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The Monster Librarian Presents:
Scary Book List for Kids
Of note for teacher/librarians/parents:
Anyone interested in the value of scary books for children ought to check out this article, recently published in the journal of the American Association of School Librarians:
Crawford, Philip Charles. "Hatching Their Wolfish Schemes: Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean's Wolves in the Walls." Knowledge Quest, Jan/Feb2006, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p39-41.
11/2/06: Reading Rockets has a great video interview with horror author R.L. Stine, a major influence on horror writing for children and teens. To get up close and personal, take a look here.
10/1/08: We have just added a page The Halloween Book List for Kids books and reviews will be added throughout the month of October.
Monsterology: The Complete
Book of Monstrous Beasts ed. by Dugald A Steer*New Review
Candlewick Press, 2008
ISBN: 9780763639402
Available: New
Monsterology contains a guide to mythological monstrous beasts, written by the fictional Dr. Ernest Drake. The book is oversized, with an attractive cover, and the contents are presented in an almost “scrapbook” format. Drake divides his text into chapters, and in each chapter writes about his journeys to distant lands and the creatures he finds on his travels. There are a variety of photographs, illustrations, and maps, and each creature is pictured next to Drake’s description, which includes information about their geographic location, lair/nest, size, forms of attack, and food.
Monsterology is visually impressive and gorgeously illustrated. It begs to be touched, with foldouts and tactile sections where readers can touch a unicorn’s hair, a salamander’s skin, and the scales of a sea serpent. The visual nature of the book and its interactive features guarantee that monster-loving children at all reading levels will enjoy Monsterology, but younger children interested in the detailed text will need an adult’s help to read and understand it. While the interactivity of the book helps immerse the reader in Dr. Drake’s world, it will present a challenge for librarians as these types of items are easily torn or damaged from frequent use (or even use by a single overly rambunctious child). The book is designed for ages 6+ and as long as librarians and parents keep this in mind before giving it to a child, the book should survive the experience. Monsterology is a volume in the Ologies series and a companion book to Dragonology. It is an excellent addition to the growing field of monster guides and encyclopedias, and would fit nicely beside a Practical Guide to Monsters.
Contains: n/a
Nightmare Academy: Monster Hunters
by Dean Lorey*New Review
HarperCollins, 2007
ISBN: 9780061340420
Available: New
Charlie Benjamin’s mother and father keep him in a protective bubble. They are afraid that the other children will harass him, make fun of him, and hurt him. They fear for good reason because whenever Charlie falls asleep, he opens doorways to another dimension, a dimension full of hungry spiders, memory stealing hags, and electricity eating gremlins. Luckily, there is an organization for boys just like Charlie. The Nightmare Academy is a fantastic place where children learn to harness their nightmares and use them to fight against the creatures of the Nether, the plane of existence where the nightmare creatures live. The only problem is that Charlie is an anomaly even in this strange group. His powers far outclass those around him and he soon becomes a danger, not only to himself and his family, but a possible threat to the entire world.
Dean Lorey has created a marvelous alternate reality where nightmares become catalysts for summoning real and deadly creatures. The story draws the reader in with lively characters and threatening villains, wondrous creatures and hideous monsters. Charlie and his newfound friends are sympathetic, accessible characters with incidents of humor and moments where they expose their true fears. I read this story to my nine-year-old daughter and she wouldn’t let me stop at just one chapter a night. I always had to read at least two chapters at a time and through the weekend four chapters in two different readings. She absolutely loved this book. I would recommend this story for any children’s library.
Contains: Mild violence and gore
Review by Bret Jordan
The
Lima Bean Monster by Dan Yaccarino
Walker and Company, 2001
ISBN: 0802787762
Available: New
Sammy hates lima beans. Meal after meal, his mother puts them on his plate, until he is forced to take extreme measures. He smuggles the lima beans out in his sock and dumps them in an abandoned lot. Other children in the neighborhood soon adopt his scheme and the pile of hated vegetables grows and grows. When the whole mess is hit by lightning, it comes to life as the Lima Bean Monster, looking to munch on some “human beans.” It looks like the only way for the kids to save the day is to eat their vegetables!
The Lima Bean Monster has potential, but somehow falls flat. The cartoony illustrations are fun and the colors will take readers back to cheesy 1970’s creature features. Unfortunately, Sammy is a bratty little kid, so it’s hard to sympathize with him, and it’s even more difficult to buy that a huge and hungry monster would stand still and let a bunch of kids nibble on him. A much better version of the “eat your vegetables” monster story is the witty The Monster Who Ate My Peas by Danny Schnitzlein.
Review by Francesca the Librarian
My Sister the Vampire series by Sienna Mercer*New Review
HarperTrophy(2007-2008)
#1 Switched (2007) ISBN: 006087113X
#2 Fangtastic (2007) ISBN: 0060871156
#3 Re-Vamped (2007) ISBN: 0060871180
#4 Vampalicious (2008) ISBN: 0060871210
The My Sister The Vampire series by Sienna Mercer revolves around the story of a normal, pleasant, friendly middle school girl named Olivia Abbott who likes cheerleading and the color pink. When Olivia moves to a new school, she meets Ivy Vega, a goth girl who looks just like her. Olivia finds out that Ivy doesn’t just look like her but is her identical twin sister with one major exception…she is a vampire. The series revolves around the twins’ search for their birth parents, complicated by the girls’ attempts to stay together without upsetting either the vampire or human communities. In this series the vampires aren’t the traditional bloodsucking monsters but actually have a set of very strict rules about letting humanity know about them and absolutely no biting! The series definitely falls into the subgenre of “Chick Lit with Fangs” and is filled with humor and heartwarming moments, with not a real scare in the lot. Mercer’s books are filled with vampire puns and giggles and the series doesn’t take itself too seriously. Readers looking for brooding, bloodsucking fiends will be disappointed, but if you are looking for a light-hearted series with humor and a little vampy fun, then the My Sister the Vampire series will be right up your alley..
Jabberwocky: The
Classic Poem from Lewis Carroll’s ‘Through the Looking Glass, And What Alice
Found There’ by Lewis Carroll, ill.
Christopher Myers
Jump At The Sun, 2007
ISBN: 1423103726
Available: New
Jabberwocky is an extraordinary sophisticated picture book with a powerful visual impact. Award-winning illustrator Christopher Myers takes a radical and imaginative approach to Lewis Carroll’s famous nonsense poem, reimagining it as a city basketball contest between our hero and his monstrous foe, the dread Jabberwocky, a giant basketball player with a few too many fingers, pointed teeth and blazing eyes. The colors are bold and the images effectively tell the tale. The contemporary context Myers creates gives Carroll’s poem fresh life and will captivate an audience that might never otherwise encounter the work of Lewis Carroll. Highly recommended to school and public libraries.
The
Midnight Library: The Cat Lady by Damien Graves
Scholastic, 2006
ISBN: 0439893917
Available: New
The Cat Lady includes three stories. In the titular story, “Cat Lady,” Chloe takes a dare to throw a stone at the window of the local creepy old woman whose house is filled with cats. In the next story, “Who Dares Wins,” Mark and Calvin, friends who are naturally competitive, vie for the attention of the mysterious Chrissie. The last story, “Don’t Wake The Baby,” is about a babysitting job gone awry. The quality of the stories is uneven. The titular story is the strongest, with the most ouch appeal. The last story has a definite creep factor, but unfortunately, the storytelling is weak. The Midnight Library series is targeted to ages 9+, and is hosted by author Damien Graves; each title contains three tales of horror. If there is currently a successor to the Goosebumps series it appears to be The Midnight Library. The stories range in length and fear factor, but are engaging enough that kids will want to read the next one.
Titles in the series include:
The Cat Lady
Voices
Liar
Blood and Sand
End Game
Deadly Catch
I Can See You
Shut Your Mouth
Everything
I Know about Monsters by Tom Lichtenheld
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2002
ISBN: 068984381x
Available: New
On the first page of Everything I Know about Monsters, author Lichtenheld admits that there are no such things as monsters outside of the ones created by our imagination. He then proceeds to give us a tour of the various monsters from his imagination. Lichtenheld’s creatures are commonplace monsters- the monster under the bed, the monster in the closet, and the various monsters in the basement. Lichtenheld’s guide makes them relatively harmless and easy to get rid of. The illustrations are light, humorous, and complementary to the text. Everything I Know about Monsters will be a favorite of small children for its illustrations, and the humorous text (and gross-out factor) will also appeal to older elementary students, especially boys, looking a fun monster book.
Contains: n/a
Willow
May Goes to the Midnight Carnival by Icats Nitram illustrated by Pamela
McCarville
All Us All The Time Publishing, 2008
ISBN:978097728501
Available: New
To get to Grimsby’s Show (come only if you dare) Willow May must enter the Midnight Carnival. On her way she encounters gargoyles, dragons, cyclopean clowns, and other mythical monsters (not to mention a vicious armadillo). Once inside, a series of creatures normally considered frightening perform not-so-scary tricks. A vampire walks the tightrope, zombies perform acrobatics, and rock-and-roll werewolves strut across the stage. Children will enjoy Pamela McCarville’s bright and witty mixed media illustrations of the wide variety of monsters and legendary creatures, but the text does not provide necessary context for its intended audience. Most four year olds, for instance, aren’t going to have the knowledge to understand why a phoenix would accidentally burn the audience. Also, while it seems like the story is building toward some ominous event at the carnival, it’s really more a parade. Willow May’s motivations in the story seem unclear, and her actions, instead of furthering the plot, seem to trail off. Still, most kids will enjoy the book, and this is a nice jumping off point for parents to share the background stories of the carnival’s many creatures with their children. Readers advisory note: readers who enjoy this book may also enjoy Marilyn Singer’s Monster Museum.
Harcourt Children's Books, 2003
ISBN: 9780152049492
Available: New
Dav Pilkey's unusual style of illustration- photographic collage retouched with acrylic paint- gives his book a surreal look even before the story has started. Although his rating of EG warns that some material make be too goofy for grown-ups, the book is like a giant inside joke for the parents. Kids will slide right inside the story of Dogzilla, a giant dog who emerges from a volcano at the smell of barbecue in the city of Mousopolis (populated, you guessed it, by mice), eating barbecue and accidentally destroying Mousopolis in her wake. The leader of the desperate mice, the Big Cheese, hits on a plan to chase Dogzilla away- by threatening her with a bath! She finally retreats into the volcano. Problem solved, right? Well... there's always next year. Pilkey's combined narrative and illustration make Dogzilla an absurd delight your kids will love to share, and Pilkey's over-the-top sense of humor will make it a book adults will enjoy sharing with them as well. There's a companion book, Kat Kong, that lovers of Dogzilla will want to check out as well. Highly recommended. Contains: extremely bad jokes.
Supernatural Rubber Chicken by D.L. Garfinkle
Mirrorstone, 2008
ISBN: 9780786950119
Available: Preorder (June, 2008)
Nate and Lisa, a bickering brother and sister, are given a talking supernatural rubber chicken that can bestow super abilities on someone other than the owner. When the siblings try to use the rubber chicken to help their friends, the school bully is accidentally imbued with super charm and the fun ensues. Supernatural Rubber Chicken is a fun little story with a supernatural aspect. However, while Garfinkle is generally funny, it should be noted that there is a running gag about the siblings’ mother who writes children’s stories involving dead dogs in the attempt to win the Newbery Award. While adults (particularly children’s librarians) may appreciate the humor, kids probably won’t. Although the book is aimed at ages 6-10, parts of it will fly over the heads of early elementary students, but the humor, design, and language used make it a good choice for reluctant readers ages 9 to 12.
Red
Dragon Codex by R.D. Henham
Mirrorstone Books, 2008
ISBN:9780786949250
Available: Pre-Order, January 2008
When a Red Dragon attacks Mudd’s village and kidnaps the village seer, Mudd goes on a quest to find a pendant that will summon a Silver Dragon to aid in a rescue mission. Mudd is joined by his sister Hiera, a dwarf named Drakecutter, Iroden, and the warrior Kirak. Red Dragon Codex is more a fun fantasy adventure than a scary story, but with plenty of mystery, battles, and monsters, it is an entertaining read. Red Dragon Codex is the first book in the companion series to A Practical Guide to Dragons. Note for teachers and school library media specialists: Red Dragon Codex contains a number of “teachable moments,” making it a candidate for use in character education. A discussion guide may be available upon publication, at mirrorstonebooks.com. Red Dragon Codex engaging fantasy story makes it a good book to reach reluctant readers. Recommended for school and public libraries. For ages 8-12
Contains: fantasy violence
A
Practical Guide to Monsters
by Nina Hess
Mirrorstone Books, 2007
ISBN: 0786948094
Available: New
Kids love monsters, and A Practical Guide to Monsters has new and interesting monsters of all kinds. The book introduces us to Zendric, a high wizard and master of magic, who has written this guide to the monsters of the realm for his apprentices’ study. Zendric describes each monster, providing information on its height, weight, habitat, society, language, and attack mode, and also the best defense against it, accompanied by eye-catching illustrations. The monsters include traditional creatures like zombies and vampires, as well as monsters unknown to most children, such as the Behir and Chuul. Some of the creatures have detailed images of their lairs that are beautifully done. The book also contains pages on arms, armor, and equipment that “adventurers” need to fend off the described creatures. Readers advisory note: This book should be appreciated both by kids who enjoy fantasy books and kids who like monsters. Those who enjoyed Judy Sierra’s Gruesome Guide to World Monsters should definitely take a look at this one. Although the book can stand on its own, much of the material in this book is derived from the Monster Manual, a resource from the roleplaying game Dungeons and Dragons. With these roots and its visual appeal it may also appeal to older teens and adults. Appropriate for ages 9+, A Practical Guide to Monsters is recommended for public libraries and elementary and middle school library media centers. Contains: man-eating monsters
Who’s
Afraid of Godzilla? by Di Kaiju, illustrated by Bob Eggleton
Random House, 1998
ISBN: 0679891242
Availability: New and used
Godzilla is the biggest, strongest, toughest monster on Monster Island. All the other monsters are afraid of Godzilla and always run away when he comes to play. Godzilla goes away to find someone who will play with him, and while he is gone, Gigan and Megalon begin bullying all the other monsters on the island. It is up to Godzilla to save the day. The other monsters realize that Godzilla isn’t so bad and decide to play with him. Who’s Afraid of Godzilla? is a gorgeously illustrated paperback picture book for children that effectively shows that first impressions can be mistaken in an entertaining fashion. It is a fun and easy read for kids who like their monsters supersized! Appropriate for: Ages 4+ Contains: bullying.
Godzilla
on Monster Island by Jacqueline Dwyer illustrated by
Tom Morgan and Paul Mounts
Random House, 1996
ISBN: 0679880801
Available:New and Used
Godzilla on Monster Island is another fun Godzilla book for kids, starring Godzilla, King of the Monsters, who lives on Monster Island. When a mysterious white round object appears on the shore, it is up to Godzilla and his friends to keep the object safe until they can figure out what it is. In order to do so, they must battle other monsters, including a giant robot. Godzilla doesn’t show as much personality as he does in Who’s Afraid of Godzilla? but Godzilla on Monster Island will still entertain monster-loving kids. Appropriate for: Ages 4+ Contains: monster violence.
I
See a Monster: A Touch And Feel Book by Laurie Young, illustrated by
Daniel Mahoney
Piggy Toes Press, 2006
ISBN: 1581174837
Available: New
This incredibly cute lift-the-flap touch book follows a young
boy in a monster costume as he goes through out his house seeking out
friendly looking monsters. The monsters are hiding behind various objects
and the readers have to unfold the page to see the whole monster. The
monsters all have a patch of a unique fabric that young readers can touch
and explore. The surprise of the last layout is a mirror that makes the
child a part of the story! The book is a fun one to share with the toddler
in your life, with its variety of fabrics, interactive fold-out pages, and
peekaboo mirror, as well as gentle, funny illustrations by Daniel Mahoney.
The monsters are friendly and silly, an entertaining and engaging way to
introduce the wonderful world of monsters to your little one. Libraries
considering this book will want to be aware that the fabrics are not well
attached to the pages, so the book might easily be damaged after a few uses.
Parents, however, will definitely want to share this book with their own
little monsters.
Favorite
Scary Stories of American Children by Richard and Judy Dockrey Young
August House, 1999
ISBN: 0874835631
Availability: New and Used
Favorite Scary Stories of American Children is a collection of 23 short and scary stories told in the oral tradition ranging from the truly creepy and frightening to pun filled groaners. the authors, who are professional storytellers, chose the stories based on the enthusiastic demands of their young audiences. The age appropriateness of each story is indicated using a code of pictorial symbols (for ages 5-6, 7-8, and 9-10), with the key to the code on the page opposite the title page. All the stories are intended to be readable by nine and ten year olds, but the authors note that stories aimed at younger children may not hold the interest of independent readers. Because of its attempt to cover a wide range of ages, cultures, and interest levels, the book is a mixed bag, including versions of classic scary stories like "The Red Velvet Ribbon" and folktales like "The Bloodsucker", as well as some that feel like story flotsam, such as "Stop the Coffin." This book would be a great resource for storytimes or for teaching storytelling to children, and has a variety of possible interdisciplinary connections for elementary classrooms. An afterword for parents, librarians, and teachers addresses the value of scary stories for children as well as some of the concerns and issues that may come up in the telling and reading of scary stories. Origins of the stories and a pronunciation guide for regional terms are also included in the back of the book. Favorite Scary Stories of American Children will appeal to children who have worn out Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories books, as well as to parents, teachers, and librarians looking for a way to give their kids the shivers. Recommended for elementary school libraries, public libraries, and families. Contains: violence
There
Are Monsters Everywhere by Mercer Mayer
Dial Books for Young Readers, 2005
ISBN: 0803706219
Available: New and Used
A young boy feels menaced by monsters that seem to be everywhere, in his room, by the garbage, and hiding in the bathroom. Our unnamed hero decides he can't take it anymore and gets his parents to take him to karate class, where he develops self confidence. When he returns home, he scares the monsters away with some well placed karate moves to garbage cans and shower curtains. While some could interpret the story as suggesting that violence is an appropriate way to deal with fear, Mayer provides a good and positive message about facing one's fears and being self sufficient. The illustrations complement the story well.
Midnight
in the Cemetery: A Spooky Search-and-Find Alphabet by Cheryl
Harness, illustrated by Robin Brickman
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 1999
ISBN: 0689808739
Available: New and Used
Midnight at the Cemetery tells the tale of two children who go to a cemetery in search of buried treasure. The treasure is guarded by Dead Ed who summons the spirits of the graveyard to scare the kids away. The rhyming text is alliterative, with each verse focusing on a specific letter. Each two page spread is dedicated to one or more letters, and readers paying attention will notice many things on the pages associated with the letter that appears in the rhyming verse. For example, the initial pages, devoted to the letters A and B, reveal angels, ants, bats, and bugs. The illustrations are creepy, unique and fantastic, created solely out of watercolor paper, paint, and glue, The book does have a major flaw, however. The letters are not individually mentioned, as in most alphabet books, and the reader is never told either that there are items on the pages beginning with the letter or what items to search and find until the last page of the book. Although the publisher's suggested age range is 5-9, the level of observation required makes the book more appropriate for older elementary students who have mastered Walter Wick and Jean Marzollo's I Spy books. Contains: attempted grave robbing.
Thelonius
Monster's Sky-High Fly Pie by Judy Sierra, illustrated by Edward
Koren
Random House Children's Books,2006
ISBN: 0375832181
Available: New
Enjoyable rhymes describe the path of Thelonius Monster as he concocts and executes his plan to make a giant pie filled with flies. After collecting the flies and setting his pie up, Thelonius invites all his fellow monsters for a treat, but the flies have other plans. New Yorker cartoonist Edward Koren's black and white drawings are both amusing and revolting, and the flies are humanized with quirky faces. Thelonius Monster's Sky-High Fly Pie would be a fun read aloud and a good choice for storytimes, especially paired with Simms Taback's There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly. Appropriate for preschool through early elementary school children. Recommended for both school and public libraries. Contains: extreme dietary silliness.
Grampa's
Zombie BBQ by Kirk Scroggs
Little, Brown, and Company, 2006
ISBN: 0136059021
Available: New
Grampa's Zombie BBQ continues the adventures of Wiley and his Grampa, introduced in Dracula vs. Grampa at the Monster Truck Spectacular, reviewed below. This time Wiley and his grandparents are hosting a neighborhood barbecue. Unfortunately, when the hungry dead start to rise from the local cemetery, Gramma's special recipe barbecue sauce isn't enough to appease them, and Wiley and his Grampa have to find a way to stop them before the neighborhood becomes zombie lunch. Once again, Kirk Scroggs has produced a creative, horror-themed book filled with hilarity. There are some jokes and references that children will miss, but adults will catch them, making the book an excellent title for parents and kids to enjoy together. The book is filled with entertaining illustrations that complement the text and has a nice large readable font. The suggested age range for this title is 8-12, but teens may also enjoy it. A great choice for kids who have zoomed through the Captain Underpants books and are, um, hungry for more. Recommended for school and public libraries. Contains: Zombie mayhem, explosions.
The
Scarecrow's New Clothes by Lisa Thiesing
Duttons Children's Books,2006
ISBN: 0525477500
Available: New and Used
Peggy the pig loves to dress up with new outfits for every occasion. With a big party coming up, Peggy is looking for a new outfit to wear. Peggy searches and searches and isn't able to find an outfit she likes. Finally as she is walking home she sees the perfect clothes on a scarecrow, so in the middle of the night Peggy puts an old pair of clothes on the scarecrow and takes the scarecrow's clothes. Peggy is very happy with her new clothes but unfortunately for Peggy, the scarecrow is not. The Scarecrow's New Clothes is a nice addition to the generally tame world of easy readers, and would make a great read aloud, with good opportunities to have children be involved as the scarecrow says "Give me back my clothes!" Parents and teachers may want to note that ultimately Peggy scares the scarecrow and gets his clothes in the end, and while that may reassure young readers, her successful theft of the clothes sends a questionable message to young minds. Contains: Theft
My
Monster Mama Loves Me So by Laura Leuck and Illustrations by Mark
Buehner
HarperCollins Publishers, 2002
ISBN: 0060088605
Available: New and Used
A sweet little picture book where a little monster describes all of the things that that his mother does that tells him she loves him, including taking him to the swamp to swim and combs the cobwebs from his bangs. The book is aimed at ages five to eight and is beautifully illustrated with images of the three eyed monster mama taking care of and supporting her child. This turns out to be a fun book for mothers to share with children or for children's librarians to share at story hour. Recommended.
Dracula
vs. Grampa at the Monster Truck Spectacular by Kirk Scroggs
Little, Brown, and Company, 2006
ISBN: 0136059021
Available: New
During a stormy Halloween night, overcoming a F5 Tornado and an angry Gramma, Wiley and his Grampa take a break from their monster movie marathon to go to the Monster Truck Spectacular, a monster truck show put on by Colonel Dracula. Once there they are invited by Dracula to visit his backstage lair where thrills and chills await them. Kirk Scroggs includes the proper mix of monster and humor in both story and art. While kids may not get all the jokes and references, the adults sure will, which makes this a great book for parents to read aloud with their children. Visually appealing, with a wild ride of a story, this a great hook book for reluctant readers, although it should be noted that some of the vocabulary is more advanced than the illustrations and font size suggest. At 102 pages, Dracula vs. Grampa at the Monster Truck Spectacular is a perfect choice for that last minute book report. This is the first in a series titled "Wiley and Grampa's Creature Features" and is followed by Grampa's Zombie BBQ. Fans of Dav Pilkey's "Captain Underpants" books should also enjoy this series. Recommended to both school and public libraries. Contains: A chase scene, implications of a potential fight that doesn't materialze.
The
Devil, the Banshee and Me by L.M Falcone
Kids Can Press, 2006
ISBN: 1553378946
Available: New
Will Trenom's ordinary life gets turned upside down when a man claiming to be the nephew of the Devil comes to stay at his parents' bed and breakfast. Adding to the general strangeness, Will sees a banshee outside the house across the street. The banshee's presence indicates that someone is about to die. The story takes off as Will investigates to find out for whom the banshee is here, and plots to stop it. L.M. Falcone has created a fast-paced and original story that captures the imagination. The momentum of the story will keep the reader riveted through the climax. There is a good mix of humor strewn through out the book so that it isn't overly heavy or dark, and Falcone fits in a timeless message: be careful of what you wish for for you might just get it. Appropriate for children aged 9-12, The Devil, the Banshee and Me is a recommended purchase for elementary school and public libraries. Contains: possession, drowning, frank discussion of death, mention of the Devil.
Horror
at the Haunted House by Peg Kehret
Puffin, 2002
ISBN: 0142301469
Available: New (library binding) and Used
Ellen Streater and her brother Corey have volunteered to play roles in the local Historical Society's haunted house fundraiser. However once Ellen enters the old mansion that wiill house the benefit, she feels a cold and chilling presence. Soon, the ghost of Lydia Clayton, whose husband built the house, appears to Ellen. Ellen even starts to see and feel the ghost's presence at home. Ellen thinks that the ghost is trying to tell her something and begins to investigate the house and the owners to try to find out more about their history and to put the spirit to rest. Horror at the Haunted House is a ghost story with a dash of a mystery thrown in . Ellen is a strong, inquisitive female character who may appeal particularly to girls. The writing is solid, and the fast-paced plot and imaginative elements of the story will grab the attention of both boys and girls . Horror at the Haunted House is a good core ghost story book. Appropriate for children ages 9-12 , this book is recommended for elementary school library media centers and public library children's collections. Contains: attempted murder.
Monster
Museum
by Marilyn Singer and Illustrations by Gris Grimly
Hyperion, September, 2001
ISBN: 078680520X
Available: New and Used
Writer/poet Marilyn Singer provides a group of school children with a guide through her monster museum, where they are introduced to a wide variety of monsters from film, literature, mythology, and folklore. From banshees to zombies, Singer’s witty rhymes will entertain children of all ages. Gris Grimly’s illustrations are a perfect match to Singer’s words- just over-the-top enough to balance menace with humor. Monster Museum is a great choice for a read-aloud- a wonderful way for parents to connect with their child’s interest in monsters. The glossary of monsters in the back of the book and the poetry format offer curriculum connections that make this a great choice for teachers and school library media specialists to share with their students as well. This is a fun book and children who enjoy monsters will be glued to the pages. Recommended for public and school libraries. For Ages 5-9
The
Boy of A Thousand Faces by Brian Selznick
Laura Geringer Books, 2000
ISBN: 0060262664
Available: New and Used
In a town where nobody believes in monsters, ten year old Alonzo King truly believes in the unbelievable. He never misses the midnight monster movie showcase hosted by Mr. Shadows, going so far as to write Mr. Shadows about his dream to emulate the great horror movie actor Lon Chaney by costuming himself as a variety of monsters. As Halloween approaches, rumors of a monster called “The Beast” begin to circulate in school, and Alonzo is thrust into the spotlight as a monster expert as everyone speculates about the mysterious Beast. Brian Selznick’s illustrations go well beyond what readers of other books he has illustrated, such as Frindle and Riding Freedom, might expect. His use of black and white in fonts, pencil drawings, and photographs is reminiscent of the black-and-white movies Alonzo adores. Movie stills, photographs of Bigfoot, and monster-themed stamps all combine with Selznick’s trademark pencil drawings to create a unique visual experience. An oddball story that celebrates imagination and accepting others, The Boy of a Thousand Faces is a perfect book for lovers of monsters and monster movies, and for those who might feel a little out of place. Review by Francesca the Librarian
Scared
Witless: Thirteen Eerie Tales to Tell by Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss,
illustrated by Kevin Pope
August House, 2006
ISBN:0874837960
Available: New
Scared Witless is a collection of and guide to telling “jump” stories. Fans of Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark can kick it up a notch and go from readers to tellers of tales by taking some hints from storytellers Hamilton and Weiss. Stories range from the traditional to the entirely original, and each is followed with suggestions for telling the story to a group. Included in the collection is a fine retelling of “The Red Satin Ribbon” and a couple of groaners that don’t appear in Schwartz’s collections. Also included is an adaptation of a story that appears in a collection by folklorist Joseph Bruchac. Kevin Pope’s illustrations are more goofy than they are threatening, and reflect the general tone of the collection. The stories are short and enjoyable reads and many contain enough repetition that primary school children should be able to tell them with practice. Scared Witless is a fun book to look through, and an engaging tool for getting kids and adults to work together on listening and speaking. Recommended for school library media centers and public library collections. Contains: ghosts, extremely mild violence.
The
Gruesome Guide to World Monsters by Judy Sierra and illustrated by
Henrik Drescher
Candlewick, July, 2005
ISBN: 076361727X
Available: New
Judy
Sierra, storyteller and folklore expert, has collected a number of different
monsters from folktales and legends around the world in a guide that all
children who love monsters will enjoy. Entries include details such as where
the monster comes from, a description of the monster, survival tips, and a
gruesomeness rating, which tells you how dangerous the creature is reported
to be. Although the entries are brief, Henrik’s surreal illustrations often
show monsters actively attacking their victims and create terrifying and
creepy images to complement the text. As these are taken from folklore
around the world it might be a useful tool for school teachers who are
looking for a hook for some of the reluctant students involved in cultural
studies. A word of warning: some of these creatures are very gruesome!
Parents, teachers, and librarians will want to be aware that the description
of what these creatures can be very intense, especially when coupled with
Henrik’s illustrations. An example is the Snee-nee-iq , a monster from the
lore of the Pacific Northwest, that hunts at night for children who won’t go
to bed and carries them off to be smoked over a fire to save them to be
eaten later. The book will fascinate monster lovers big and small and can be
used in studies of folklore and different cultures. Contains: Intense
descriptions and illustrations of gruesome and violent behavior. Recommended
for ages 6 and up.
Los
Gatos Black on Halloween by Marisa Montes and Yuyi Morales
Henry Holt, 2006
ISBN: 0805074295
Available: New
In Los Gatos Black on Halloween, Marisa Montes and Yuyi Morales have
created an amazing fusion of words and pictures. Montes’ clever bilingual
rhymes bounce through an assortment of creepy creatures and eerie
happenings, as Morales paints clever and funny images into her truly dark
and scary monsters. The chilling zombie child with glowing eyes is a little
less frightening when you see the smiley face on his T-shirt, and the toothy
wolfman peering nearsightedly through his glasses is almost lovable looking.
As Montes’ jaunty words float across the double-spread illustrations, the
interplay of story and art keeps the book scary- but leavens it with humor.
Readers will want to come back to this book again and again, as every time
new details pop out. The humor in Morales’ work may escape younger children,
since overall the illustrations are very dark and disturbing, but
preschoolers and elementary students in search of “scary books” won’t be
disappointed, and they might even learn some Spanish along the way. Younger
children may enjoy the brighter, cheerier illustrations in Morales’ Pura
Belpre Award winner, Just a Minute. Highly recommended for school and public
libraries. Contains: mentions of the supernatural and the occult. Review by
Francesca the Librarian
Mommy?
with art by Maurice Sendak, the scenario by Arthur Yorinks, and the
paper engineering by Matthew Reinhart
Michael di Capua Books
/ Scholastic -Pop-Up edition September, 2006
ISBN: 0439880505
Available: New
A fantastic pop-up book, Mommy? shows a little boy in pajamas crawling through a haunted mansion, running into classic monsters including Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, the Wolfman, and the Mummy while searching for his mother. Each monster tries to look ferocious to the little boy as the child makes the single worded inquiry "Mommy?", only to have the boy move on completely fearlessly, leaving the monster baffled. The art is absolutely fantastic and the pop-ups are fun and innovative. It is of note that the flaps secured on the left side of each two page spread are pullouts which need to be opened to move the story along- the spinning mummy is a particularly entertaining and elaborate example. Sendak's drawings will remind fans of earlier works like In the Night Kitchen and Where the Wild Things Are, and of operatic and theatrical sets he has designed. In fact, the scenario on which the book is based was a theatrical performance called "It's Alive!" by Arthur Yorinks. Reinhart, already well known as co-creator of the Encyclopedia Prehistorica, clearly worked closely with Sendak to create this weird and wacky gem. A consideration for libraries is that although it is sturdy, Mommy? is an elaborate pop-up picture book, and it is easy to imagine it getting torn or destroyed with frequent use. Some children may find the illustrations frightening, but most will be enthralled. Recommended for supervised use with children at home, Mommy? is a monstrously entertaining visual and kinesthetic treat.
Gagne International,
May, 2004
ISBN: 0971905363
Available: New and Used
Michel Gagne offers another alphabet picture book, this time focusing on plants. Gagne once again offers up amazing and imaginative illustrations, and in this case some are more benign looking while others such as the Cacti look particularly menacing. The one item that I have to take issue with is that Gagne has given us entries for some non plants such as with Anemone (which is a flowering plant) where the illustration is of a Sea Anemone which is an animal and Mushrooms which are in the Fungus Kingdom not the plant kingdom. It may seem picky but I suspect that there are a number of alternative plants that could be used for those entries that the obviously talented Gagne could do something with.
Frankenstein
Makes A Sandwich by Adam Rex
Harcourt Children's
Books, September, 2006
ISBN: 0152057668
Available: New and Used
Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich is a fantastic combination of picture book and poetry that will be sure to tickle the funny bone of any monster loving kid or adult. Adam Rex illustrates a series of poems that connect with many of the traditional monsters such as Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, The Wolfman, The Mummy and others. There are some elements to the poems that will appeal to the adult readers and children may not get, This isn't as large a drawback as one might imagine, for it really makes a great read along/read aloud book for both parents and their children. This book is truly meant to be read aloud to gain maximum effect and entertainment. The entertaining poems are are illustrated comically and colorfully, a homage to classic monsters in a variety of styles that complement beautifully the various stories and movies on which the poems are based. Recommended for school, home, and personal libraries and as a read aloud for librarians and parents to share with their childre
Insanely
Twisted Rabbits by Michel Gagne
Gagne International,
December, 2000
ISBN: 0966640446
Available: New and Used
Insanely Twisted Rabbits is a collection of draft drawings of mutated rabbits by artist Michel Gagne. This book is a fantastic example of what happens when an artist lets his/her imagination wander while staying focused on a subject. The rabbits look to have been combined with all sorts of other creatures, from bats to rhinos to dinosaurs- and then there are just plain scary mutated rabbits with all sorts of horns, fangs, and claws that abound. As with Gagne's Frenzied Fauna, parents and librarians will want to judge the appropriateness of some of the images based on children's reactions. Some might find the images a little too scary, but others will be mesmerized by Gagne's imagination gone wild, resulting in the phrases "neat", "cool", and "awesome". Age: varies based on the child's personality and interests. Recommended.
M.T.
Anderson’s Thrilling Tales: The Clue of the Linoleum Lederhosen by M. T.
Anderson
Harcourt Children's Books, June, 2006
ISBN: 0152053522
Available: New
The main characters from a variety of fictional series books are all drawn
into a mystery while on vacation at the Moose Tongue Lodge and Resort. Katie
Mulligan, the star of the Horror Hollow series, accompanies her friends
Jasper Dash, Boy Technonaut, and Lily, on what she hopes will be a real
vacation. Although it’s more of a send-up of series books than a horror
story, readers of horror series books will howl with laughter all through
the first chapter. Of course, there is no such thing as a series book
without an adventure, but Katie tries hard to avoid it! Throughout the book,
Katie’s resolute desire to ignore anything mysterious, horrifying, or
supernatural is extremely entertaining. Jasper also gets his moment of
horror- while gagged with duct tape and tied to a chair his allergies kick
in, he rolls down a mountain over the edge of a cliff, and a poisonous snake
makes ready to strike at his slightest movement. Anderson does a great job
of poking fun at series books and genre fiction, and his writing is
intelligent enough to also appeal to grown-up kids. A wonderful book to read
to yourself or read aloud- if you can keep yourself from breaking down into
tears of laughter. Grades 4- up. Contains: fake gore, kidnapping, mild
violence. Entry by Francesca the Librarian
The Halloween
Mouse by Richard Laymon and illustrated by Alan M. Clark
Cemetery Dance
Publications, October, 2001
ISBN: 158767047X
Available: New and Used
Ages: 6+
Timothy Maywood Usher Mouse lives in the library, reading about fantastic
adventures. One Halloween night, Timothy gathers his courage to leave the
library to go on an adventure. After escaping a run in with a snake
thanks to a piece of candy corn. Timothy dreams of going trick or treating
but must first survive an encounter with the neighborhood cat involving a
jack-o-lantern. In the end, far away from his cozy home in the library,
Timothy discovers that having adventures is even better than reading about
them. Alan Clark's illustrations are detailed and colorful, and the
book is a visual treat. Richard Laymon has created an engaging (if
lengthy)story. Although the dialogue is awkward, Laymon's inventive
description and great action sequences will grab the reader. Laymon is
writing as much for adults as he is for children: some vocabulary and most
literary references will go right over children's heads, but will add an
extra dimension of meaning for the adult reader. A very cute Halloween
picture book. This book could be shared with patient primary grade
readers as a read-aloud or with intermediate readers either as a read-aloud
or as independent reading.
I'm Going
to Eat You! by Matt Mitter and illustrated by Jimmy Pickering
Reader's Digest,
August, 2006
ISBN: 0794407676
Available: New
Ages: 4+
Young Spike sitting in bed hears an ominous "I'm going to eat you!" which leads him on a fantastic exploration of his house finding the source of the voice. Along the way he meets the bogeyman, a sea serpent, a ghost, and a werewolf. In the end it turns out to be his little sister threatening a cookie, "I'm going to eat you!" The illustrations by Jimmy Pickering make the book a treat, as all the monsters are fantastically drawn ,and the popups are wonderful. A must for any parent or child who likes spooky monsters. Recommended.
Frenzied
Fauna by Michel Gagne
Gagne International,
November, 2001
ISBN: 0966640497
Availability: Used
Frenzied Fauna is an incredibly imaginative animal alphabet book by artist Michel Gagne. Gagne's animals are drawn in fantastic and sometimes scary ways, with spikes, teeth, tusks, and a half dozen eyes. While Gagne tends to stick with fantastic versions of animals that children might recognize such as lizards, horses, and owls, he also adds entries for mutated mammals, microbes, and trilobite. You will want to test a few images of this book with very young children to see how they react. Older children will get a kick out of the book.
Terrible Things: An Allegory of the Holocaust, by Eve Bunting, illus. by Stephen Gammell
Ages: Upper elementary and older, with appropriate guidance.
I am including this book on the list because of the horror I felt as I was reading it, so please don't consider its inclusion to be frivolous. I certainly wouldn't give it to a fourth grader insisting on a "scary book." Although this is a picture book, care needs to be taken about how it is shared with children. It should never be read alone: it is too terrifying. It should always be read with guidance and followed with discussion. The story's main character is Little Rabbit, who watches the animals in his clearing disappear one group at a time as the Terrible Things descend upon the inhabitants. The remaining animals pretend that nothing is happening, and finally Little Rabbit is the only witness to the disappearance of all of the animals. The words are spare and the story on its own is a powerful and frightening one, but the true horror of the situation is expressed through Stephen Gammell's terrifying black and white illustrations. The Terrible Things are shadowy smears across the pages. We never see their true shapes, we only see the fear they create. Terrible Things has been suggested as a tool for introducing the topic of the Holocaust at the middle school or high school level, but with guidance and careful choices of literature, children at the elementary level can understand how fear and intolerance can help evil take root. Entry by Francesca the Librarian
The Wolves in the
Walls by Neil Gaiman, illus. by Dave McKean
HarperTrophy, Reprint edition, July, 2005
ISBN: 0380810956
Available: New and Used
The Wolves in the Walls is a sophisticated picture book, which means you will enjoy it as much as your child will. Gaiman, the creator of many graphic novels and a writer of fantastic adult fiction, has created a delightfully dark and entertaining story about Lucy, a little girl who is still learning the difference between reality and fantasy. McKean's chaotic illustrations, which combine drawings with "real" pictures in a format reminiscent of graphic novels, effectively portray Lucy's uncertain world. Lucy hears the sounds of wolves in the walls. Her parents and older brother deny their existence, while at the same time telling her, "If the wolves come out of the walls, it's all over." Of course, there are wolves, they do come out of the walls, and Lucy's terrified family runs away. Lucy bravely returns to her house to rescue a favorite toy and discovers that the wolves aren't so frightening after all. She convinces her family to take back the house, and the cowardly wolves run screaming out the door, afraid of the humans coming out of the walls... But is the experience really all over for Lucy's family? She has confronted her fears, but there are elephants in the walls... Gaiman never talks down to the reader, and he is writing for children: it's a great book to read aloud, and it touches on the fears and uncertainties on the child within us all. Wolves in the Walls won the 2004 Stoker Award for best work for younger readers, and the 2004 award for best illustrated narrative from the International Horror Guild.
Ages: Elementary and older
Entry by Francesca the Librarian
Little Devil Books/Necro Publications, September, 2005
ISBN: 1889186562
Available: New
Terri and her friend Patricia look to spend their summer playing badminton and having fun, until one day Terri notices a big frog. The frog also has big teeth and frogs aren't supposed to have teeth! This propels Terri and Patricia on an adventure to uncover the mystery of the giant frogs where they end up at the old boathouse by the lake that they are forbidden to visit. It is at the lake where the girls run into monsters beyond their imagination. Edward Lee is known for some very intense adult horror, but here he shows his versatility in writing a monster books for kids that has such a entertaining story that kids won't want to put in down. Appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students requesting a good scary story. I would consider this a good core book to a scary story collection. Ages: 8-12
The Monsters of
Morley Manor by Bruce Coville
Magic Carpet Books-
Reprint September, 2003
ISBN: 0152047050
Available: New and Used
The Monsters of Morley Manor isn't as much of a scary book as an adventure book with monster characters in it. In the book, Anthony and his little sister Sarah buy a box filled with five miniature monster figures, a lizard man, a medusa, a wolfman, a vampiress, and a hunchback. When one of the figures gets wet it starts to come alive and thus begins an adventure involving aliens, giant talking frogs, and ghosts. Coville fits a lot into this book and while it works just fine it seems like it would have been possible for him to have a book just with the five monsters and without the alien story line. A good book for monster loving kids. Ages 9-12
