This is a great little bestiary for very young readers. There are creatures from all over the globe in the collection, and eight of the fifteen are from the ancient Mediterranean. The text is minimal, to give the maximum amount of space to the clever pop-ups. The region of origin is noted on the top left corner of each page, with the beasties’ names and basic myths summed up in the lower right-hand corner. Of the classical Greek monsters, my favorite is the Chimera, who has a head point in every direction, and the snake-cover Cerberus is a close second. Very few modern books include Cerberus’ snake ruff, but they’re a must in ancient art! The Sarimanok is my favorite of the non-Mediterranean monsters, for its multicolored plumage and positive connotations. The pop ups are low relief and attached to the pages sturdily. It should be durable enough for any young reader who has pasted the ripping stage to enjoy on their own.  - Krishni Burns