“Just because someone didn’t believe in the monster didn’t mean they disapproved of her. Nessie brought in so much money, interest, and enthusiasm to Loch Ness that it was hard to hold a grudge against her. Nessie might have been a big fat dupe, but she was a fun dupe.”

Delve deep into the rich and fascinating history of the Loch Ness monster which includes multiple conspiracies, shoddy news reporting with poor source checking, as well as high fashion and culinary tributes such as monster-shaped gingerbread cookies, Nessie-shape bread loaves, and the Le Filet de Sole ‘Loch Ness,’ which was “a baked potato and sole ‘body,’ lobster claws ‘flippers,’ and a walnut head.'” From the original photograph in the 1930s to the huge monster hunt in 2023 – the facts of the matter are laid out chronologically, showing how each step lead to another.

Loch Ness quickly became entrenched in Scotland’s pride after its unveiling. As a powerful symbol, the Loch Ness monster had even been targeted in WWII by both Germany and Italy. In fact, at one point Mussolini’s newspaper reported that Nessie had been bombed in a raid and “the airmen had looked down and seen the monster’s corpse floating on loch’s surface.” This effort to “inflict emotional damage” had been quickly answered by a new sighting by Scotland’s Mr. J. MacFarland-Barrow. Nessie became a symbol of resiliency that the British and Allied troops pointed to, which further entrenched the belief of the monster despite the evidence revealing it hoax.

This nonfiction book is perfect for upper elementary & middle school readers (as well as adults!) and ends with tips to help analyze news sources. Partner with Felming’s The Curse of the Mummy, Noyes’s The Magician and the Spirits, or Fleming’s Crash From Outer Space for more intriguing books centered around historical examples of media literacy, the lasting power of popular belief, and source investigation.

It is not just monster fans and history buffs that could find enjoyment in this book. After all, the Loch Ness monster “isn’t about what’s under the water. It’s about the people above the surface and the stories they tell.” And who doesn’t love a good yarn, especially one “with a wink“?