A tiny glint of light floats on the breeze up ahead. A soft patter of laughter coaxes you to follow it, just over the hill to the edge of the woods. It must be your friend. But by the woods, the shadows fall. The trail you've been following seems now a tangle of brush, and the wind turns cold. Suddenly, laughter rings out, loud and harsh. You've been warned of the fair folk in these woods.

For hundreds of years, people all over the world have told stories about fairies and elves. Some of these creatures are tiny charmers, like Tinker Bell. Some rule powerful realms, like Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings. Others weave terrible spells. Learn all about these magical beings who have fascinated people since ancient times....

Thud. Thud. The ground shudders beneath you. At the cave entrance, a low, panting, grumbling sound rises. He's back, and he's hungry. You scurry behind a boulder. Sunlight flares for a moment at the cave entrance before it is blotted out by a monstrous, huge shadow. Smash. He's tearing at the cave boulders now, tossing them aside with an angry roar. He's coming closer. Can you find a place to hide? Or will you be his the next meal? People all over the world have told stories about giants, ogres, and trolls. Many of them are scary. Of course, no one wants to meet the one-eyed Cyclops of ancient Greece or the angry Wulgaru of Australia. But the giant American logger, Paul Bunyan, has many fans. Learn more about the fascinating creatures that have inspired such tall tales. ...

The breaking waves glow white in the moonlight as you walk along the beach. Suddenly you hear a voice singing a song. It's as sweet a sound as you have ever heard. You see a strange creature - half woman and half fish - sitting on a rock in the water. She is beautiful, and her voice enchants you. Without thinking, you follow the mermaid's song farther and farther into the dark, cold sea . . . From ancient myths to authors such as Hans Christian Anderson to modern movies, people throughout time have told tales of mermaids and mermen. These magical creatures of the sea are said to tempt sailors to follow them into the ocean, but the sailors drown in the chase. In other stories, humans capture merfolk and force them to live on land, or merfolk take human visitors to their amazing underwater cities. Learn more about these fantastical beings who have captivated us since ancient times. ...

Mist drapes the crooked trees of the marshland. Even the sodden ground seems to sigh and gurgle with every step you take. Surely you must be near the serpent's lair. You raise a light by the dark water, which starts to ripple. Suddenly, a monstrous, writhing shape bursts into view. Arching over you, it swings a hideous, fanged head . . . and then another and another . . . People throughout time have told tales of monsters and magical beasts. Some are fearsome - like the many-headed Hydra or the deadly basilisk. Others, like the dazzling unicorn or the dragons of ancient China, carry enchanting powers. Learn more about these and other fantastical creatures that have captivated us since ancient times. ...