R.L. Stine began his writing career at the age of nine and has been at it ever since, becoming a bestselling author several times over. Among his many groundbreaking credits are Fear Street, the first young adult horror series, and Goosebumps, the bestselling series that made Stine the #1 bestselling author in America for three years in a row. He lives with his wife in New York City.
Gr 4-6-This collection of 23 stories and poems includes selections by Ray Bradbury, Patricia McKissack, Edward Gorey, Bram Stoker, William Sleator, Alvin Schwartz, Jack Prelutsky, Shel Silverstein, and others. Among the illustrators represented are Brian Pinkney, Quentin Blake, Gahan Wilson, and Peter Horvath. While all of the stories are available elsewhere, some of the best are found in more obscure sources. Having them in one volume, with each tale introduced by Stine, makes this a good choice for most collections. The selections read aloud well and are short enough to read in several minutes. The more terrifying selections are juxtaposed with those that are funny, providing some comic relief. Children who enjoyed Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (1981) and More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (1984, both HarperCollins) will want to add this title to their reading lists. The pen-and-ink and charcoal illustrations visually clue readers as to how each tale ranks on the "scary barometer." The grizzly selections have very dark pictures while the more lighthearted ones have clean, clear strokes and more white space on the page. This is an obvious choice for children who love a good scare from time to time.-Molly S. Kinney, Office of Public Library Services, Atlanta, GA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
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