Enter the enchanting world of mythical creatures and explore the history behind them in this beautifully illustrated compendium for kids.Meet an incredible cast of fictional animals from all around the world. Say hello to Thunderbird flying over North America and learn about the Native American traditions that inspired its story. Voyage to Japan to meet kitsune, supernatural nine-tailed foxes that can turn into humans. And jump on board an ancient storm-battered ship to learn why mermaids were the last thing a sailor wanted to see...From narwhal tusks inspiring the legend of unicorns, to dinosaur bones creating rumours of dragons, there is an interesting story behind every magical beast. Learn about the societies that spawned these legendary creatures, from Ancient Greece to the indigenous tribes of Australia. This is the only kids' guide to magical creatures that tells you the history behind the mythology.