Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve always had an interest in the unexplained and mysteries of the world, and I have a scientific background, so the search for cryptids blends both interests. I’m also a huge octopus/squid lover, so the Kraken’s possible existence and the search for the giant squid are ones I’ve followed for years. Diving into how modern tech helps wildlife scientists study real animals led me to wonder how using such tech could help find cryptids. The world is huge, and new species are discovered every year, so why not use some of that tech to search for cryptids? Even if they escape our detection, who knows what else we might find?!


I wrote...

Catching Cryptids

By Kim Long , Nicole Miles (illustrator) ,

Book cover of Catching Cryptids

What is my book about?

Learn how to find Kraken, Mothman, and more in this fun, fact-filled, STEM-based cryptozoology book with info on more than…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Monstrous

Kim Long Why I love this book

I love the colorful illustrations depicting all sorts of monsters in this book! The author does such a great job of sprinkling in facts and info between the images as she questions how the monster might exist, and if it does would it act the way people have come to believe.

Monster origin stories are included, and I found it such a fun read that blends science with imagination. 

By Carlyn Beccia ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Monstrous as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Bursting with blood, guts, history, and science, this book is a must-have for monster lovers of all ages

Could Dr. Frankenstein's machine ever animate a body? Why should vampires drink from veins and not arteries? What body parts are best for zombies to eat? (It's not brains.)

This fascinating encyclopedia of monsters delves into the history and science behind eight legendary creatures, from Bigfoot and the kraken to zombies and more. Find out each monster's origin story and the real-world history that informed it, and then explore the science of each creature in fun and surprising ways. Tips and infographics―including…


Book cover of Camp Twisted Pine

Kim Long Why I love this book

I love the summer camp setting of this story, as many cryptids lurk in the forest. In addition to summer camp hijinks, the legend of the Jersey Devil, a cryptid supposedly living in New Jersey, is featured when strange things start happening in the woods and fellow campers disappear.

I loved the way the author took tidbits of the Jersey Devil and then fashioned her own mythical creature who may or may not be the evil monster the area believes it to be. A not-so-scary light horror with a ton of fun. 

By Ciera Burch ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Camp Twisted Pine as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Whispering Pines meets Small Spaces in this spooky "part campfire tale, part eco-fable, all charm" (Kirkus Reviews) middle grade novel about a girl whose first summer camp experience is disrupted by a menacing creature abducting her fellow campers.

Eleven-year-old Naomi loves all things outdoors-birds and beetles, bats and bunnies-in theory. She explores nature in the best possible way: the cold, hard facts in books. So when her parents' announcement of their impending divorce comes hand in hand with sending Naomi and her younger twin brothers to summer camp while they figure things out, it's salt in the wound for Naomi…


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Book cover of The Time-Jinx Twins

The Time-Jinx Twins by Carol Fisher Saller,

Twelve-year-old identical twins Ellie and Kat accidentally trigger their physicist mom’s unfinished time machine, launching themselves into a high-stakes adventure in 1970 Chicago. If they learn how to join forces and keep time travel out of the wrong hands, they might be able find a way home. Ellie’s gymnastics and…

Book cover of The Search for Sasquatch

Kim Long Why I love this book

The author is a journalist, and the book is about her real-life investigation into Bigfoot. I love how her wit and skepticism shine through her research, and she keeps an open mind. She uses the scientific method and thinks critically while analyzing research and data, but her scene visits and chats with other investigators show she’s leaving the possibility open that Bigfoot is out there, somewhere.

Overall, I love this book for its in-depth scientific hunt for a cryptid, and the colorful illustrations really pack a punch.

By Laura Krantz ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Search for Sasquatch as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 8, 9, 10, and 11.

What is this book about?

Inspired by her popular Wild Thing podcast, journalist Laura Krantz incorporates the scientific method and her journalistic skills to determine if Bigfoot is real-now in paperback

When journalist Laura Krantz discovered that her long-lost cousin, Grover Krantz, a distinguished anthropologist and professor at Washington State University, had devoted much of his career to the search for Bigfoot, she couldn't quite believe it. A natural skeptic and a strong believer in facts, Krantz decided to conduct her own quest for the most famous and elusive mythical creature.

The Search for Sasquatch takes readers through the big guy's fun, fascinating, and complex…


Book cover of Cryptid Creatures

Kim Long Why I love this book

This book features short sections on over 50 cryptids. Spot illustrations occur throughout, which I love because it’s nice to see an example of the creature being discussed.

The short history of the cryptid, along with witness descriptions and sightings, makes it an interesting read. I also love the author’s “scientific ranking” of each cryptid, along with her personal opinion as to how much she believes the cryptid might be real. Overall, I love this book for its basic info on a bunch of cryptids. Fun read!

By Kelly Milner Halls , Rick Spears (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Cryptid Creatures as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 7, 8, 9, and 10.

What is this book about?

Explore the fascinating world of cryptozoology with this fun guide, filled with eyewitness accounts of 50 cryptids found throughout the world, some of which have been proven real. Cryptozoology is the study of mysterious creatures that fall between the realm of real and imaginary on the scientific spectrum. Cryptid Creatures: A Field Guide offers a closer look at fifty of these amazing creatures, examining the best possible evidence for each, including scientific papers, magazine and newspaper articles, and credible eyewitness accounts.

The fifty cryptids are arranged in order alphabetically, and in addition to speculative illustrations, include details like when they…


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Book cover of The Time-Jinx Twins

The Time-Jinx Twins by Carol Fisher Saller,

Twelve-year-old identical twins Ellie and Kat accidentally trigger their physicist mom’s unfinished time machine, launching themselves into a high-stakes adventure in 1970 Chicago. If they learn how to join forces and keep time travel out of the wrong hands, they might be able find a way home. Ellie’s gymnastics and…

Book cover of Cryptids, Creatures & Critters

Kim Long Why I love this book

I love this book because it goes beyond cryptids and also discusses mythological beasts like unicorns and Medusa, and the folklore behind them. Each entry is only a page or two and accompanied by an illustration, so it’s a quick read overall, and since there’s an index, I can jump around and read about whatever creature I feel like catching up on.

Definitely less science-y than my other selections, but sometimes I’m in the mood for straightforward fun, and this book’s easy focus on critters and short entries hits the mark.

By Rachel Quinney ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Cryptids, Creatures & Critters as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

From Mothman to the Mongolian Death Worm, Shellycoat to Simurgh, Nessie to even Ningyo, this charming and creative collection of cryptids will fascinate readers for years to come.

Cryptids, Creatures & Critters: A Manual of Monsters and Mythos from Around the World features 90 different creatures from around the world, each with their own researched description and full-color illustrations. The book is divided into three sections: cryptids, folklore, and mythology. It features popular cryptid favorites, such as Mothman and the Flatwoods Monster, and some lesser-known cryptids, such as the Enfield Horror and the Montauk Monster. For folklore, there are kelpies,…


Explore my book 😀

Catching Cryptids

By Kim Long , Nicole Miles (illustrator) ,

Book cover of Catching Cryptids

What is my book about?

Learn how to find Kraken, Mothman, and more in this fun, fact-filled, STEM-based cryptozoology book with info on more than 45 cryptids! For years, the kraken was considered a mythical beast. Then, in 2004, high-tech cameras captured a photo of a living giant squid. Advances in technology have provided scientists with new tools to study previously undiscovered/unresearched habitats.

This book explores these technological advances in a fun way by pairing them with mythical creatures and discussing how modern technology could be used to locate or “catch” these beasts. The book includes a mini history of each cryptid, along with interesting facts about the corresponding field of science, and spot illustrations throughout. 

Book cover of Monstrous
Book cover of Camp Twisted Pine
Book cover of The Search for Sasquatch

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Interested in cryptozoology, monsters, and brothers?

Cryptozoology 29 books
Monsters 176 books
Brothers 119 books