Big, orange eyes. Venomous fangs. A liquid diet of blood. A living body with no head.

These creatures are made for scary stories! But while some may call them creepy, we think they're pretty cool and a lot of kids do too! Who says a creature can’t be both frightening AND awesome anyway? We’ve gathered our top five favorite creepy and cool creatures. Help rewrite their scary narrative and share these fascinating creatures with your readers. Who knows, maybe you’ll even agree that what makes these critters creepy, is also very cool.

 

 

 

1. Cockroaches 

 

Fast Facts About Cockroaches by Lisa J. Amstutz (K-3)

Skitter, skitter! A cockroach scurries by in a flash. Young readers will get the fast facts on these tough insects, including cockroach body parts, habitats, and life cycles. Along the way, they will also uncover surprising and fascinating facts! Simple text, close-up photos, and a fun activity make this a perfect introduction to the creepy-crawly world of cockroaches. (Hardcover format)

Activity: Practice drawing cockroaches with our simple how-to directions.

 

 

 

2. Bats

 

Vampire Bats by Kathryn Clay (PreK-2)

Did you know a vampire bat feeds on blood? Read to learn about the vampire bat’s diet and other facts about this mammal. Bring augmented reality to your students by downloading the free Capstone 4D app and scanning for access to awesome videos! (Hardcover and Interactive eBook formats)

Do Vampire Bats Really Drink Blood? by Ellen Labrecque (K-3)

Vampires are made-up creatures that drink blood. But vampire bats are real! Do they really need to drink blood to survive? You have questions and this book has the answers. Find out about vampire bats, including what they eat and their behavior. (Hardcover and Interactive eBook formats)

 

 

 

3. Birds

 

Turkey Vultures by Mary R. Dunn (PreK-2)

Turkey vultures have red, featherless heads and long, dark feathers. Big, bold photos accompany carefully-leveled text on habitat, behavior, life cycle, and threats to this meat-eating scavenger. (Hardcover and Interactive eBook formats)

American Crows by Lisa J. Amstutz (PreK-2)

Who’s that squawking in the backyard? It’s an American crow! Readers find out where American crows live, what they eat, and how to identify the birds and their eggs. (Hardcover and Interactive eBook formats)

Great Horned Owls by Melissa Hill (PreK-2)

Big, stately great horned owls with their hooting call and big orange eyes are the owls of scary stories. Readers learn more about these tufted hunters with full-color photos, range maps, and carefully leveled text. (Hardcover and Interactive eBook formats)

Owl Moves Out of the Forest by Nikki Potts, illustrated by Maarten Lenoir (PreK-2)

Owl is bored with its habitat! Follow Owl as it tries out different places to live. Which habitat will make the best home for Owl? (Hardcover and Interactive eBook formats)

 

 

 

4. Snakes

 

Anacondas by Jaclyn Jaycox (K-3)

Anacondas are the heaviest snakes in the world! These big snakes use their bodies to squeeze their prey. Anacondas can be as long as a bus and can stay underwater for a long time while hunting. Slither towards the facts about these powerful snakes. (Hardcover and Interactive eBook formats)

Mambas by Jaclyn Jaycox (K-3)

Mambas can be either green or black. These dangerous snakes kill prey with their venomous bite. Then they swallow their prey whole! Learn more about these awesome snakes. (Hardcover and Interactive eBook formats)

Pythons by Martha E. H. Rustad (Gr. 1-3)

Pythons are some of the largest snakes in the world. They squeeze their prey with their bodies, and have flexible jaws so they can swallow big animals. Get all the facts on these powerful snakes. (Hardcover format)

How Do Snakes Poop? by Malta Cunningham (Gr. 4-6)

Did you know that snakes poop and pee at the same time? Sometimes snakes will go months before pooping. Read this engaging high/low book to learn more about how snakes poop. (Hardcover format)

 

 

 

5. Spiders

 

Splendid Spiders by Melissa Higgins (PreK-2)

Spiders are famous for their complex webs, but that's not how all of these eight-legged critters catch food. Some chase prey on the ground. Others hide and grab bugs that come too close! Excite kids' natural curiosity with this Smithsonian Little Entomologist book about splendid spiders from around the world. Readers will be wowed by the amazing variety of arachnids and up-close photos, while also learning about bug behavior, life cycles, classification, and more. The engaging, leveled text supports life science curriculum. (Hardcover and Interactive eBook formats)

Fast Facts About Spiders by Julia Garstecki-Derkovitz (K-3)

Do you spy a silky web? A spider must be nearby! Young readers will get the fast facts on these eight-legged critters, including spider body parts, habitats, and life cycles. Along the way, they will also uncover surprising and fascinating facts! Simple text, close-up photos, and a fun activity make this a perfect introduction to the spectacular world of spiders. (Hardcover format)

Activity: Try making your own colorful spider with our easy craft.

How Do Spiders Walk on the Ceiling?: Answering Kids' Questions by Nancy Dickmann (K-3)

Spiders live everywhere! We even find them inside our homes. But how do they get way up on the ceiling? You have questions, and this book has the answers. Find out about spiders, including their body parts and behavior. (Hardcover and Interactive eBook formats)

Tarantulas by Jaclyn Jaycox (K-3)

Tarantulas use strong jaws to catch their prey, but these big spiders aren't as dangerous as some people think! Some can even be pets! Get caught up in all the details about these hairy, silk-spinning creatures. (Hardcover and Interactive eBook formats)

Jumping Spiders by Claire Archer (K-3)

Jumping spiders aren’t like other spiders. They don’t need spider webs to trap prey. They just jump on them! Get more exciting details about these fascinating creatures. (Hardcover and Interactive eBook formats)

How Do Spiders Hear? by Nancy Furstinger (Gr. 4-6)

Did you know that spiders have hundreds of hairs, which they use to hear? Read this book to learn more about how spiders hear. (Hardcover format)

 

 

Check out our Spooky Stories page for more fun reading ideas for your students!