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Here There Be Monsters: the Legendary Kraken and the Giant Squid
HP Newquist's fast-paced account reveals how long-ago myths about the kraken transformed into the modern study of Architeuthis dux, the giant squid.Weaving scientific discovery with historical accounts—along with the giant squid’s appearance in film and literature—Here There Be Monsters explores the mystery of this creature in fascinating detail. Readers will find that the monster remains hidden no longer, because scientists have finally seen the kraken with their own eyes . . . alive and rising up out of the sea.
80 pages, Hardcover
First published August 9, 2010
About the author
H.P. Newquist
26 books89 followersHP Newquist has written more than 30 books, including national award winners This Will Kill You, Here There Be Monsters, and The Book Of Blood. Newquist has regularly explored the reality underlying the things that scare us. Newquist’s newest books, BEHEMOTH and Ten Years Gone, are guaranteed to captivate - and scare - lovers of fiction.
Newquist writes about everything from music and medicine to technology and terror. His work has been published in numerous languages and has been cited by The New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, and hundreds of other publications around the world. He has received awards from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, The Library Guild, the New York Public Library, the NSTA, VOYA, and the Center For Children's Literature. He also happens to be the founder of The National GUITAR Museum.
Newquist writes about everything from music and medicine to technology and terror. His work has been published in numerous languages and has been cited by The New York Times, Publisher's Weekly, The Los Angeles Times, and hundreds of other publications around the world. He has received awards from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, The Library Guild, the New York Public Library, the NSTA, VOYA, and the Center For Children's Literature. He also happens to be the founder of The National GUITAR Museum.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 1, 2021
Have you read ‘Behemoth’ by H.P. Newquist? It was released by Bloodshot Books a few years back and was my first time reading anything from Newquist. It was a stunning book, one that I often think about even now, but I was also surprised to learn that is was Newquist’s first work on fiction. It was even more surprising when I saw just how many non-fiction releases he has!
But it was this one, ‘Here There Be Monsters’ that intrigued me. I snagged it for my Kindle, but much to my surprise, Newquist kindly sent me a physical copy for myself and my son to enjoy! I have to say – this book is gorgeous. The artwork, classic illustrations and photographs inside really work to heighten the narrative even more.
What I liked: The book itself investigates the historical reports of sea monsters, the Kraken and what role the giant squid plays in all of that. We get a look at reports throughout the years, as well as Hollywood has embraced the Kraken to create some truly memorable moments in cinema history.
Newquist does a fantastic job of diving into each area, ensuring that we get a balanced look at the reports as well as the real-world implications. I loved seeing the old maps, the drawings from eye witness accounts and how they have always stayed similar, even as the centuries past by.
The look into the giant squid, its discovery and the research behind it that make up the final section of the book was truly amazing and, as someone who loves cryptids and creatures, the photos and descriptions were fantastic.
What I didn’t like: I wished this book was longer! Like double or triple the length haha! I loved reading everything about it and Newquist writes with such an ease, as though you’re listening to a professor share his love of the sea, I could’ve handled another hundred pages of lore!
Why you should buy this: Thorough, balanced and laid out really well, ‘Here There Be Monsters’ is as close as you’ll get to a complete look at the Kraken myth as well as the arrival of The Giant Squid to modern day Oceanologists and science. This was such a well done book, I’ll need to take a look and see what other non-fiction releases H.P. has done over the years!
But it was this one, ‘Here There Be Monsters’ that intrigued me. I snagged it for my Kindle, but much to my surprise, Newquist kindly sent me a physical copy for myself and my son to enjoy! I have to say – this book is gorgeous. The artwork, classic illustrations and photographs inside really work to heighten the narrative even more.
What I liked: The book itself investigates the historical reports of sea monsters, the Kraken and what role the giant squid plays in all of that. We get a look at reports throughout the years, as well as Hollywood has embraced the Kraken to create some truly memorable moments in cinema history.
Newquist does a fantastic job of diving into each area, ensuring that we get a balanced look at the reports as well as the real-world implications. I loved seeing the old maps, the drawings from eye witness accounts and how they have always stayed similar, even as the centuries past by.
The look into the giant squid, its discovery and the research behind it that make up the final section of the book was truly amazing and, as someone who loves cryptids and creatures, the photos and descriptions were fantastic.
What I didn’t like: I wished this book was longer! Like double or triple the length haha! I loved reading everything about it and Newquist writes with such an ease, as though you’re listening to a professor share his love of the sea, I could’ve handled another hundred pages of lore!
Why you should buy this: Thorough, balanced and laid out really well, ‘Here There Be Monsters’ is as close as you’ll get to a complete look at the Kraken myth as well as the arrival of The Giant Squid to modern day Oceanologists and science. This was such a well done book, I’ll need to take a look and see what other non-fiction releases H.P. has done over the years!
March 4, 2019
For a book I'd stumbled upon in our library's -children's- department, this was a surprisingly good, interesting read - one that's fit for adults just as well. It included so much more information than I'd expected; and the illustrations of contemporary perceptions of cephalopods throughout the centuries provided a great counter-balance to the story and more modern photographs.
It also provides a swell bit of vindication for all those sailors from the days of yore who were considered 'crazy' or guilty of extreme embellishment. Stories of the Kraken (and the etymology of the term itself) are explained with compassion, and even some examples from literature are presented. The author provides context for how our forebears would've encountered such elusive beings - even when the rest of the world refused to believe.
This is an excellent book to read at any age.
It also provides a swell bit of vindication for all those sailors from the days of yore who were considered 'crazy' or guilty of extreme embellishment. Stories of the Kraken (and the etymology of the term itself) are explained with compassion, and even some examples from literature are presented. The author provides context for how our forebears would've encountered such elusive beings - even when the rest of the world refused to believe.
This is an excellent book to read at any age.
May 18, 2014
While there is some interesting factual information in this non-fiction children's book, the wonderful part is the illustrations. There are reproductions of antique and vintage drawings, maps, movie posters and book covers, and lots of photographs - recent and historical - of giant squid. I also enjoyed the excerpts from Moby-Dick and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Tennyson's poem "The Kraken", and numerous historical first-hand accounts of encounters with tentacled sea creatures.
August 22, 2022
This was so much fun to read, and I actually learned quite a bit from it, too!
December 29, 2010
I got an advanced reading copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program. It was a very interesting, if quick read. The version I had did not have the full color pictures in it, but I found the black and white versions to be very interesting nonetheless.
This book goes from describing the early myths and legends of the Kraken and takes you on a journey as humanity struggles to find out the reality behind this mythological creature. Early findings and expeditions to find the creature are detailed, as well as references in classic literature. The books gets more scientific as we get into modern times and then expeditions detailing the finding of giant and colossal squids are described. The author gives references for the pictures in the back as well as provides sources for additional information both on the Kraken and the giant squid.
This book is a bit too wordy for young children but older children and adults should find it interesting. The origins of different myths behind the Kraken were fascinating and the modern day science was just as interesting in a different way. The anatomy of the giant squid is in itself intriguing and awe-inspiring.
I knew some about the Kraken/giant squid just because of references in literature (I read a ton of fantasy books). I found some of the information about the giant squid to be especially fascinating because I just finished reading China Mieville's book Kraken.
The pictures are fantastic. There are pictures of everything from old world maps to diagrams detailing anatomy. The book is also well-written, it is engaging and easy to read and written at a writing level that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. The author doesn't take himself too seriously and the book is entertaining as well as informing as a result.
The only small quibble that I have is that there are no footnotes; it would have been nice to have the information referenced back to its source so that the reader can obtain additional information that way if they want too. I think that the footnotes were probably omitted to make it a more kid friendly book; but without them I just have to take the author at his word and can't expand on my knowledge directly.
I really enjoyed this book and it is one that I will keep on my bookshelf for years to come. If you are curious about the sea, legendary creatures, or just curious about how humans justify the unknown and about how myths are created; this is the book for you. Loved it and I really hope that future books will be released with the Here There Be Monsters series.
This book goes from describing the early myths and legends of the Kraken and takes you on a journey as humanity struggles to find out the reality behind this mythological creature. Early findings and expeditions to find the creature are detailed, as well as references in classic literature. The books gets more scientific as we get into modern times and then expeditions detailing the finding of giant and colossal squids are described. The author gives references for the pictures in the back as well as provides sources for additional information both on the Kraken and the giant squid.
This book is a bit too wordy for young children but older children and adults should find it interesting. The origins of different myths behind the Kraken were fascinating and the modern day science was just as interesting in a different way. The anatomy of the giant squid is in itself intriguing and awe-inspiring.
I knew some about the Kraken/giant squid just because of references in literature (I read a ton of fantasy books). I found some of the information about the giant squid to be especially fascinating because I just finished reading China Mieville's book Kraken.
The pictures are fantastic. There are pictures of everything from old world maps to diagrams detailing anatomy. The book is also well-written, it is engaging and easy to read and written at a writing level that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. The author doesn't take himself too seriously and the book is entertaining as well as informing as a result.
The only small quibble that I have is that there are no footnotes; it would have been nice to have the information referenced back to its source so that the reader can obtain additional information that way if they want too. I think that the footnotes were probably omitted to make it a more kid friendly book; but without them I just have to take the author at his word and can't expand on my knowledge directly.
I really enjoyed this book and it is one that I will keep on my bookshelf for years to come. If you are curious about the sea, legendary creatures, or just curious about how humans justify the unknown and about how myths are created; this is the book for you. Loved it and I really hope that future books will be released with the Here There Be Monsters series.
March 31, 2015
I have had a longtime fascination with cephalopods, and was excited to see this book in the library. I had picked it up for myself, but my 3 yr old son got so into it, we ended up reading it together for his Winter Reading Challenge. The book is essentially the story of the Kraken, a sailor's tale of a giant sea creature that attacked ships. Later on, scientists realized that the Kraken is essentially the giant squid (scientific name: architeuthis), though never near as big as the stories would have you believe. The book goes into great depth about how scientists first started studying architeuthis by discovering that once a hundred years, they would start washing up on shore. It also goes on to explain how they discovered the existence of the an even larger squid, called the colossal squid, and how they were finally after about 150 years, able to capture a live giant squid on film and video. They did finally in about 2008 manage to get a colossal squid, albeit a dead one, to study. It was a very fascinating read and included information on the films and books that feature the giant squids. Highly recommended for ages 10+, 5 stars.
July 31, 2012
Have you ever wondered about the tentacled beasts that hide beneath the waves of the oceans? Have you heard of the Kraken, but not known what it was? Have you spent nights awake trying to determine the difference between the giant and colossal squids? If so, then Here There Be Monsters: The Legendary Kraken and the Giant Squid by HP Newquist is the book for you. The book begins with a look at the legends of the Kraken and giant squid as recorded by fishermen, whalers, and sailors throughout history and around the world. The author collects all these legends into one place and includes photographs and written accounts when available, making for a well-researched presentation. He then follows scientific investigations and discoveries, opening up the truth behind the legends. With thorough research, eye-catching photographs and drawings, and dark stories from long ago, the author should draw in interested young readers who are looking to find out more about these razor-suckered, ghostly monsters. This book should appeal to readers aged third grade and up.
February 13, 2017
A very thorough account of what is known about giant and colossal squid. Newquist has done extensive research and met all the prominent researchers in the field in order to write this book. He first discusses legends about sea monsters such as the kraken, accompanied by illustrations from old manuscripts. Then he talks about how scientists gradually began to learn more about the giant squid, until a few years ago when one was finally filmed alive in its natural habitat (which I remember seeing on TV). Illustrations of existing specimens, including a life-size drawing of the squid's huge eye, accompany the text. There is still so much more to learn about this fearsome and mysterious creature, but this informative book summed up what we do know beautifully and in an interesting way. Highly recommended!!
August 20, 2010
This book does an amazing job of weaving together the myths, history, and science around the legendary kraken and the very real giant sea squid. The writing is engaging without watering the material down, and the pictures and illustrations add a lot to the telling, with many drawn from some very cool old sources. Overall, I could see the book being appealing to anyone from 8 or 9 up through adults - it could be a great read-aloud with children at the younger end of that range, although older children might be initially turned off by the fact that the book has a horizontal format like a picture book.
June 2, 2011
Super curious ... if only tomorrow wasn't the last day of school. Will kids go nuts over this book? I think yes ... but we'll have to wait until the fall to find out.
DRAT on end of year new book deliveries. But HOORAY for sort of creepy weird fascinating books like this one!
Though the quote about Tennyson on pg 15 seemed kind of random. The English major part of me appreciates it but seriously? Why include "'Tis better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all" in the book JUST because he also wrote a poem about the Kraken? Which is hard to read because it's printed in script?
DRAT on end of year new book deliveries. But HOORAY for sort of creepy weird fascinating books like this one!
Though the quote about Tennyson on pg 15 seemed kind of random. The English major part of me appreciates it but seriously? Why include "'Tis better to have loved and lost then never to have loved at all" in the book JUST because he also wrote a poem about the Kraken? Which is hard to read because it's printed in script?
April 9, 2014
For hundreds of years the giant sea creature known as the Kraken has been a legend. But finally we are starting to discover that this creature is more than just a myth. Scientists have been searching and researching the giant squid, and they are finally beginning to uncover some of its secrets! I though this book had quite a slow start, but once it got going it became very interesting very quickly. I have always been a fan of octopus and squid, so maybe not everyone will find this as engaging as I did. However, the younger crowd may agree with me when they read about all of the gory details and see all of the creepy pictures.
October 3, 2010
An in-depth book on giant and colossal squids, from the legends told by sailors about the "kraken" to recent successes in photographing them and finding specimens. Great resource for reports, readable text, but the large blocks of text might deter recreational reading unless a student has a particular interest in the subject.
More on the blog: http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2010/...
More on the blog: http://www.abbythelibrarian.com/2010/...
February 18, 2012
I read this aloud with my son. He was riveted to the story and wrote this down as his favorite book a few weeks later for a school project. It takes you from the ancient writings about sea monsters that were discounted for years to the modern-day rediscovery of the giant squid. This kind of science history writing is rare to find. Detailed but suspenseful enough to capture the interest and imagination of a six-year-old.
March 7, 2011
The only thing more exciting than a monster of myth is when
the monster turns out to be real. This nonfiction, picture book
format includes every known picture of the giant and colossal
squids, as well as many of the fanciful pictures of the
legendary Kraken. For everyone who likes real life adventure
stories, as well as those fans of a good creature feature.
the monster turns out to be real. This nonfiction, picture book
format includes every known picture of the giant and colossal
squids, as well as many of the fanciful pictures of the
legendary Kraken. For everyone who likes real life adventure
stories, as well as those fans of a good creature feature.
June 28, 2011
This was a totally fascinating combination of the history behind the legend of the kraken and the history of man's knowledge of the giant squid. I had never heard of the colossal squid before, and I can totally understand how legends of the kraken got started. I would certainly find an eyeball a foot or more in diameter to be incredibly creepy!
October 2, 2012
I loved how the facts are presented in almost a story telling format. I could imagine the frustration of those early sailors who were not believed until the development of photography. The graphics portray the immensity of the giant squid.There are also facts about early trade routes and there is a connection with Walt Disney's film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
July 21, 2011
Very much enjoyed this, although non-fiction is not usually my thing. Booktalked it to middle school, got a great audience response, mentioned this in a blog along with "Tentacles" by Roland Smith.
August 30, 2011
Really enjoyed this book about the giant and the colossal squid. Like Sally Walker's civil war submarine book, this did a good job of presenting in a fun and interesting way what we know up to this point about a topic, even though there's so much left still to discover.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2013
Interesting, but not nearly as good or as in-depth as some of the other award winners from this year. Still, for kids who like sharks and other creepy creatures, this book will be invaluable for years to come.
September 23, 2013
I got this for my boys due to there love of all things monster. And I was drawn in. Who knew giant and colossal squids were so fascinating? We even looked up the video of the discovery and dissection of a giant squid (died of natural causes).
July 20, 2010
I felt like I was reading a book about a conspiracy theory until the very end, when Newquist revealed all of the evidence of real giant squid.
October 22, 2010
Everything you wanted to know--from legends of sea monsters and Kraken to scientific information about giant squid.
January 13, 2019
Creepy cool pictures. Well written, well researched, and any book that quotes Moby Dick at length is a winner as far as I'm concerned.
July 4, 2012
Reviewed professionally.
April 21, 2015
It will make for a good battle book.
July 27, 2021
It's a good amount of creepy
May 28, 2013
Squidz!
May 28, 2017
Newquist's scientific picture book explores the fascination with a sea monster we now know to be the giant squid. He explores the history behind the squid, from the early days of "sea monster" sightings to scientific study of the monster. Newquist uses illustrations and photos on every page to complement the journey of understanding the squid.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews