Giants

Are there giants among us? Find their story writ large in a lavish exploration touching on folklore and myth, truth and whimsy.

Ancient Greece had its Titans, the Celts their Green Knight, the Bible Goliath — and for those who know where to look, signs of these legendary hulking creatures still abound. Now comes a hugely engrossing chronicle of giants since antiquity, from their role in forming mountains and causing earthquakes to the mysteries of their sacks (watch out for hitchhiking humans); from their means of employment (how did the Druids built Stonehenge?) to an extensive map of places around the world where giants may likely be found. Exhaustive and lushly illustrated, this enormously valuable resource is sure to fascinate all who open its covers.

Special features include:

* sundry flaps, booklets, and gatefolds

* a lavish foiled and embossed cover

* an elegant tassel dangling from the spine

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Winner of a 2009 prestigious Notable Award by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
Selected as a 2009 Notable Book by the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English)
The charge of the seven-member national committee is to select thirty titles each year that best exemplify the criteria established for the Notables Award. Books considered for this annual list are works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry written for children, grades K-8. The books must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- deal explicitly with language, such as plays on words, word origins, or the history of language;
- demonstrate uniqueness in the use of language or style;
- invite child response or participation.
In addition, books are to:
- have an appealing format;
- be of enduring quality;
- meet generally accepted criteria of quality for the genre in which they are written.

Winner of a 2008 Parent's Choice Recommended Award:
Review:
"For those silly grownups who don't believe giants are real, and the kids who have always known they're wrong, the evidence is very carefully presented by the Secret Order which has kept track of the existence of giants for centuries. The very best imaginary reference books have a conspiratorial air that allows readers to think they have bought the last copy of a rare text. This one succeeds on all counts. The age-old covenant between humans and Huldur ("hidden ones" to those unschooled in giant lore) has been damaged and the goal of the book is to reacquaint us with the history and nobility of our hidden neighbors. Berk has written a brilliant, incredibly well illustrated, ethnography of giants for kids. Everything from giant recipes to their literature (and the fiend named Jack) is covered. A good way to become a giant expert is to read this book, and then read it again. An excellent primer to aid those bound for Middle Earth."

Scholastic Education Plus:
"Encyclopedia Britannica was never like this! A visual treat and a browser's delight."

RoundTableReviews.com:
"A captivating little book that packs an enormous literary punch."

Minneapolis Star Tribune:
"It might be a stretch to get it into a stocking, but any Harry Potter fan will be glad you did."