Even More Short & Shivery: Thirty Spine-Tingling Tales [Paperback]

Robert D. San Souci (Author), Jacqueline Rogers (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 12, 2003 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Thirty spine-chilling stories from around the world provide plenty of shivers in this spooky collection. Curl up with old friends like Washington Irving’s “Guests from Gibbet Island” and Charles Dickens’s “Chips.” Or make the acquaintance of “The Skull That Spoke” and “The Monster of Baylock”–but beware of spectral visitors like “The Blood-Drawing Ghost.” This exciting mixture of classic and contemporary tales from Mexico, China, Poland, Nigeria, and other lands near and far is perfect for hair-raising reading!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4 Up-As in previous volumes of th is popular series, selections represent a wide variety of cultures and include a mix of familiar and exotic tales. Sophisticated readers will enjoy the mythological resonance of "Dicey and Orpus," a traditional African-American tale that parallels the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. Others may be inspired to read some of the longer works from which tales have been extracted, such as Washington Irving's "Guests from Gibbet Island" or Hans Christian Andersen's "The Rose Elf." Younger children will simply appreciate San Souci's ability to condense a scary story without softening its impact or sacrificing the flow and tone of the text. Rogers's black-and-white illustrations of scary images enhance the book's appeal. Extensive notes on the origins and incarnations of the stories are included. This well-written collection will satisfy patron demand and provide the opportunity to experience and enjoy quality literature. Young readers will gobble up these 30 thrilling snacks and beg for more.?Lisa Dennis, The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 5^-8. San Souci groups together 30 tales that not only read well but also work as splendid choices for oral telling around a campfire, on a trip, in school, or at a sleepover. The volume has a multicultural flavor, with tales originating in Iceland, Ireland, France, China, Nigeria, Martinique, and in different parts of the U.S. Most are folktales, but some selections have been adapted from the work of great writers such as Washington Irving, and one is a popular urban legend. A few of the stories actually may be more familiar in other versions. As usual, San Souci provides good source notes, a boon for storytellers looking for variants of a particular story. Karen Morgan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Yearling (August 12, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440418771
• ISBN-13: 978-0440418771
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.5 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #575,249 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even More Short And Shivery; A Review By: Maris, November 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Even More Short & Shivery: Thirty Spine-Tingling Tales (Hardcover)

Even More Short and Shivery
By: Robert D. San Souci

Have you ever read a book that you were afraid to read because it was so frightening? For me this book was just like that. In my book there are forty- five scary stories, but I think the scariest one was "Knock, Knock, Knock." It's about this girl and her boyfriend that were going out to eat, but their car dies. It was a stormy night and a notice on the radio said that a crazy guy was on the loose, but the had to find a repair shop for their car. So her boy friend said he would go find one and when he came back he would knock on the car door three times. (spoiler)
Another spooky story was called "A Night Of Terrors." The story is mostly about a young girl and her dog. There is another scary maniac on the loose again and the girl is at home with her dog. She was feeling really depressed and her dog was under the bed. She put her hand down over the bed and he licked it as always. Then suddenly a police man burst in the door and told her she had to get out of the house.(spoiler) .
For me this was a really great book but my favorite short story was probably "Knock, Knock, Knock," because it seemed the scariest. The story I didn't really like was, "A Night Of Terrors," because it was really creepy and kind of sad. (spoiler) The characters in the story were either dead, scared to death, or completely crazy. I'm not sure if I want to read this story again, I probably have nightmares or just be freaked out.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read- Especially for Folk Tales, June 5, 2007

By 

K. Hubbard "urban legend lover" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Even More Short & Shivery: Thirty Spine-Tingling Tales (Paperback)

I've been infatuated (and terrified) of scary stories ever since I could read. So it's no wonder that as soon as I picked up my first copy of Short of Shivery at my Elementary School Library, I had a difficult time putting it down. Even now, some odd 10 or 15 years later, I still love picking up these books at reading them again and again.

The stories are always fresh and colorful, (though some may be a bit tedious for younger kids) and the accompanying illustrations provide an excellent atmosphere to the book. Of course, it's 10 times more frightening when your 7 and suddenly the Murdering Rampage of some psychopath or ghost pops into your head while your trying to sleep, but in general, even adults can appreciate the folklore and mysticism of these short stories.

For any lover of urban legends, folklore, ghost stories, or paranormal, I'd definitely recommend this for a read.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Are ghosts real? You may find out from this storie., April 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Even More Short & Shivery: Thirty Spine-Tingling Tales (Hardcover)

You may think ghosts are real. Some think they never exested. But maybe they do. Read this book before you judge. This book doesn't really tell you if they are real or not. This book tells stories about ghosts, and did a great job. If you don't like scary stories that much that is ok. This book isn't that scary, but to some people it may. I only have read a couple of stories but those were great stories. They didn't frighteen me a bit. Only some parts did. But believe me it is a terrific book.