Module 8/SLIS 5420/July 27-August 2

SCARY STORIES

by

Alvin Schwartz

Bibliography

Schwartz, Alvin. Scary Stories. HarperCollins, 1981. ISBN: 978-0-397-31927-5

Summary

Scary Stories is a collection of ghost stories, verse, etc., some based on folklore or urban legend. The illustrations, by Stephen Gammell are chilling, ghostly, and alarming - no doubt lending to the allure of the books in this series. If one can move past the illustrations they will discover titles such as "The Big Toe", "Hook" and "The Ghost with the Bloody Fingers". There is a nice forward by the author in which he suggests how and when to read the collection!

A Page from My Book

I have long been aware of the fascination with the books in this series. I have also seen the fascination wane some over the years as a proliferation of books on this subject has just exploded. Kids, young and old, love a good ghost story - well, most do - and this particular title seems to satisfy that appetite - if you are able to find it on a library shelf. It is to be noted that Scary Stories is included/cited among the top 100 of America's most frequently challenged books in the 21st century.

Reviews/Awards

* "Divided into five sections, this collection of American folklore has a little of everything--but not enough of anything. The opening chapter, “’jump stories’ to make friends JUMP with fright,” is varied but uninspired. In the opening tale, a big toe is discovered, brought home, cooked, and eaten. Are you entertained so far? The allegedly scary bit is when the storyteller accuses a listener of possessing said toe. The best offering is “A Man Who Lived in Leeds,” a creepy, catchy rhyme of nonsense…or is it? The second section’s theme is ghosts. The first selection involves two friends chased by a skeleton; a year later, one of the friends dies…and “looked just like the skeleton.” The following story, “Cold as Clay,” is a strong, spine-tingling one. The rest range from pointless to gruesome: “the flesh was dropping off her face…She had no eyeballs…and no nose.” Chapter three is particularly rife with nightmarish, disturbing images. Chapter four consists of stories that “young people tell about dangers we face in our lives today.” The only outstanding entry is “High Beams,” in which a teenage girl is stalked by a car. It turns out that the bad guy is already in her car and the “stalker” was trying to warn her! The final chapter is devoted to tales meant to amuse rather than frighten. Only the first two succeed. The black-and-white illustrations by Caldecott winner Gammell are outstanding; next to them, the stories, not the readers, pale." Naomi Milliner, Children's Literature

* Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 1983

* Utah Children's Book Awards, 1986

Suggested Activities

Share the Hispanic legend of La Llorona by Joe Hayes and compare it with Scary Stories. Take the opportunity to share these types of legends around the end of October or beginning of November. Discuss Dia de los Muertos, a Mexican cultural observation/celebration, with the students and in turn, allow them to share with the group ways their families honor those who have died - perhaps an ofrenda was created in their memory - or rituals associated with November 1.

Read aloud the beginning of a lesser-known ghost story and have the students write an ending.

After examining the art of illustrator Gammell, select a story to read aloud and have the students illustrate it, a story/illustrations you purposely omitted when sharing the illustrations.