, and fun tidbits from Jack and Annie, the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers are the perfect way for kids to find out more about the topics they discovered in their favorite Magic Tree House adventures.
Investigating Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, and Other Cryptids by Heather Moore Niver
Bigfoot, Nessie, and mermaids: what do these cryptids share in common? No matter how doubtful we are of their existence, a part of us persists in asking, “Could they be real?” With a skeptical tone, this title tracks the most popular cryptozoological creatures from their mythological origins to modern attempts to prove their existence. Scientific explanations-including archaeological records and alleged physical evidence-are presented and assessed. Regardless of their veracity, the place these beasts hold in television, movies, and books is a cherished one, and it merits a thorough investigation.
Is It Real? The Loch Ness Monster by Candace Fleming
Nestled in the lush green hills of the Scotland Highlands lies Loch Ness, a deep, murky lake with a storied history. It is also the home of the Loch Ness Monster. Numerous stories and photographs by people claiming to have spotted the mysterious monster have surfaced, often gaining immediate fame. But after decades of countless expeditions, documentaries, firsthand accounts, pictures, and videos, the mystery of Nessie continues to haunt us.
Now, Sibert Award-winning author Candace Fleming invites you to become a detective and to join the race to uncover the truth. You’ll learn how real-life detectives and scientists conduct their investigations to solve the greatest mysteries as the principles of the Scientific Method and more tools for boosting critical thinking and analysis are introduced. You will consider the evidence, see if you can tell the difference between fact and fiction, and maybe you can answer this age-old question about the Loch Ness monster: Is it real?
Lonely Planet Kids 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.
Monsters and Mythical Creatures From Around the World by Heather Frigiola
Mythical creatures are cultural artifacts—creations of the human imagination from all around the world. From terrifying monsters to sacred mystical beasts, weird-looking humanoids, magical birds, and many other fantastic beings, the mythological creatures in this book are sure to enchant and amaze.
Discover myths and legends spanning from ancient times to modern day from every corner of the globe. Learn the cultural origins of 240 different mythical creatures, captured in ten chapters and 100 colorful illustrations. You will find terrifying bogey monsters as well as benevolent guardians. Meet creatures that symbolize obstacles to overcome, ones that explain the occurrence of disease, some that ward away evil, and others that were created simply for amusement. Explore mythology from the Middle East, Africa, India, Japan, Mexico, Europe, Polynesia, and beyond.
This guide is a ticket to travel the world and discover its strangest magical beasts.
Season of the Witch : A Spellbinding History of Witches and Other Magical Folk by Matt Ralphs, illustrated by Nuria Tamarit
Tracing as far back as the Stone Age, witches have fascinated us for centuries. But were they evil sorceresses determined to seek revenge, or suppressed feminists who were misunderstood? From Egyptian priestesses to Norse healers, take a closer look at witches throughout history and across the world, in this holistic non-fiction book that incorporates poetry, art, mythology, hexes, potions, and magic from different cultures and religions around the world.
Spooked!: How a Radio Broadcast and The War of the Worlds Sparked the 1938 Invasion of America by Gail Jarrow
On the night of October 30, 1938, thousands of Americans panicked when they believed that Martians had invaded Earth. What appeared to be breaking news about an alien invasion was in fact a radio drama based on H. G. Wells’s War of the Worlds, performed by Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre players. Some listeners became angry once they realized they had been tricked, and the reaction to the broadcast sparked a national discussion about fake news, propaganda, and the role of radio. In this compelling nonfiction chapter book, Gail Jarrow explores the production of the broadcast, the aftermath, and the concept of “fake news” in the media.
2025 is my tenth year participating in the Blogging A to Z Challenge! This year, I chose as my theme: Fact Finders Club: Nonfiction for Curious Kids with a focus on providing book lists focused on all types of nonfiction books for readers from birth to teens. Each letter of the alphabet will focus on different topics and will provide twelve titles on each list. Nonfiction is having a heyday in children’s literature and if you think it’s dry and boring, then I implore you to take a look at these amazing suggestions! Stop by daily to check out the new books and other posts that I’ll be sharing in April.
