Tell Me a Scary Story... But Not Too Scary! (Book & Audio CD) [Hardcover]

Carl Reiner (Author), James Bennett (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Book & CD | Publication Date: September 1, 2003

A little boy has an adventure in the scary basement of his mysterious new neighbor, Mr. Neewollah.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For all those kids who love to be scared on Halloween--but not too scared, award-winning director and comedy writer Carl Reiner produces a real spine chiller. He also offers plenty of outs for the faint of heart: "Is it getting too scary for you? Should I keep going? Okay, if you say so." No red-blooded young reader will be able to resist this tantalizing tale of monsters and mystery. The narrator (depicted by Jerry Seinfeld's Halloween illustrator, James Bennett, to look exactly like Carl Reiner) cozies up with his granddaughter to tell her all about the man he met when he was a child: Mr. Neewollah. Mr. Neewollah has a crooked smile (we have several creepy child's-eye views) and some very strange hobbies. Young Carl is lured into his basement workshop only to be scared out of his wits by fake eyeballs, creaking doors, and creepy things covered with cloth--not to mention hideous monsters. But is Mr. Neewollah truly as sinister as he seems?

In his first book for children, Reiner gets that kids love to be spooked--and to know that all is well, too. Bennett's exaggerated illustrations, featuring weird angles and vivid, in-your-face close-ups, are a good match for Reiner’s Halloween tale. Too busy in your own evil workshop to read aloud to the kids? Fear not! The book includes a CD featuring Reiner reading the story accompanied by eerie sound effects. (Ages 6 to 9) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-As this book opens, the author is preparing to tell his tale to a young listener, gently assuring her that he'll stop if it gets too scary. He then proceeds with his story, supposedly a recollection from his own childhood, during which a mysterious man named Mr. Neewollah moved into the house next door. As he watched him unload boxes, something fell out, and when he picked it up, the boy discovered that it was a marble that looked just like an eyeball. He decided to return it at midnight, saw a light in the basement, and fell through the window. This inevitably led to a meeting with his neighbor and the spooky costumes he created. This tale has the makings of a shivery treat, but the surprises are rather predictable and the chills fail to materialize. Reiner continually interrupts his narrative with questions: "This isn't too scary for you, is it?" and "Should I keep going?" and the tale unfolds at a glacial pace. Bennett's cartoon characters with their oversized heads and exaggerated facial features are appropriately grotesque but seem better suited for comedy or parody. The trouble is that readers simply aren't drawn into the young protagonist's story. Stick with old favorites like Bill Martin, Jr.'s The Ghost-Eye Tree (Holt, 1995) or one of Alvin Schwartz's fine collections, such as In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories (HarperCollins, 1984).
Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316833290
• ISBN-13: 978-0316833295
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #902,299 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I won't jump (out of my skin) if you won't..., October 4, 2008

By 

Judy K. Polhemus "Book Collector" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tell Me a Scary Story...But Not Too Scary! (Byron Preiss Book) (Paperback)

Wouldn't you just know that Carl Reiner would create a funny scary book? When the title says, "Tell Me a Scary Story...But Not Too Scary!," you know you are in for some scary fun!

How scary? Look at the figures making up the words "Scary Story." My goodness, but what an imagination from illustrator James Bennett! Now look at the little girl in the lower left hand corner. Look at that face--if she gets any more scared, we will have to rescue her. Come on. Let's go inside...

Immediately Carl Reiner tells the little girl (his grand-daughter?): "...but if it gets too scary for you, just say, 'Stop reading!' and I'll stop..." A guarantee that she will not stop! He repeats these words throughout the story with the same result.

Carl begins the story when he was a boy and a new neighbor moved in, Mr. Neewollah, who had a mysterious, crooked smile. Then Carl asks the little girl if the story is too scary. Of course, she wants him to continue.

One day when Mr. Neewollah was moving boxes into his house, a large, shiny object fell out and bounced to Carl's feet. He picked it up to discover it was an eyeball! He knew he must return it, so that night he went to Mr. Neewollah's house and found a light in the basement and saw something creepy. He leaned too far against the window and he fell in!

Suddenly, there is Mr. Neewollah demanding to know why this boy is in his house. Little Carl extends his arm, proffering the eyeball. The look on that boy's face is worth the price of the book--brave, frightened, determined. Cut back to the little girl listening to the story. Her look, too, is worth the price of the book.

The scariness escalates. I won't share these (because, I confess, I found myself a little frightened).

Carl Reiner certainly has a winner with this 2003 book. Only recently did I become aware of it when the second grade teacher shared it with me (the librarian). I immediately ordered the book so I will have it in time for Halloween story time. To go along with the eyeballs in the story, I will pass out "Body Parts" candies. One of the most fun things for a child is to be scared in a safe setting. Wild and scary with a surprise ending--that's what they will get with this wonderfully frightening book!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars spooky fun for kids AND adults!, October 31, 2003

By 

mamareadssomuch "mamareadssomuch" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tell Me a Scary Story... But Not Too Scary! (Book & Audio CD) (Hardcover)

My 4yr old found this book at the library and HAD to borrow it. Looks like we'll end up buying it because it really is a fun one, esp on Halloween! It comes with a CD and is narrated by Carl Reiner.

The story is about a boy who doesn't like his neighbor, Mr. Neewollah, who has a crooked smile...but one day finds a "staring" marble drop from a box his neighbor is carrying.

Terrific illustrations that are fun and spooky for children AND adults!

This will be a fun one to pull out every Halloween for a little spook!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars hilarious--just scary enough for 6-8 year olds!, September 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Tell Me a Scary Story... But Not Too Scary! (Book & Audio CD) (Hardcover)

kids love to be scared a little bit.. this book does just that and if you read it with the carl reiner audio cd in it the kids will love the sound effects, too!!!