Editor’s note: We are pleased to welcome this guest post by author Lija Fisher, whose new book The Cryptid Keeper arrives August 20th, 2019.

Kids might not know what cryptids are, but if they’ve ever wanted to search for Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster, then they’ve been curious about cryptids! The dictionary states that a cryptid is ‘an animal that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist.’ There are thousands of these hidden animals all over the world, and introducing these legendary beasts to kids is not only fun, but educational!

Cryptozoology, the study of cryptids, is considered by many to be a pseudo-science, along the lines of ghost hunting and ufology. But what’s interesting is how much actual science goes into it. Science becomes a lot more exciting if kids are analyzing a fossil for proof of a fabled animal like the Mokele Mbembe. Or learning about DNA through the samples pulled from Loch Ness in hopes of finding Nessie. There was even an animal killed in Montana recently that nobody could identify, so cryptozoologists were asked what kind of new creature it could be. Alas, it turned out to be a grey wolf and not the Dogman or Direwolf, but as scientists were comparing the creature to known animals, cryptozoologists were comparing it to beasts that so far only exist in tales and imagination. For kids, which way sounds like more fun to learn the scientific method of observation?

Dip your toe into Cryptozoology and the hunt for Cryptids with Lija Fisher’s book ‘The Cryptid Catcher!’

And proving the existence of cryptids is not an impossibility! New species of fish and mammals are being discovered yearly, from leopards to bats to monkeys. Scientists believe there are still millions of species yet to be found. And if a bird eating vampire frog can be discovered, maybe the Canvey Island Monster can be found, too? At least it’s fun for kids to believe it can be, and introduces them to the many fantastic mammals that actually do exist, such as the long-nosed monkey that looks like something out of a muppet movie.

In addition, not only are new species being discovered, but species thought to be extinct have been rediscovered, such as the San Juan Cutthroat Brown Trout in Colorado. So if an extinct fish can miraculously reappear, isn’t it possible that the Megalodon shark from 2.5 million years ago is still floating around somewhere? Probably not, but when kids discover that we’ve spent more time on the surface of the moon than the deepest parts of the ocean so who knows what’s actually alive down there, their interest in marine biology goes through the roof.

Continue the cryptozoology fun with ‘The Cryptid Keeper,’ available August 20, 2019!

Loren Coleman, founder of the International Cryptozoology Museum, states that, “Cryptozoology is the gateway to biology, zoology, ecology, anthropology, paleontology, and other life sciences. In the 1950s, a fascination with dinosaurs was later replaced by all sorts of scientific interests. Nowadays, people want to know more about cryptozoology and are exposed to a vast universe of sciences full of animals and mysteries.” In other words, cryptids are the new dinosaur when it comes to getting kids interested in scientific research!

In this world where kids can Google the answer to any question in seconds, isn’t it exciting to share with them that there are still things left to be discovered? That there is still some mystery in the world? And maybe a child will grow up to discover a plant whose properties heal disease, and they got interested in science because, as a kid, they wanted to prove the existence of the Snallygaster or the Ugly Merman. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

Until then, keep searching!

Lija Fisher is the author of The Cryptid Catcher, a middle grade humorous adventure novel with Farrar, Straus & Giroux that received a starred review from Booklist and is a Junior Library Guild selection. The Cryptid Keeper is the sequel. Lija was the Writer in Residence in 2017 with Aspen Words. Prior to becoming a writer she trained for a while (a very short while) to be a Hollywood stunt person.

You can download her free cryptid research game that fulfills Next Generation Science Standards from LijaFisher.com.
Find her on Twitter @LijaFisher
For her interviews with Bigfoot, go to youtube.com/lijafisher