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
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!
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
spooky fun for kids AND adults!, October 31, 2003
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!
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