On Family Reading: The Pleasure of a Good Scare!

By Julie Douglas, Family Program Specialist It was a dark and stormy night…. One of my fondest childhood memories is being about 10 years old and sitting on the front porch late at night trading creepy, spooky stories with my friends. Just beyond the amber glow of the porch light lurked ghosts and other assorted creatures of the dark. Every neighbor out on an evening stroll who passed by looked suspiciously zombie-like. The phone ringing inside the house was not a call from the other side of town, but from the Other Side. Everywhere we looked there was fodder for a tale of terror. Many of the tales we swapped were of the “urban legend” variety and usually began, “This really happened to my ___(fill in the blank with a relative, neighbor, or friend)." We would all sit knee to knee, clutching hands and barely daring to breathe. The storyteller would unravel the details slooooooooowwwly in a low, solemn voice. The events unfolded and the apprehension grew. Footsteps drew closer; chains rattled; whispering voices beckoned. Descriptions were vivid and over-the-top. Howling wind and diabolical laughter added to the drama. When the tension was almost unbearable, the storyteller would shout out the ending and be rewarded with shrieks and screams. Why do we love a good scary story? Psychologists suggest that when we identify with the protagonist in the story, we can experience triumph over fear. Horror allows us to confront our emotions and safely explore our dark side. Perhaps (gasp!) we even empathize with the monster on some level. Like those who love roller coasters and skydiving, fans of scary movies and stories enjoy the tension, thrills, and sense of relief they experience. Whatever the reason, many adults and children love a good scare. If you happen to be one of them, check out some of the books below. When choosing any book for children, use your own judgment and knowledge of what is appropriate for your child. A child’s age and temperament will determine if a book is right. In this genre especially, there is no “one size fits all.” Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a scratching noise coming from the attic and I need to go investigate. Where did I put that flashlight with the very low battery?

Scary, Scary Halloween by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Jan Brett (Clarion Books, 1988) Jan Brett's brightly illustrated Halloween costumes and Eve Bunting's wonderfully rhythmic verses pair up for a slightly spooky romp on Halloween. Appropriate for even the youngest audience.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams, illustrated by Megan Lloyd (HarperTrophy 1988) Bring this ghostly story to life by using props and sound effects when reading it to children. The little old lady will have listeners joining her in proclaiming, "I'm NOT afraid of you!"

Go Away, Big Green Monster! by Edward R Emberley (LB Kids,1993) Preschoolers will boldly send the monster packing while listening to this imaginative book by Caldecott Award-winner Emberley. Readers are treated to rich descriptions and vocabulary as they are introduced bit by bit to the big green monster.

Shake Dem Halloween Bones by W. Nikola-Lisa, illustrated by Mike Reed (Houghton Mifflin, 2000) Children won't be able to sit still for this one…and that’s a good thing! Perfect for an interactive storytime.

Spooky Hour by Tony Mitton, illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees (Orchard 2004) Count on some spooky fun as the monsters make their way to a Halloween party. This not-at-all scary story might be a good way for young children to explore some of the costumes and decorations they will see during the holiday.

Mommy? by Maurice Sendak, Arthur Yorinks, and Matthew Reinhart (Michael di Capua Books / Scholastic, 2006) A small boy shows a houseful of ghoulish characters that he's in charge in this masterfully illustrated, nearly wordless pop-up book. Adults will enjoy the nods to well-known monsters such as Nosferatu and Frankenstein, while children will appreciate the youngster's triumph over them.

Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich by Adam Rex (Harcourt Children's Books, 2006) With titles like "The Yeti Doesn't Appreciate Being Called Bigfoot" and "The Invisible Man Gets a Haircut," you know you are in for silly, scary fun with this collection of monster-themed poems. Even the dedications are good for a chuckle.

Oh No, Not Ghosts! by Richard Michelson, illustrated by Adam McCauley (Harcourt Children's Books, 2006) Rhythm, rhyme, and the repetitive phrase "Oh, no, not…" make this a frighteningly fun read aloud.

The Scary States of America by Michael Teitelbaum (Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2007) Nine to twelve year olds are the target audience for this creepy collection of paranormal stories from each state, but younger listeners will enjoy them as well.

In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz and Dirk Zimmer. (HarperTrophy, 1985) Future fans of Stephen King can cut their teeth on the stories in this collection. Wonderfully creepy…but it would be prudent to preview them first before sharing with kids.