Scared Silly!: A Halloween Book for the Brave [Library Binding]

Marc Tolon Brown (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

A collection of original scary stories, poems, riddles, and jokes, combined with works by such writers as Ogden Nash and Bobbi Katz, offers frighteningly funny illustrations that help children laugh at their own imaginary monsters.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his adult-directed foreword to this spirited anthology, Robert Coles muses on what being "scared" entails, concluding that as children venture into the unknown they "learn to take on this world, to get some sense of confidence about it, control over it." The mostly lighthearted entries in this volume will certainly assuage rather than feed youngsters' fears of spooks and the like (cf. Florence Parry Heide's "The Monster in My Closet," who "always tries to scare me / (he does it as a joke). / But tonight I shouted BOO! at him / and he went up in smoke!"). Tempering the potentially frightening endings of a small number of these selections is Brown's typically upbeat art, featuring a bevy of frolicsome kids, amicable ghosts, playful little monsters and benign witches--even the most exotic creatures (such as the chimerical fellow in Ogden Nash's "The Wendigo" and Jane Yolen's skeletal "The Fossilot") come off as decidedly nonthreatening. Other stellar contributors include Judith Viorst and Jack Prelutsky. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-A collection of poetry, prose, riddles, rhymes, and other spooky stuff shivery enough to awe a young audience, yet silly enough for them to giggle their apprehensions away. Selections by such well-known authors as Ogden Nash, Jack Prelutsky, and Judith Viorst are included, as well as several original pieces by Brown. While many of the entries can be found elsewhere, as a whole they form a wonderful collection for young fright fans. Brown scores again with his own brand of warm, engaging watercolor art. Each bordered page is home to cackling witches, slithering ghosts, warty dragons, hairy giants, hungry snakes, or snapping sharks. Brilliant colors, attention to detail, and the excellent balance of text and art provide a feast for the eye. The book is indexed by titles as well as by authors. A foreword by child psychiatrist Robert Coles acknowledges for parents and other adults the fears children have about their world, recognizes the need to identify them, and applauds the idea of laughing them away. Every time this book is shared, the results will be the same: "Read more, please read more." That's when you know you have a winner.
Dot Minzer, North Barrington School, Barrington, IL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Library Binding: 61 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (Juv); 1st edition (September 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316113603
• ISBN-13: 978-0316113601
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,657,467 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review, March 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Scared Silly!: A Halloween Book for the Brave (An Arthur Adventure) (Paperback)

This was a book of children's poems about things that little kids are scared of. It takes those fears and turns them into funny things for children to read. This book took a collection of poems and short story about things that many people think about around Halloween. It talks about things like goblins and scary things lurking around in the dark. This is a book that children can read and laughs about things that they think are scary.
I like this book because it gives children a way to read about things that they think are scary and realize that maybe those things aren't so scary after all. If you can get a child to laugh about something that they thought was scary then they may just be able to keep laughing about it instead of letting it frighten them. I think the person who compiled these poems and short stories into this book for child to enjoy really wanted the children to be able to laugh about these things. Many children have fears of things that can't really hurt them and this allows them to see that and laugh about it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly good poems, September 29, 2000

By 

J. Cohen (Newton, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scared Silly!: A Halloween Book for the Brave (Library Binding)

These poems are great read-alouds. My 7-year-old daughter loves to hear them read and to read them herself. This book has inspired me to buy more children's poetry books. We especially love the poem "The Adventures of Isabel." This should be required reading for all little girls. My daughter, who hates and fears her second-grade teacher, was inspired and strengthened by this poem. I know we will read this book many times for a long time to come.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A not-so-scary Halloween book for young children, September 22, 2000

By 

"olgentyre" (Logan, UT USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scared Silly!: A Halloween Book for the Brave (An Arthur Adventure) (Paperback)

This is a reprint of a book originally published in 1994. It's a fun collection of mostly poetry with a few short stories, riddles, jokes and even a song thrown in. The entries were written by a variety of well-known children's authors and colorfully illustrated by Marc Brown (who is best known for his "Arthur" books).

The collection is about "scary" things such as witches, monsters, ghosts, and more, although most of the entries are humorous rather than frightening. A few of the poems deliver just enough menace to give a child some delighted shivers.

It's a good book for young children who aren't yet ready for really scary stories, and a great collection for parents or teachers looking for a little extra something to liven up a Halloween storytime for the young ones.