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Monsters Series
Godzilla
Presents synopses of several monster films featuring such creatures as Godzilla, Hedorah, Mothra, and Ghidrah. Also briefly describes technical aspects of these films.
47 pages, Library Binding
First published June 1, 1977
145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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November 28, 2020A filmography of Godzilla, with a brief recounting of the plots of all his movies to date (1970s), lots of black and white stills, and some details of the production.
This was part of a Movie Monsters series for kids - the Blob, Frankenstein, Dracula, etc - all of which covered the material in roughly the same way. This formula was likely by necessity, since Ian Thorne was a pen name for Julian May, and during this time she was churning out kid's books by the dozens. Wikipedia claims that:
DS#2 (age 5) has slightly lessened his focus on the extinct and the aquatic , and is now willing to be occasionally entertained by fictional megafauna. A search enabled me to dig up this series, which I myself checked out *many* times when young. Trolling online booksellers I've found that I'm not the only one with fond memories and a credit card, as books from this series are available at rather shocking prices. A credit to the tastes of the multitude! I love you, my child, but $147 for a book you'd adore is a bit beyond my budget. Hopefully a publisher will notice and start the reprint process.
This was part of a Movie Monsters series for kids - the Blob, Frankenstein, Dracula, etc - all of which covered the material in roughly the same way. This formula was likely by necessity, since Ian Thorne was a pen name for Julian May, and during this time she was churning out kid's books by the dozens. Wikipedia claims that:
Between 1956 and 1981 she wrote more than 250 books for children and young adults, most non-fiction, under her own name and a variety of pseudonymsThe blizzard ended when she found great success with a series of I-saw-those-in-the-library-stacks-when-I-was-a-kid-but-never-read-them science fiction/fantasy novels, and focused on those instead.
DS#2 (age 5) has slightly lessened his focus on the extinct and the aquatic , and is now willing to be occasionally entertained by fictional megafauna. A search enabled me to dig up this series, which I myself checked out *many* times when young. Trolling online booksellers I've found that I'm not the only one with fond memories and a credit card, as books from this series are available at rather shocking prices. A credit to the tastes of the multitude! I love you, my child, but $147 for a book you'd adore is a bit beyond my budget. Hopefully a publisher will notice and start the reprint process.
June 7, 2019
I must have checked this book out 100 times from the library when I was a kid.
August 16, 2025
Used to read this over and over again as a kid. Glad my local library still has copies so I can enjoy it without having to shell out exorbitant money online.
Written in the 70s, a lot of little facts are wrong here, but the spirit of the thing is pure monster movie love.
Written in the 70s, a lot of little facts are wrong here, but the spirit of the thing is pure monster movie love.
February 22, 2011
The Crestwood House Monster Series by Ian Thorne spanned the late 1970’s and early 80’s. You know the books. They were the hardcovers with the big orange text and the black and white pictures of monsters on them. Inside, each book focused on a particular monster and described how the movie about it was made.
Back in 3rd and 4th grade, when I went to the school library with my class, these were the books we’d fight over. At least the guys anyway. Godzilla, Dracula, and King Kong were our favorites, in that order. But no one was too disappointed with the Wolf Man, Frankenstein, the Blob, or any other creepy creature. Everyone monster book was a good monster book.
To a reluctant reader like me, this series proved, by its relationship to exciting movies, that there are books out there for every kid. Every installment captured my imagination with stories, history, and photos. I wanted to read because of these books, not just watch movies. I couldn’t wait to learn more about my favorite monsters with every trip to the library.
Looking back at the books now, they really stir up some old memories. The black and white photos make me think of a time when monster movies could frighten and inspire both the young and old without being inappropriate for either audience. It’s a forgotten art.
Back in 3rd and 4th grade, when I went to the school library with my class, these were the books we’d fight over. At least the guys anyway. Godzilla, Dracula, and King Kong were our favorites, in that order. But no one was too disappointed with the Wolf Man, Frankenstein, the Blob, or any other creepy creature. Everyone monster book was a good monster book.
To a reluctant reader like me, this series proved, by its relationship to exciting movies, that there are books out there for every kid. Every installment captured my imagination with stories, history, and photos. I wanted to read because of these books, not just watch movies. I couldn’t wait to learn more about my favorite monsters with every trip to the library.
Looking back at the books now, they really stir up some old memories. The black and white photos make me think of a time when monster movies could frighten and inspire both the young and old without being inappropriate for either audience. It’s a forgotten art.
April 4, 2018
Total golden age nostalgia here; like another reviewer on this site, I must have borrowed this from the library dozens of times, and absorbed every last single fact and photo about the King of the Monsters, his movie appearances, his friends and enemies. For a junior non-fiction title, it's surprisingly packed full of information, and it entertains me today just as much as it did when I was 10 years old. It's also part of a series of monster books that I devoured with equal joy. I can still remember the smell of this book's pages in my mind...
December 2, 2023
Who remembers Godzilla and the other monsters from childhood? Here you'll find them all assembled, the monsters of the rising sun, with eerie photos from the classic movies. Movie monsters never die, so there also was Gigantis, the fire monster, Rodan, Mothra, the return of Godzilla, Chidrah on Planet X. Wow, what a rollercoaster ride through those horror flics. Best read with Godzilla by Blue Öyster Cult playing! Highly recommended!
December 23, 2018
A good review of one of my favorite movie monsters!
September 18, 2021
Pues se trata de resúmenes pequeños de varias de las primeras películas de Kaijus de Japón, con fotos.
October 31, 2021
Most amazing book of Godzilla
May 20, 2025
I checked this book about 300 times between 1st thru 6th grade..one of my favorite books and one of my favorite monster
November 11, 2010
A great book for a little kid (like I was) who loves Gozilla films, this gives a stream-lined, children;s version of the plot of the GODZILLA/GOJIRA and some of the later films.
September 30, 2010
Good book, with some funny pics. It's better than the other, but skips around a little.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews