Frightlopedia A I D E P O h t g r i F y, y, C r e e p n g S c a r ry t h i o f E v e m b i e s p e d i a t o Z o o A na nEdn Scp yi n ec- Clh i l l i n g , f r o m A r a c h n i d s Workman Publishing neW York A I D E P O h t g r i F y, y, C r e e p n g S c a r ry t h i o f E v e m b i e s p e d i a t o Z o o A na nEdn Scp yi n ec- Clh i l l i n g , f r o m A r a c h n i d s Julie Winterbottom by with contributions by Rachel Bozek Stefano Tambellini Illustrated by The authors and publisher disclaim responsibility for any adverse effects that result from using information in this book, including, but not limited to, being mistaken for a vampire, having spiders invade your toilet, and having nightmares about Mongolian death worms. Copyright © 2016 by Julie Winterbottom Illustrations © Workman Publishing Co., Inc. Illustrations by Stefano Tambellini Design by Becky Terhune and Jane Treuhaft Editing by Justin Krasner Production editing by Beth Levy All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced—mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying—without written permission of the publisher. Published simultaneously in Canada by Thomas Allen & Son Limited. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available. ISBN 978-0-7611-8379-2 Workman books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk for premiums and sales promotions as well as for fund-raising or educational use. Special editions or book excerpts can also be created to specification. For details, contact the Special Sales Director at the address below, or send an email to [email protected]. Workman Publishing Co., Inc. 225 Varick Street New York, NY 10014 workman.com WORKMAN is a registered trademark of Workman Publishing Co., Inc. Printed in the United States of America First printing August 2016 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS W riting a book can be scary—especially when it means having ghosts, zombies, and giant rats inhabit your mind for a whole year. Luckily, many people helped make the process of creating Frightlopedia less daunting. Thanks to Stefano Tambellini for his wonderfully creepy illustrations; Jessica Facchini and Erin Petenko for their fastidious fact- checking; makeup artist Ramy for his ingenious instructions; and the fantastic team at Workman for their editorial and design wizardry: Justin Krasner, Becky Terhune, Jane Treuhaft, Beth Levy, Annie O’Donnell, and Bobby Walsh. Special thanks to Marilyn Recht for her eagle editorial eye. Also, thanks to Brenda Bowen, David Rappaport, the staff at Steeplechase Coffee, and Stephen Wetta.—J. W. And thanks to Ed, Mallory, Xander, the Bozek family, the Roswal family, Java Love, and the fine folks of PT. —R. B. CONTENTS Introduction � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �viii The Scary Stuff Ahh, Arachnids! Spiders � � � � � 1 Ghosts � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 42 Ahh, Arachnids! Ghosts Around the Spider in the Toilet � � � � � � � 10 World � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 55 Boo! � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 12 Gomantong Caves � � � � � � � � � 61 Buried Alive � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 13 Haunted Houses � � � � � � � � � � � 64 Capuchin Catacombs � � 16 Haunt Your Own House � � � � � 70 Claustrophobia � � � � � 20 Island of the Dolls � � � � � � � 74 Clinkity Clink: Island of Snakes � � � � � � � � � � 76 Ghost Story � � � � � � � � 22 Jellyfish � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 78 Crocodiles � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 28 Killer Bees � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 82 DEATH, scared To � � � � � � � � � � 32 Komodo Dragon � � � � � � � � � � 85 Evil Scientist � � � � � � � � � � � � 34 Lake Natron: Fake Blood and Petrifying Waters � � � � � � � � 88 Fake Wound � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 39 Manchineel Tree � � � � � � � � � � 90 Monsters � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 92 Transylvania � � � � � � � � � � � � 161 Mujina: Ghost Story � � � � � � 100 UFOs and Aliens � � � � � � � � � � 164 Mummies � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 103 UFO Alien Message � � � � � � � � 169 Nepenthes, Urban Legends � � � � � � � � � � � 170 the Flesh-Eating Plant � � � �110 Vampire Bats � � � � � � � � � � � � 172 The Open Window: Ghost Story � � � � � � � � � � � � � 112 Vampire Bite � � � � � � � � � � � � 174 Ouija Board � � � � � � � � � � � � � �118 Vampires � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 176 Paris Catacombs � � � � � � � � � � 120 Werewolves � � � � � � � � � � � � � 183 Quicksand � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �123 Witches � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 186 Rats � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �126 Write Your Own Ghost Story � � � � � � � � � � � � 192 Sandbox Tree � � � � � � � � � � � �132 Xylophobia � � � � � � � � � � � � � 194 Séance � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �137 Yeti � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 197 Séance, Hold Your Own � � � 142 Your Biggest Sharks � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �145 Fear � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 201 Snakes � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 148 Zombies � � � � � � � � � � �204 Stinging Tree � � � � � � � � � � � �155 Zombify Yourself � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 212 Stonefish � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �157 Tasmanian Devil � � � � � � � � � � �159 INTRODUCTION An 18-foot python just got loose from a pet store and is now slithering under the fence into your backyard. In the middle of the night, as you’re lying in bed, a strange, ghostly voice whispers your name again and again. And again. A meteor just crashed into Earth and released a huge, pulsating blob of slime that is now consuming everything in its path. P eople have been scaring the pants—or loincloths and togas—off each other with stories like these for thousands of years. In fact, the ancient Romans told some of the first ghost stories, and they were a lot like the ones we tell today. Being frightened, but knowing that you are not truly in danger, can feel deliciously good. It’s what keeps thrill-seekers lining up for the amusement park ride that whips them around until they feel like a piece of wet spaghetti. It’s what causes scary story lovers to ask to hear the same creepy legend again and again. It’s what makes moviegoers rush to the theater to watch a film about a mutant monster brain that takes over the world. And chances are good that it’s what brought you to this book. You’ve come to the right place. In these pages, you will find stories vviiiiii BB FFRRIIGGHHTTLLOOPPEEDDIIAA about everything scary under the sun—and the full moon. You’ll learn things you never knew about ghosts and mummies, aliens and werewolves. You’ll encounter some real-life creepy creatures, petrifying plants, and ghastly places you never even imagined existed, like a wasp that turns prey into zombies, a plant that eats rodents, and an island that’s overrun with thousands of snakes. You’ll also learn how to make yourself—or your friends—look like a zombie, or better yet, a zombie that’s been bitten by a vampire. THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS BOOK 1. Everything is organized 3. This book makes great scary alphabetically. If a horde of reading, but it’s not just for zombies is at your front door reading. There are lots of things right now and you need to know to do and make, too. These are what to do fast, head straight to marked “Horrifying How-Tos.” the Z section. Some of these projects require 2. Being scared is fun, but being so help from an adult. They are scared you can’t fall sleep at night labeled with the sign shown is not fun. That’s why every entry below. If possible, pick an adult in this book has a score from 1 to who thinks it would 3 on the FRIGHT METER. This be cool to see how will help you decide you look with a fake HAEDLUPLT 2 if something is the vampire bite on your neck (and 1 3 right amount of might even want one, too). FRIGHT METER scary for you. Ready to scare yourself and your friends silly? Turn the page, if you dare . . . FRIGHTLOPEDIA B ix