Best mystery & wonders books for children according to redditors

Full disclosure: I’m the author of the book Strange But True, a nonfiction book for teens about the science and history of paranormal mysteries. I loved learning the story of Maria Reiche while researching the book, and thought this community would like it too! (Also, I’ll be doing an AMA about my research for the book on October 1st at 2pm Eastern.)

Edit: I’m so glad people are asking such great questions! Here’s a link to the book on Amazon in case anyone is interested: Strange but True: 10 of the world's greatest mysteries explained https://www.amazon.com/dp/178603784X

This one book I read in elementary school says Tiger Woods would've hit a hole in one if the ball hadn't hit a random bee that was just chilling on the green next to the hole. Do you have to retake the shot, or is it a choice?

Ok, I have a long list of ideas, but I'll lgo from most to least likely:

http://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Perle-EPSTEIN/dp/0385048742/ref=sr_1_164?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410048281&sr=1-164

http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Magic-Monsters-Sylvia-Tester/dp/089565055X/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410047513&sr=1-16

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Monsters-2-Ruth-Manning-Sanders/dp/0525269517/ref=sr_1_117?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410048149&sr=1-117

http://www.amazon.com/World-Monsters-Carey-Miller/dp/0860201465/ref=sr_1_53?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410047725&sr=1-53

http://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Middle-Ages-William-Wise/dp/0399604723/ref=sr_1_179?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410048304&sr=1-179

How about this?: https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Under-Choose-Your-Adventure/dp/1933390026

It's a Choose Your Adventure book, which means your daughter reads a few pages and gets to decide how the stories continues. Depending on the choices she makes, the story develops different each time she reads it.

It's not scary like horror stories but it's exciting, e.g. one choice describes how a kraken crushes your submarine and you decide whether to run or stay and fight.

The interactivity makes it immersive and exciting. Maybe she'll like that.

Usborne Ghosts (World of the Unknown)

A couple of months ago, I was looking everywhere for (what I believe is) the same book you're thinking of.

I posted here trying to find it, but didn't have any luck. I also recalled the black and white illustrations you mentioned.


I recently stumbled upon the book I was looking for at a local library booksale. It's called World's Best "True" Ghost Stories. I'm pretty certain it's the book you're looking for, too.



I can't find my copy at the moment, but I know it fits your description. I can recall, for certain, the story about the tomahawk, the dog turning white from fear, and the ship with no one on it.


Here's an image from the book I was able to find online that shows what the illustrations look like.


ETA: I found this website that lists the stories by name. Included in the list are "The Frightened Dog" and "The Iron Tomahawk". There is also a section entitled "Sea-Faring Ghosts" with a few stories about ghost ships, as well as "Phantom Animals" which could include the story about the horse.

These both have much too recent publication dates, but possibly you read an earlier edition?

• Super Weird: Strange but True Stories You Won't Believe
  
• Strange Mysteries from Around the World -- it says this author has written a dozens of books, so maybe an earlier work of his?

Tales of the Cryptids or Cryptozoology A To Z?

Is it Fooled You!: Fakes and Hoaxes Through the Years?

Usborne Paranormal Guides?

http://www.amazon.com/Book-Paranormal-Usborne-Guides/dp/0746033907

Not sure if this would match?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0860201465/ref=pd_aw_sbs_14_of_8?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=B04AMXVQ2AC96JXPBE1K

Might this be the book you were looking for?

1. (a) This calf (baby cow) was born normal and without deformity on Thursday in Argentina, the next day -- Friday -- this calf vanished/disappeared, and then this calf reappeared alive on Monday.
   
   30 July 2019: http://infotecrealico.com.ar/noticia/11939/urgente-realico-aparecio-un-ternero-mutilado-vivo-imagenes-sensibles-video
   
   English translation via Google Translate: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&u=http://infotecrealico.com.ar/noticia/11939/urgente-realico-aparecio-un-ternero-mutilado-vivo-imagenes-sensibles-video
   
   "Ternera mutilada viva en un campo de Realicó." by InfoTec 4.0, published on 30 July 2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoHBAr8nH70
   
   Photo-1a-1: http://infotecrealico.com.ar/download/multimedia.normal.b8830e57db8896d1.5031343030313833202846494c456d696e696d697a6572295f6e6f726d616c2e4a5047.JPG
   
   Photo-1a-2: http://infotecrealico.com.ar/download/multimedia.normal.8d4cabd9605cfcc0.5031343030313936202846494c456d696e696d697a6572295f6e6f726d616c2e4a5047.JPG
   
   Photo-1a-3: http://infotecrealico.com.ar/download/multimedia.normal.9df3eddc40c6de33.5031343030313734202846494c456d696e696d697a6572295f6e6f726d616c2e4a5047.JPG
   
   Photo-1a-4: http://infotecrealico.com.ar/download/multimedia.normal.90a80b4295196b60.5031343030313737202846494c456d696e696d697a6572295f6e6f726d616c2e4a5047.JPG
   
   (b) 1 August 2019: https://www.infopico.com/sociales/32869-impresionante-caso-de-mutilacion-de-una-ternera-en-un-campo-de-la-pampa
   
   English: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&u=https://www.infopico.com/sociales/32869-impresionante-caso-de-mutilacion-de-una-ternera-en-un-campo-de-la-pampa
   
   (c) 1 August 2019: http://infotecrealico.com.ar/noticia/11997/como-sigue-el-ternero-mutilado-vivo-video
   
   English: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&u=http://infotecrealico.com.ar/noticia/11997/como-sigue-el-ternero-mutilado-vivo-video
   
   (d) 1 August 2019: https://www.infopico.com/sociales/32870-la-ternera-que-aparecio-mutilada-se-encuentra-en-buen-estado-y-esta-siendo-alimentada-con-una-mamadera
   
   English: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&u=https://www.infopico.com/sociales/32870-la-ternera-que-aparecio-mutilada-se-encuentra-en-buen-estado-y-esta-siendo-alimentada-con-una-mamadera
   
   (e) 1 August 2019: https://www.infopico.com/sociales/32871-investigador-relaciona-los-animales-mutilados-en-la-pampa-con-el-fenomeno-ovni
   
   English: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&u=https://www.infopico.com/sociales/32871-investigador-relaciona-los-animales-mutilados-en-la-pampa-con-el-fenomeno-ovni
   
   - http://infotecrealico.com.ar/noticia/12000/investigador-relaciona-los-animales-mutilados-en-la-pampa-con-el-fenomeno-ovni
   
   English: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&u=http://infotecrealico.com.ar/noticia/12000/investigador-relaciona-los-animales-mutilados-en-la-pampa-con-el-fenomeno-ovni
   
   Source for #1a, #1b, #1c, #1d, #1e: http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/5bpc5x/an_update_for_my_readers_by_peter_levenda/d9q9006
   
   (f) 15 August 2019: http://infotecrealico.com.ar/noticia/12419/realico-sigue-vivo-el-ternero-mutilado-fue-a-verlo-gente-que-estudia-ovnis
   
   English: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&u=http://infotecrealico.com.ar/noticia/12419/realico-sigue-vivo-el-ternero-mutilado-fue-a-verlo-gente-que-estudia-ovnis
   
   (g) 19 August 2019: http://infotecrealico.com.ar/noticia/12493/urgente-murio-la-ternera-que-apareciera-mutilada-en-un-tambo-de-realico
   
   English: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&u=http://infotecrealico.com.ar/noticia/12493/urgente-murio-la-ternera-que-apareciera-mutilada-en-un-tambo-de-realico
   
   
2. (a) "Death, mutilation of bulls in Harney County spurs probe" by Sierra Dawn McClain, published on 2 August 2019 -- Oregon, United States of America (USA): http://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/livestock/death-mutilation-of-bulls-in-harney-county-spurs-probe/article_3a14d69a-b545-11e9-a801-8bf4f250c206.html
   
   Mirror: http://archive.is/NB0hF
   
   Source: http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/5bpc5x/an_update_for_my_readers_by_peter_levenda/d9q9006
   
   Via-1: http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/45xqym/supernatural_abductions_in_japanese_folklore_by/d00v6c7
   
   or
   
   Via-2: "A Closer Look At The Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) Phenomenon" at http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/7k8p42/the_pentagons_secret_search_for_ufos_funded_at/drcdbmo
   
   (b) "Investigation continues in death, mutilation of bulls" by Sierra Dawn McClain, published on 7 August 2019 -- Oregon, USA: https://www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/livestock/investigation-continues-in-death-mutilation-of-bulls/article_3a14d69a-b545-11e9-a801-8bf4f250c206.html
   
   Mirror: http://web.archive.org/web/20190807204347/www.capitalpress.com/ag_sectors/livestock/investigation-continues-in-death-mutilation-of-bulls/article_3a14d69a-b545-11e9-a801-8bf4f250c206.html
   
   (c) "Mysterious Oregon cattle killings, mutilations alarm ranchers" by Diana Kruzman, published on 22 August 2019 -- USA: https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2019/08/mysterious-oregon-cattle-killings-mutilations-alarm-ranchers.html
   
   (d) "Not One Drop Of Blood: Cattle Are Being Mysteriously Mutilated And Killed In Eastern Oregon" by Anna King, published on 16 September 2019 -- USA: https://www.nwnewsnetwork.org/post/not-one-drop-blood-cattle-are-being-mysteriously-mutilated-and-killed-eastern-oregon
   
   
3. (a) See "mutilation" and "NIDS" and "Skinwalker" and "Ted R. Phillips" and "Scott Corrales" at
   
   http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/5bpc5x/an_update_for_my_readers_by_peter_levenda/d9q9006
   
   (b) See "mutilation" and "Scott Corrales"
   
   in "A Closer Look At The Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) Phenomenon" at
   
   http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/7k8p42/the_pentagons_secret_search_for_ufos_funded_at/drcdbmo
   
   (c) Visit
   
   Visión OVNI: http://www.visionovni.com.ar
   
   
4. Read
   
   "INEXPLICATA: The Journal of Hispanic Ufology" edited by Scott Corrales: http://files.afu.se/Downloads/Magazines/United States/Inexplicata (Scott Corrales)
   
   
5. Read
   
   http://www.reddit.com/r/ConspiracyII/comments/brovrm/the_pentagon_finally_admits_it_investigates_ufos/eoffmvx
   
   or
   
   http://old.reddit.com/r/ConspiracyII/comments/brovrm/the_pentagon_finally_admits_it_investigates_ufos/eoffmvx
   
   
6. (a) "Anarchy in the U.K. – Animal Mutilations" by Nick Redfern, published on 2 August 2019 -- look for "dead whale": https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2019/08/anarchy-in-the-u-k-animal-mutilations/
   
   (b) Look for "dead whale" in the section titled "Glowing Monster Of The Cliffs" in the chapter titled "UNEARTHLY CATS, DEADLY DOGS, WEREWOLVES" in the book "The Monster Book: Creatures, Beasts and Fiends of Nature" by Nick Redfern, published in 2017: http://books.google.com/books?id=BevlDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT32&lpg=PT32&ots=kCBFH7g_1u
   
   Source for #6: http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/5bpc5x/an_update_for_my_readers_by_peter_levenda/d9q9006
   
   
7. The Paracast, Gene Steinberg (host) and J. Randall Murphy (co-host), 11 August 2019, Preston Dennett (guest) talks about the UFO event in "March 1966" at the "Point Elementary School in Saint Louis, Missouri," USA -- where the entity/being "walks by the cow, touches the cow, the cow falls over unconcious" -- from 1:21:55 (1 hour and 21 minutes and 55 seconds) to 1:27:40 (1 hour and 27 minutes and 40 seconds): https://www.theparacast.com/podcast/now-playing-august-11-2019-preston-dennett/ or http://www.theparacast.com/podcast/now-playing-august-11-2019-preston-dennett/
   
   Audio file: https://www.theparacast.com/podcasts/paracast_190811.mp3
   
   See also: "The Return of Preston Dennett" by J. Randall Murphy, published on 5 August 2019 at https://www.theparacast.com/forum/threads/the-return-of-preston-dennett.20082/
   
   - "Schoolyard UFO Encounters: 100 True Accounts" by Preston Dennett, published in 2019: http://prestondennett . weebly . com/schoolyard-ufo-encounters.html
   
   and
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Schoolyard-UFO-Encounters-True-Accounts/dp/1075776988
   
   
8. Read
   
   "China's Major Mysteries: Paranormal Phenomena and the Unexplained in the People's Republic" by Paul Dong, published in 2000 -- "The UFO phenomenon seems almost to be mocking humans": http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/coupjv/chinas_major_mysteries_by_paul_dongthe_ufo/ewlb7pb
   
   Via: http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/5bpc5x/an_update_for_my_readers_by_peter_levenda/d9q9006
   
   
9. Read "IV.--CONCLUSIONS" (page 91, PDF file page 290) in the very interesting paper "The Tengu" by Dr. Marinus Willem de Visser (page 23, PDF file page 222), published in Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, 1908, Volume XXXVI (Volume 36) Part II (PDF file page 192): http://archive.org/details/transactionsasi22japagoog
   
   Source: http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/45xqym/supernatural_abductions_in_japanese_folklore_by/d00v6c7
   
   
10. Visit These Resources
    
    (a) http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/45xqym/supernatural_abductions_in_japanese_folklore_by/d00v6c7
    
    (b) http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/5bpc5x/an_update_for_my_readers_by_peter_levenda/d9q9006
    
    (c) A Very Interesting Ball Lightning (Globe Lightning, Globular Lightning, Fireball, Globes Of Fire) Resource: http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/7k8p42/the_pentagons_secret_search_for_ufos_funded_at/dyj5990
    
    (d) http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/9tjr5w/american_exceptionalism_when_others_do_it/e8wq72m
    
    (e) "A Closer Look At The Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) Phenomenon": http://old.reddit.com/r/worldpolitics/comments/7k8p42/the_pentagons_secret_search_for_ufos_funded_at/drcdbmo
    
    SectionID: ewnktcn

Tales of the Cryptids! It says grades 4-7, but I bought it for myself just because I love the art style.

https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Cryptids-Mysterious-Creatures-Publishing/dp/1581960492

I -loved- my 5th grade science teacher. I thought she was awesome, I thought science was awesome, and I thought learning about everything was awesome.

One day, we were talking about birds, and peregrine falcons came up. I fucking love peregrine falcons. I think they look awesome and badass. And I had a book that I fucking loved reading. I forget the title, but it was something about comparisons, where it showed all of the largest contrasts in the universe --the slowest and fastest of the animals, birds, planes, cars, trains, etc; the smallest and largest animals, buildings, planets, galaxies, countries, land formations, etc. So when my 5th grade science teacher, whom I adored for her enthusiasm for science and all things nature, told us about peregrine falcons and how they can dive up to 200 miles per hour, I eagerly raised my hand, excited to contribute to the conversation and let everyone know of the awesome fact I knew from my book. "Actually, peregrine falcons have been clocked at up to 217 miles per hour!"

She just looked at me and her face fell into this annoyed glare. "Well, I was just giving a rough estimate. Not everyone knows or wants to know the exact statistic, Nick -- it doesn't really matter."

I was silent the rest of the day. My interpretation then and now is that she felt one-upped by me -- that a student knew something she didn't, and she felt that I was rubbing it in her face. If I came off that way, I didn't mean to. I was just excited to share what I knew. Se shot down my enthusiasm and cut my confidence and excitement to the floor. She never realized what she did, but my respect for the woman to this day is pretty low after that class. You should never kill a child's thirst for knowledge like that. If I was disrupting the class in some way, take me aside after class and explain that while it is great to know these sorts of things, there isn't enough time to cover all of it. Don't crush a kid's excitement.


edit: I found the book! "Incredible Comparisons": http://www.amazon.com/Incredible-Comparisons-Stephen-Biesty/dp/0789410095

[Monsters and Mysteries] (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Monsters-Mysteries-Bigfoot-Nessie-Cryptids-ebook/dp/B00C9QBS4U)?