ZIP! The super animals are here! Don't blink as this title takes readers along for an adventure packed with Fun Facts, informative sidebars, a glossary, and more!

"Describes the ways in which animals change their appearance to avoid predators or attract mates"--

Do some animals really have the power to transform themselves into something else? In fact, such creatures do exist. In this book, young readers will meet eight of these amazing, shape-shifting animals, including a sea creature that can pretend to be a rock, a caterpillar that can rise up like a snake that is about to strike, and a fish that can blow itself up into a big, spiky ball. These animals may take on very different shapes, but they do have one thing in common. They all use their shape-shifting abilities to scare off, escape from, or appear less tasty to their enemies. In other words, their special powers help them survive! Eye-popping photos and clear, simple text bring these one-of-a-kind creatures to vivid life.

Shapeshifters are real. You're about to meet them, in all their savage and sinister glory. While most people think of shapeshifters as little more than the werewolves and vampires of mythology and pop culture, the truth is much more fascinating. And dangerous. Shapeshifters are real, they come in all kinds and sizes, and they have existed for countless millennia. This thrilling guide invites you to meet each of them...if you dare. Shapeshifters presents a menagerie of otherworldly creatures and half-human monsters, from were-cats to blood-suckers to aliens. Discover legends and lore from around the world and experience first-hand encounters with shape-changing beasts that lurk in the night. Nick Redfern takes you deep into their domain, opening your eyes to paranormal secrets and cryptozoological wonders. Just be sure to keep some silver bullets close at hand.

"Explores the history behind stories of shapeshifters"--

A princess makes a daring deal with the Queen of the Snakes. A lonely sister weaves stinging plants together in order to save her brothers from their mother. A curious boy suddenly becomes a wolf cub. Discover a worldwide collection of shape-shifter stories, based on folktales and lore from the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe. From cursed princes to the first werewolves, things aren't always what they seem!

There is something about a shapeshifter—a person who can transform into an animal—that captures our imagination; that causes us to want to howl at the moon, or flit through the night like a bat. Werewolves, vampires, demons, and other weird creatures appeal to our animal nature, our “dark side,” our desire to break free of the bonds of society and proper behavior. Real or imaginary, shapeshifters lurk deep in our psyches and remain formidable cultural icons. The myths, magic, and meaning surrounding shapeshifters are brought vividly to life in John B. Kachuba’s compelling and original cultural history. Rituals in early cultures worldwide seemingly allowed shamans, sorcerers, witches, and wizards to transform at will into animals and back again. Today, there are millions of people who believe that shapeshifters walk among us and may even be world leaders. Featuring a fantastic and ghoulish array of examples from history, literature, film, TV, and computer games, Shapeshifters explores our secret desire to become something other than human.