Peculiar Picks

Peculiar Picks are a selection of odd, funny, interesting, curious, moving, irreverent, and otherwise wonderfully awesome, but perhaps not well known, reads. Peculiar Picks are books for younger readers and their grown-ups, handpicked by the Library's Youth Services Manager, Joshua Carlson.

My last Peculiar Picks featured the title Yeti, Turn Out the Light!

Here’s a big list featuring bigfoots (bigfeet?), sasquatch(es?), and yeti(s?).

The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot by Scott Magoon
Library Catalog / hoopla
In this variation on the classic “Boy Who Cried Wolf” tale, young Ben regularly tells tall tales of seeing bigfoot, and when no one believes him any Bigfoot arrives, leaving him alone in the forest. He learns the error of his ways, but is no less persistent, and sets off to get actual proof.

Watch author and illustrator Scott Magoon read The Boy Who Cried Bigfoot and then draw Bigfoot!

Don’t Squish the Sasquatch! and Don’t Splash the Sasquatch! by Kent Redeker, illustrated by Bob Staake
Library Catalog
Bob Staake’s bold, colorful, and zany illustrations bring this really silly story of Sasquatch riding a public bus to life. In the sequel, Don’t Splash the Sasquatch!, readers will enjoy the madcap exploits of the Sasquatch going swimming, but not liking to be splashed.

Bigfoot Does Not Like Birthday Parties by Eric Ode, illustrated by Jaime Temairik
Library Catalog
In addition to not liking being squished or splashed, Bigfoot does not like birthday parties. However, the entire town, led by the mayor, leads a circus parade to the forest to celebrate Bigfoot’s birthday. Can they find him? Will he be angry? It turns out, Bigfoot doesn’t like birthday parties, but he does like messes!

Unicorn and Yeti series by Heather Ayris Burnell, illustrated by Hazel Quintanilla
Library Catalog / Libby
This delightfully bright, colorful and cute series of easy reader graphic novels is all about friendship and magical adventure.

Not Yeti by Kelly DiPuchhio, illustrated by Clairen Keane
Library Catalog
Other monsters are loud, angry, scary, sometimes not that smart, and rude, but not yeti. And that’s ok. A whimsical and poignant story about being yourself and not conforming, friendship and kindness.

Are We There Yeti? by Ashlyn Anstee
Library Catalog
The bus driving yeti is taking a group of children on a trip. The impatient children keep asking, “Are we there yeti?” Will they ever get there? Where are they going?

Not Yet, Yeti by Bethany V. Freitas, illustrated by Maddie Frost
Library Catalog
It’s yeti’s first day of school. School is awesome: full of new friends, toys, and lots of fun things to do! BUT, it’s also hard with new things to learn. A bright and colorful read about perseverance, practice, and success with support from friends and teachers.

Yeti Needs a Haircut by Angela Halgrimson, illustrated by Brian Barber
Library Catalog
A Sasquatch or Yeti may love their fur, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need proper maintenance. Yeti needs to get its haircut before the first day of school. Luckily his friend Suzi is there to help.

Back to School with Bigfoot by Samantha Berger and Martha Brockenbrough, illustrated by Dave Pressler
Library Catalog
In another story about Bigfoot going to school, Bigfoot is worried about starting the school year, but thinking of his friends and all the cool things he will do during the year helps him through it.

I Love My Fur by Kelly Miller Leigh
Library Catalog
A self-centered young Bigfoot loves his fur. It’s all he will talk about. And all he thinks anyone else wants to talk about. His fur is so amazing he will never get a haircut! In the end, Bigfoot learns a valuable lesson and gets a haircut.

Don’t Wake the Yeti! by Claire Freedman, illustrated by Claudia Ranucci
Library Catalog / hoopla
There are many reasons to not wake up the yeti under your bed, and in the style of the If You Give a Mouse a Muffin books, Don’t Wake the Yeti! provides an ongoing series of funny cause and effect scenarios, including what happens if you take your new yeti friend to school.

The Thing About Yetis and Bedtime for Yeti by Vin Vogel
Library Catalog / Libby
Vin Vogel’s yeti is absolutely adorable. In this funny story about yetis you will find out all about their love for winter, and also sometimes summer, in this charmingly cute book. In the sequel, Bedtime for Yeti, you might think that a big monstrous creature like a Yeti wouldn’t need anyone to help them feel secure, but even a Yeti needs snuggles from their favorite stuffed pal.

Choose Your Own Adventure Board Book: The Abominable Snowman by R.A. Montgomery
Library Catalog
In this CYOA for the very youngest, simple choices lead to cute interactions with an adorable abominable snowman.

Bigfoot Search and Find Adventures by D.L. Miller
Library Catalog / hoopla
Inspired by the Where’s Waldo? type of picture puzzle books, this series takes readers on journeys through time and around the world to learn about the places and events Bigfoot is hiding within.

Henry and the Yeti by Russell Ayto
Library Catalog
Henry believes in yetis, but no one else will take him seriously, or believe without evidence – in fact, many of his classmates laugh at him. Determined to prove yetis are real, Henry sets off on a long expedition. Along the way he begins to doubt himself, but is proven correct. When he returns to show his photographic evidence, he discovers his camera is missing! Luckily, the yeti followed him, shocking all into belief. A great message about believing in oneself, not listening to detractors, and perseverance.

No Yeti Yet by Anne Marie Fraser
Library Catalog
A brother and sister set off on a wonderful winter adventure to find a yeti and take its picture – seeking far and wide. Only, it turns out they didn’t have to go that far. Children will have fun pointing out the yeti throughout the entire story while the pair of children are oblivious to its presence.

Bigfoot Cinderrrrrella by Tony Johnston, illustrated by James Warhola
Library Catalog
A fairly straightforward adaptation of Cinderella, except with bigfoots and a beary godfather, who helps RRRRella because she was kind to him.

Cinder Yeti by Precious McKenzie, illustrated by Edward Tanzosh
Library Catalog
Dealing with prejudices and acceptance, Cinder Yeti is a much less straightforward adaptation of Cinderella. Cinder Yeti lives in the forest with her three sisters and is warned about the dangers of humans. However, hearing of a human dance party, Cinder Yeti really wants to go. She gets dressed up, brushes her fur, and shows up to the dance. Much to her chagrin, the people in attendance run in fear, except one young man and his little dog who dance the night away with her leading to a long friendship.

Enjoy a fun family Bigfoot or Yeti movie!

Abominable (PG, 2019, 97 mins)
Library Catalog

Harry and the Hendersons (PG, 1987, 110 mins)
Library Catalog

Missing Link (PG, 2019, 93 mins)
Library Catalog

Smallfoot (PG, 2018, 96 mins)
Library Catalog

Nonfiction

Check out some of these books for myths, legends and research about Bigfoot, similar creatures, and other cryptids.

Cryptids: Short and Tall, Big and Small by Kelly Bishop
Library Catalog

What Do We Know About Bigfoot? by Steve Korte, illustrated by Manuel Gutierrez
Library Catalog

In Search of Sasquatch by Kelly Milner Halls
Library Catalog

Mystery Hunters: Bigfoot and Other Monsters by John Hawkins
Library Catalog

The Book of Mythical Beasts & Magical Creatures: Meet Your Favourite Monsters, Fairies, Heroes, and Tricksters from All Around the World by Stephen Krensky
Library Catalog

The Atlas of Monsters: Mythical Creatures from Around the World by Sandra Lawrence, illustrated by Stuart Hill
Library Catalog

Atlas of Monsters and Ghosts by Frederic Magrim, illustrated by Laura Brenlla
Library Catalog

Behind the Legend: Bigfoot by Erin Peabody, illustrated by Victor Rivas
Library Catalog

Mysteries of Giant Humanlike Creatures by Kathryn Walker
Library Catalog

The Mystery of the Abominable Snowman by Holly Wallace
Library Catalog

Looking for Bigfoot by Bonnie Worth, illustrated by Jim Nelson Nadia Shireen
Library Catalog

Categories: Authors & Books, Featured, Homepage Kids, Kids, and Library News.

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