Top Ten Cryptozoology Books of 2009

by Loren Coleman, Cryptozoologist and Author, Mysterious America, Cryptozoology A to Z, Bigfoot! The True Story of Apes in America, the “Loren Coleman Presents” series from Cosimo Books, and other books.

The Top Cryptozoology Book of 2009

1. Guide Des Animaux Cachés by Philippe Coudray

The new French cryptozoology book, Guide Des Animaux Cachés by author Philippe Coudray, published in October 2009, is the year’s best cryptozoology book. The volume is an almost comprehensive guidebook of the world’s cryptids, with incredibly well-done illustrations, range maps, and text, in French. Remarkably, the only shortfall is its coverage of non-hominoid North American cryptids. The exploration of the possibility of the text being translated by Patrick Huyghe and published by Anomalist Books, in English, in the foreseeable future, are in play.

Top Bigfoot Books of 2009 (alphabetical by author)

2. Bigfoot: The Life and Times of a Legend by Joshua Blu Buhs

3. Sasquatch/Bigfoot and the Mystery of the Wild Man: Cryptozoology & the Mythology in the Pacific Northwest by Jean-Paul Debenat (translated by Paul LeBlond).

4. Sasquatch: True-Life Encounters with the Legendary Ape-Men by Rupert Matthews.

5. Anatomy of a Beast: Obsession and Myth on the Trail of Bigfoot by Michael McLeod.

Top Historical Hominological Book of 2009

6. The Dwarfs of Mount Atlas: Collected Papers on the Curious Anthropology of Robert Grant Haliburton by Robert Grant Haliburton.

Top Regional Cryptozoology Books of 2009 (alphabetical by author)

7. The Vermont Monster Guide by Joseph A. Citro and illustrated by Stephen R. Bissette.

8. Fearsome Creatures of Florida by John Henry Fleming.

Top Children’s Cryptozoology Book for 2009

9. Secret Saturdays: The Official Cryptid Field Guide ~ by D.R. Shealy (a pseudonym?), and illustrated by Jay Stephens.

Most Controversial Cryptozoology Book of 2009

10. Live Pterosaurs in America: Sightings of Apparent Pterosaurs in the United States by Jonathan David Whitcomb.

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Honorable Mentions (but not received for review)

Giant Snakes – Unravelling the Coils of Mystery by Michael Newton.

Encyclopedia of Lake and River Monsters by James Foster Robinson.

Plus a special note: Originally published in 2005, I would like to mention a wonderful book that I just discovered in 2009, for children:

The Serpent Came to Gloucester by M.T. Anderson and illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline.

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To be considered for the “Best of 2010″ list, please send review copies to

Loren Coleman, Director
International Cryptozoology Museum
661 Congress St.
Portland, ME 04101

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