From unicorns to dragons, the idea of mythical creatures exerts a powerful fascination over our imaginations. This book presents myth and scientific reality side by side, suggesting how the myth may have arisen. The legend of St George and the Dragon is set beside a factual account of the first discovery of dinosaur bones in China and a description of the world's largest living scaly, fork-tongued monitor lizard, the Komodo Dragon. Katie Edwards' line-up of mythical creatures, adapted from a highly-successful exhibition at the Natural History Museum in London, includes the Unicorn, Roc, Dragon, Phoenix, Cyclops and Chimera, and comes right up to date with the Loch Ness Monster and the Yeti. Simon Mendez brings the fantasy creatures vividly alive and draws myth and reality believably together in this exciting and informative book.

 

There are 32 pages in this book. This is a picture book. A picture book uses pictures and text to tell the story. The number of words varies from zero ('wordless') to around 1k over 32 pages. Picture books are typically aimed at young readers (age 3-6) but can also be aimed at older children (7+). This book was published 2008 by Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd .

Katie Edwards has worked at the Natural History Museum for 12 years developing exhibitions. Her first book was From the Beginning, a geological history of the Earth in conjunction with the exhibition of the same name. Simon Mendez is a specialist natural history illustrator and is well known for his photo-real ceramic designs. This is his first book for Frances Lincoln. Simon Mendez lives and works in Yorkshire, England. He has loved to draw for as long as he can remember. He is also the winner of a Gold Star Award from the Association of Illustrators in the UK.