BLOGtober: Not-too-spooky Tales for Children

Days are shorter, the wind blows cooler, and sounds fill the night...It's time for spooky stories! The Richmond Public Library is full of great books whose tales will give you a few goosebumps. Check out the titles below, and keep your flashlight handy!

Pumpkin Eye by Denise Fleming
Pounding feet, dragon tails, blood-red nails...what is coming down the street?!  This is a great, night story with wonderful images of glowing windows, a yellow moon and smiling pumpkins.  You might even get an idea for the perfect costume!






Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam; Illustrations by Lane Smith
This ABC book is not for beginners:  it's in the poetry section!  Pick a letter, read a poem out loud, and use your creepiest voice.  Each poem has its own picture by a favorite illustrator.  Stinky cheese, anyone?



The Case of the Graveyard Ghost by Michele Torrey.
This thriller is part of the Science Detectives series with Doyle and Fossey solving the mysteries of science.  Read along as they save a friend from a laundry chute and creep up on a local ghost...or is it?  If you like this one, check out another, and try the science experiments!
For grades 3-6

Short stories have been told over and over for centuries, including some with extremely creepy characters and events.  Check out these two for tales that will tingle your spine: 

Scared Witless:  Thirteen Eerie Tales to Tell by Martha Hamilton & Mitch Weiss
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "eerie" as "so mysterious, strange, or unexpected as to send a chill up the spine."
These are perfect folktales from many parts of the world, with tips for telling and reading aloud.  Grab a friend and share. Ages 8-12.

Dare to be Scared:  Thirteen Stories to Chill and Thrill
by Robert D San Souci
Ghost stories, supernatural thrillers, science fiction and dark fantasy are all included in this collection of tales.  For ages 8 and up.
If you like these, you might want to try Double-dare to be Scared: Another Thirteen Chilling Tales.


For more scary stories and a chance to win some for your own library, go to All Hallows Read and enter.

Happy Reading!