Welcome to the Back Matter Break Down! The book we’ll be looking at today is very charming and I just love the illustrations. The back matter is also very fun and takes an interesting approach to myth. This feels different than some of the other books I have reviewed lately, so I’m excited to dive in!
Book: The Very True Legend of the Mongolian Death Worms
Author / Illustrator: Sandra Fay
Publisher / Year: Godwin Books (Henry Holt and Company), 2022
Genre: Fiction
Topics: Animals/Insects, Humor, Legends/Folklore
Blurb: Like the ongoing search for Big Foot and the Loch Ness Monster, scientists have searched the Gobi Desert for these giant worms. Reported sightings claim that their skin is blood red; their fangs razor sharp. The worms are supposedly poisonous and electrifying . . . or are they?
In this funny story, we meet the Mongolian Death Worm family: Beverly, Trevor, Neville and Kevin. In spite of their deadly reputation, they’re determined to make nice and win over the other animals. Their overtures of friendship are . . . not reciprocated. But when disaster strikes, it’s the Mongolian Death Worm family to the rescue!
Book Word Count: about 650
Back Matter Word Count: about 250 plus references
Back Matter: The Truth Behind the Mongolian Death Worm Legend
Back Matter Sections:
1. Are Mongolian Death Worms Real? Well, Maybe! (45 words)
In this brief introduction to the back matter, author Fay explains the origin of the legendary creatures that she depicted as the main characters in her story.
2. Here’s What People Believe To Be True About the Real-Life Mongolian Death Worm (75 words)
While the Mongolian Death Worm’s in Fay’s story, are anthropomorphized and wear clothes, here Fay illustrates in her signature style what the “real” creatures would look like based on the legends and tales. She includes text descriptions of what their alleged behavior and main characteristics.
3. The Scientific Search for The Mongolian Death Worms (140 words)
Fay spends some time giving the history of this legend, revealing that there have been many attempts to confirm the Mongolian death worm’s existence. Readers are also treated to a re-telling of a more recent sighting of the creatures. Fay summarizes a 2011 eyewitness account in which a woman has an encounter with the the death worms and is so terrified, that she and her family moved away right afterwards.
4. Sources:
Fay includes three resources related to research on the Mongolian death worm. These are presented in much smaller text at the bottom of the page, and seem to be in MLA style formatting.
Takeaways: Fay’s back matter, like the introduction to her story, make it clear that the Mongolian Death Worms are legendary creatures. But I think it’s fun that the back matter treats readers to information that helps them imagine clearly what the Death worms would be like in real life. While a little Wikipedia searching by me revealed that scientist strongly suspect that these creatures do not exist, Fay leaves readers with a story that leans to the other side of the argument. In the case of this myth, rather than debunking it, Fay’s back matter leaves us curious and wondering, and I think this adds to overall fun and playful tone of her book.
Tips: If your book deals with real life mysteries, disputed facts, or myths, consider using your back matter to explore the possibilities. Think about leaving your readers with questions they can continue to explore instead of removing all uncertainty. This is also a great opportunity to show young readers that there are still amazing discoveries to be made in the world.
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Judy Campbell-Smith 