Skip to main content

Great Ghost Stories

Image
By
We are almost to Halloween! Since the spookiest day of the year is less than two weeks away, maybe you're feeling like you don't have time to commit to reading a whole book -- and I get it. Or, maybe you're wanting to tell a scary ghost story every night from now until Halloween -- an amazing idea. Or, maybe you want to read a really scary story, but want it to be over sooner rather than later.

If you fall into any of these categories, have I got a list for you. Here are some of the best collections of ghost stories to scare your pants off.

By Anica Mrose Rissi
Illustrated by Carolina T. Godina
New York: Quill Tree Books, 2021. Horror.

This collection of 20 short stories has nods to all the classic scary story tropes in a way that transforms even the happiest childhood experiences into moments of terror. The illustrations are perfectly atmospheric and a mix of scare levels ensures readability for all types of crowds. Perfect for telling and re-telling, this collection of short stories is absolute nightmare fuel.

By Illustratus
San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2019. Horror.

If you're looking for some really scary stories, this is a good place to start. This collection of 13 original tales, the "only true ghost stories," will certainly prompt readers to sleep with the lights on. Haunting images enrich the scary stories and bring the nightmares to life.




By Pat McKissack
Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
New York: Knopf, 1992. Horror.

An oldie but a goodie, this Coretta Scott King Award winning book tells ten original ghost stories inspired by African American history and written to be told in the half hour right before nightfall -- the dark thirty. Rooted in the African American oral storytelling tradition, these scary stories are perfect to read aloud and Brian Pinkney's eerie illustrations help to set the mood.


By Alvin Schwartz
Illustrated by Stephen Gammell
New York: Lippincott, 1981. Horror.

We would be remiss not to mention the book that inspired a million nightmares. This anthology of ghost stories from American folklore is a classic for a reason -- the stories and creepy illustrations are certain to frighten even the bravest readers. Read aloud or, if you're brave, by yourself. 



Edited by Jonathan Maberry
Illustrated by Iris Compiet
New York: HarperCollins, 2020. Horror.

Presented by the Horror Writer's Association and curated by master of horror Jonathan Maberry this anthology is a tribute to Alvin Schwartz's legendary horror series. Scary stories from favorite authors like R.L. Stine, Kami Garcia, Courtney Alameda, and Jonathan Auxier are highlighted by ghastly illustrations. The title says it all -- read these stories, and then buy a nightlight.






Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Faker

By
Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Umami

By
  Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience?  Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Faves: Easy Readers of 2024

By
Hello world! I know you have been anticipating the release of this list all year... my favorite easy readers! Whether they're funny or sweet, these titles are all great for kids taking their first steps for reading. So without further ado...here are my five favorite easy readers of 2024. Lone Wolf Goes to School Written by Kiah Thomas Illustrated by K-Fai Steele New York: Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2024. Easy Reader.  Lone wolf would spend all of his time alone if he could. Unfortunately, he has to go to school with the "snotty" kids, and even when he leaves school there's people at the beach, on the mountains, and at the movie theater. What's a wolf to do? Invite them all to a party at his house and then leave so that all the places he wants to be are empty, of course! If you're looking for a moralistic read-aloud that will teach the virtues of making friends so that you aren't lonely, you should definitely look elsewhere. However, if you're loo...
Post a Comment
Read more