These three books were essential reading for kids back in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Whether they were constantly borrowed from school libraries or purchased from book clubs, thousands of children all around the world loved these masterpieces.

And the good news for anyone seeking a nostalgia rush or trip down memory lane is that these titles have been reissued (as of a couple of years back, so I am slow off the mark) and can be ordered online from Amazon and eBay.

I won’t go into too much of a review here, as I will focus instead on the artwork featured within; some of which terrified me when I was young. These amazing illustrations were a major feature of these books, and simply by looking at them again all these years later still triggers a response – but this time around as a fond memory, rather than scaring the wits out of me.

So, let’s begin with the ‘Monsters’ book.

These first eye-catching samples feature monsters from Greek Mythology: – Cyclops, Medusa and The Minotaur.

This illustration is from ‘Beowulf’ and shows Grendel attacking the Feast Hall.

Of all the pictures in these books, this would be the one that I remembered most from my childhood, probably due to its gruesomeness. I believe it is a depiction of the Lambton Worm, an old English folk tale.

The book does cover a wide range of deadly creatures, from sea monsters to those seen in modern cinema, which is more than enough content to satisfy most readers. I should also point out how similar some of the artwork is to that of ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ and ‘Fighting Fantasy’ – especially the larger standalone illustrations.

Now let’s take a look at some of the best pictures from the ‘Ghosts’ book.

Again, the illustrations are of a very high standard, but I always felt that the stronger artwork was seen in the ‘Monsters’ book, perhaps due to the subject matter: – sharp teeth, blood and guts and so forth. That being said, perhaps the best feature of ‘Ghosts’ would be the ghost stories themselves, and there are a few cracking tales within these pages!

‘UFOs’ is the final book in the series, and whilst the pictures were great, the content was less frightening and based more upon science and speculation.

See what I mean? You’re not going to have any nightmares over these pictures – although I wouldn’t want to encounter that glowing orange UFO.

It’s still an interesting and informative book, especially if you’re into aliens and flying saucers – including hoaxes – with the photos below being a great example.

Back in the day, there was also a larger book released that combined all three volumes into one, and was titled ‘Mysteries of the Unknown.’ To my knowledge, this has not yet been re-released, and the only available versions are second-hand copies from various online dealers such as eBay.

As I mentioned earlier, all three books can be purchased individually on eBay or Amazon – and in brand-new condition for a very decent price.

I also have to mention Usborne Publishing, and thank them not only for the use of their images, but for re-releasing these wonderful books for a new generation to enjoy!