Scary Stories Boxed Set [Box set] [Paperback]

Alvin Schwartz (Author), Stephen Gammell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Scary Stories

Walking corpses, dancing bones, knife-wielding madmen, and narrow escapes from death -- they're all here in this chilling collection of ghost stories.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A wonderful collection of tales that range from creepy to silly to haunting. ...Gammell's drawings add just the right touch..." -- John Scieszka,Entertinment Weekly

"Guaranteed to make your teeth chatter and your spine tingle." -- School Library Journal

"Read these if you dare." -- The New York Times

About the Author

Alvin Schwartz is known for his more than two dozen books of folklore for young readers that explore everything from wordplay and humor to tales and legends of all kinds. Don't miss his other Scary Stories collections, including More Scary Stories To Tell in the Dark and Scary Stories 3.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback
• Publisher: HarperCollins (June 26, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006440465X
• ISBN-13: 978-0064404655
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #127,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #60 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Halloween

More About the Author

Alvin Schwartz is known for a body of work of more than two dozen books of folklore for young readers that explore everything from wordplay and humor to tales and legends of all kinds. His collections of scary stories -- Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, More Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, Scary Stories 3, and two I Can Read Books, In A Dark, Dark Room and Ghosts! -- are just one part of his matchless folklore collection.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Genuinely Spooky and Straight From a Line of Tradition, August 5, 2002

By 

Bud (Seminole, Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scary Stories Boxed Set (Paperback)

Folklorist Alvin Schwartz displays his knack for carrying on the tradition of storytelling and genuine folklore with these three volumes of "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark," here in a special boxed set. Award-winning illustrator Stephen Gammell's wonderfully chilling pencil drawings go along perfectly with Schwartz's selection of spooky folklore, using a writing style that is delightfully shiver-inducing, sounding as if the story is being told straight from around the camp fire or in a kid's unlit bedroom. These three volumes are essential for keeping the folklore tradition alive.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Warning: Will scare the daylights out of you..., July 18, 2005

By 

TerryT (OK, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scary Stories Boxed Set (Paperback)

I personally think the reading level for these books that's given is a bit low. Any sensible adult reading one of these books at nighttime, or outdoors around a campfire, or anywhere for that matter, could easily be frightened out of their wits. These books are by far the best scary stories books I have EVER read. They've been handy for me since I was very young and I have always loved them...and not just for Halloween. I didn't know there was a boxed set, but ah well, owning them is a must.

The stories in these books are genuinely terrifying, but I can't come up with the right word to describe the illustrations. Let's just say that I still can't look at them without feeling a shiver. When Stephen Gammell decided he was going to make pictures for a SCARY story book, he really didn't mess around. I could not recommend these books more, for telling around campfires, for reading to classes at Halloween, for just generally freaking yourself out. They are quite amazing that way.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I don't care if you're 50. You will be scared...trust me., June 19, 2006

By 

T. W. Cramer "Ty" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Scary Stories Boxed Set (Paperback)

I read these books about 15 years ago and I must say to this day they are still among the scariest I've ever read. In fact I'd almost NOT suggest letting little children read them. The stories are short and truely frightening. The only suggestion that I have is that you do actually read the books. I have yet to hear the audio CD but I intend to get it in the near future just to have on hand. The reason for this is the pictures. The drawings done for these books are utterly horrifying. In 15 years I STILL have trouble looking at some of them. And better yet, they are burned into my memory. If your a parent, I'd suggest flipping through the pages first to see if you're okay with the stories themselves...but the pictures as well (as the pictures can really pack a punch, nightmares all around).