Subjects:  1. Action & Adventure - General    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 3-4    4. Fiction    5. Horror & Ghost Stories    6. Juvenile Easy Readers    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Monsters    9. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    10. Readers - Chapter Books    11. School & Education    12. Schools    13. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Editorial Review

Someday someone will write a book that begins with a mother forbidding her child to enter the deep dark woods and ends with that child achieving incredible success without ever setting a toe in the forbidden forest. But not this book. Here, Billy's mom issues a few scary warnings about the woods to her son--"Beware! Beware! The Forest of Sin! None come out, but many go in!"--turns her back for a second, and the next thing you know the devil shows up and whispers something to Bobby about wild strawberries. Blammo! Guess where Billy goes--straight to the forbidden forest, of course. At this point, if you are reading the story aloud to your child, you may think there's a parable on the way. But just when you might expect to run into monsters named Lust, Avarice, and Three-Toed Sloth (okay, maybe not Lust), a real monster comes careening along and you realize that this story is just a fairy tale after all--and quite a lovely one at that.

Reviews (12)

Cool Book!
When Billy's mom says scary warnings to him about the woods, he wants to find out for himself. The next day, he goes to the woods and sees the Minpins.

OK, but another ofDahl's is likely better
From the overhead picture on the cover to its conclusion, there's enough of Dahl's trademark silliness and creativity to satisfy a fan, but all within a not particularly compelling tale of a youngster who escapes his household confines, goes into the forbidden forest beyond, and discovers the Minpins, tree-dwelling miniature people unknown to the outside world.They have adapted to their world's major danger, the unseen fire-breathing Gruncher, who is making Billy's leaving the trees impossible because our hero must also avoid it. Probably a more than acceptable read to a middle elementary school child reading long picture books, it falls short of Dahl's longer books for older kids or his hysterical and bawdy adult books.

Great book!
We love this book.One of my daughters, who loves fantasy, asks us to read this to her about once a week.The story totally captures a childs imagination.A child will never look at the trees in their yard the same way again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Fiction - General    2. Children: Grades 2-3    3. Dahl, Roald    4. Fantastic fiction    5. Fantasy    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Juvenile Literature    9. Monsters    10. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Subjects:  1. Birthdays    2. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    3. Children: Preschool    4. Fiction    5. Gifts    6. Holidays & Celebrations - Other, Nonreligious    7. Holidays & Festivals - Other - Non-religious    8. Horror & Ghost Stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Monsters    11. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    12. Sharing    13. Social Issues - General    14. Social Issues - Values    15. Social Situations - Values    16. Juvenile Fiction / Holidays & Festivals / Other, Non-Religious   

Reviews (1)

Mixed Beasts illustrated by Wallace Edwards
Kenyon Cox authored and illustrated the original edition of Mixed Beasts first published in 1904. Wallace Edwards, a respected Canadian illustrator, has used Cox's verses to inspire his own artwork, maintaining an old-fashioned feel with a somewhat more modern design. Children with a sense of the absurd will enjoy Edwards' elaborate illustrations and Cox's short verses in this new edition. The Rhinocerostrich, the Kangarooster, and the Octopussycat are wonderfully ridiculous but strangely plausible with Edwards' presentation. Read more

Subjects:  1. Animals - General    2. Children's 4-8 - Poetry / Plays    3. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Nonfiction    4. Children: Kindergarten    5. Fiction    6. Imaginary creatures    7. Juvenile Nonfiction    8. Juvenile Poetry    9. Monsters    10. Poetry - Humorous    11. Stories in rhyme    12. Juvenile Fiction / Art & Architecture   

Reviews (3)

Endlessly Enjoyable
This is one of those rare books that my three year old daughter requests over and over again at story time."Read me the Monster book," she asks several times per week before snuggling into her bed.
A frightfully wonderful book!
This picture book follows the story of lonely Count Dracula and his attempt to make new friends at a party. The writing is rhythmic and fun to read aloud, and the claymation artwork is spectacular! There are visions to make both the young and the old laugh out loud! I have yet to read it to anyone who hasn't squealed with delight!

very imaginative children's book
This is a very appealing book. Extremely well drawn, with charming drawings and very entertaining text. A very good gift for children. Nice for adults too. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Celebrations - Parties    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Kindergarten    4. Fiction    5. Humorous Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Loneliness    8. Monsters    9. Non-Classifiable    10. Nonfiction    11. Parties    12. Preschool Picture Story Books    13. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    14. Social Issues - Friendship    15. Stories in rhyme    16. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (1)

A creepy story
My seven year old loved this book. She liked the story line about a cousin and a sleep over. It was also not too scary. I liked it because it was short and kept her interest for the duration. She read the whole book in about twenty minutes. I would recommend this book for any independent reader in grades two or three. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Brothers and sisters    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Cousins    5. Fear of the dark    6. Fiction    7. Horror & Ghost Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Monsters    10. Juvenile Fiction / Horror & Ghost Stories   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (342)

Is Frankestein a book for 13 years old and under
I enjoyed Frankestein, but I don't recommend the book for kids, unless they are really good readers. There are many words that are harder for kids to understand because it was written in old english. Frankestein was written very well even if it was a harder book. From the beginning to the end there was always some "action" or excitment going on. I don't want to discorage young readers from reading this book, but you'll understand it much better if you wait a couple of years to read it.

Is Frankestein a book for 13 years old and under
I enjoyed Frankestein, but I don't recommend the book for kids, unless they are really good readers. There are many words that are harder for kids to understand because it was written in old english. Frankestein was written very well even if it was a harder book. From the beginning to the end there was always some "action" or excitment going on. I don't want to discorage young readers from reading this book, but you'll understand it much better if you wait a couple of years to read it.

frankenstein
an enthusiastic scholar somehow creates new life; this awful creation, though, only serves to haunt him as he attempts to escape its reach.he flees to england, to switzerland and finally flies to the north pole, only to meet the crew of an adventure-bound ship and recount his chilling tale.
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Subjects:  1. Children's 12-Up - Literature - Classics    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Classics    4. Fiction    5. Horror & Ghost Stories    6. Horror stories    7. Monsters    8. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (10)

Nightmares : Poems to trouble your sleep
Ok, they aren't quiet that scary, but they do show another side of poetry. It is actually a lot of fun to read.

Great book...even for kids!
I read this interesting book of poems as a young child and I've never forgotten it. As my introduction to reading poetry for pleasure, Nightmares was a delight and I still remember some verses probably 15 years later. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone.

CLASSIC!
I basically grew up on this and "Headless Horseman Rides Tonight". This is something that you can appreciate whether you're a child or an adult, especially if you're like me and you checked it out of the school library religiously. There was a review that said it was "unsuitable for children", ummmm yeah sure. As someone who was reading this book at the age of eight years old I can say that it helped expand my imagination and got me really interested in literature. One day I hope my little nephew will read this book and experience the same joy I did when I was little. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American poetry    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children's poetry, American    4. Children: Grades 4-6    5. General    6. Juvenile poetry    7. Monsters    8. Poetry    9. Poetry - General   

Features

• Illustrated

Reviews (1)

great for the grandson
I bought this book for my grandson and he really enjoys it.Kid tested and approved.The drawing are cut.What more can you want? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children: Grades 2-3    2. General    3. Juvenile Fiction    4. Unexplained Phenomena    5. Body, Mind & Spirit / Unexplained Phenomena    6. CURIOSITIES AND WONDERS    7. Children's stationery & miscellaneous items    8. Fiction    9. LOCH NESS MONSTER    10. MONSTERS    11. MONSTERS_JUVENILE LITERATURE    12. NESS, LOCH (SCOTLAND)   

Reviews (2)

Outstanding! A great book for Halloween!
Patricia Rae Wolff is one of my favorite children's authors! Cackle Cook is a kid-pleaser with its gross-out recipe for Monster Stew. Children will find it easy to follow along--it's The Little Red Hen for monsters. An added bonus: kids can work on their ABCs along the way. Fabulous illustrations.

A zany and fun story
Patricia Rae Wolff's Cackle Cook's Monster Stew receives S.D. Schindler's amusing, fun illustrations as it tells of a creative monster cook and a pet monster on a search for some unusual ingredients. Poor Igor hates shopping for the illusive monster stew recipes - as much as his owner loves to cook it - in this zany and fun story. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alphabet    2. Animals - Pets    3. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    4. Children: Preschool    5. Cookery    6. Cooking/Food    7. Fiction    8. Holidays & Celebrations - Halloween    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Monsters    11. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    12. Witches    13. Juvenile Fiction / General   

Reviews (2)

Buy this book, you won't be disappointed!
Rarely has my daughter enjoyed a book as much as this one.It is even rarer yet for me to take the time to get online and plug it for others to buy!All of the Scary Godmother titles are great Halloween fun. The painted art simply has to be seen to be believed.A must buy for October 31st.

Jill Thompson has done it again!
The Scary Godmother is one of the most unique characters to burst upon the scene in a long time.Ms. Thompson's second offering "The Mystery Date" is a grand adventure.She has a wonderful knack of developing"scary" characters and making you love them! Our darling Hannahbuilds on her relationships with Skully Pettibone, Bug-A-Boo and the restof her friends, and adds more acquaintences to her circle.Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Comics & Graphic Novels - General    5. Dating (Social customs)    6. Fiction    7. General    8. Halloween    9. Holidays & Celebrations - Halloween    10. Juvenile Fiction    11. Monsters    12. Comics & Graphic Novels / General    13. Graphic novels    14. Horror & ghost stories   

Reviews (22)

Tim's review
I really liked the book Beware the Snowman. I like fictional books and it had a happy ending. I have read a lot of other Goosebumps books but they were better than this one. This one was not as scary.
BORINGGGGG
the story is bad and the plot is lousy, do not buy this book.

Beware!
Jacklyn used to live with her Aunt Greta in Chicago. But not anymore. Because they are going to move to a scary town with a big, mean alive snowman! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - Horror    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Fiction    4. Horror & Ghost Stories    5. Juvenile Fiction    6. Juvenile Horror / Ghost Stories    7. Monsters    8. Moving, Household    9. Snowmen    10. Stine, R. L.   

Reviews (5)

How Wrong SLJ's Review Is!
Don't you think it's funny how dead wrong the School Library Journal review is, especially since they should know kids. Ah, well. This book is very scary, because it preys on a fear I haven't seen addressed anywhere else but is one of the most common (at least I have it and most kids I knew did). I will say that another book in the same series, "The Flat Man", is even scarier. It scared my daughter to death and she still remembers it fondly. I'm ordering both for my library. Every child deserves to be scared witless.

My kids are scared!
The kindergarten teacher at my 5 year olds school read this story in the middle of the year. It is now July 24th and 10:00 pm and my 5 year old is crying, sitting on my lap, and afraid that the ankle-grabber is under her bed. She's never been afraid of anything before. Traumatising fun!
I read this book when I was younger. I remember, my mum told me not to read scary stories before I went to bed, but I just had to. And, unsurprisingly, found myself too scared to sleep in my own bed.Read more

Subjects:  1. Bedtime    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 4-6    4. Fear of the dark    5. Fiction    6. Horror & Ghost Stories    7. Juvenile Fiction    8. Monsters    9. Juvenile Fiction / Horror & Ghost Stories   

Reviews (2)

Monster House
Monster House
Great Quick-Read for the Movie...
The Monster House looks like a fun movie based on this movie novelization. Being only about 130 pages, this is totally a quick read from start-to-finish, me finishing it in about two hours. This movie/movie novelization is about a group of friends who try to save the neighborhood from a house that is a monster when nobody beleives them about it.
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Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Fiction    2. Children: Grades 3-4    3. Fiction    4. Halloween    5. Holidays & Celebrations - Halloween    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Monsters    8. Movie Tie - In    9. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    10. Juvenile Fiction / Movie or Television Tie-In   

Reviews (3)

My Seven Year Old SON
He borrowed the book at school and would not let it out of his sight! I was happy to finally see his huge interest in reading. He asked me to buy his very own book and I am doing just that.We both have enjoyed it so muchI want him to have his very own to remember the fun we had together.sharing it.

Wonderful
I thought this book was so clever, charming, and witty. I love the littlemonster, and the equally afraid human. The illustrations are perfect forthe story. All in all a great read.

Enjoyed the book - regretted the 'american-ese' modification
This charming book was enjoyed greatly by myself and both my children. The illustrations are delightful and the clever 'table-turning' where a monster is afraid that the 'Humans will get me' is very smart. I regretted that the American version had some modifications that, to my ear, broke the balance of the original rhyme. Still, an excellent story for the child starting toexperience 'Bed-Time anxiety'. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bedtime    2. Bedtime & Dreams    3. Bedtime Stories    4. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    5. Children: Preschool    6. Fear    7. Fiction    8. Humorous Stories    9. Juvenile Fiction    10. Monsters    11. Social Issues - Emotions & Feelings    12. Social Situations - Emotions & Feelings    13. Stories in rhyme   

Reviews (3)

Garfield to the rescue!
In Garfield and the Beast in the Basement, Garfield is told by Jon to either rid the house of mice or go on a diet.After blubbering and threatening, Garfield goes on a mouse hunt.He finds the mice, but his eradication program is interrupted by the discovery of... the beast in the basement.
A great series for your young Garfield fan
These are great chapter books for your early reader Garfield fan.My son loves them, I just wish there were more in the series. Unfortunately there are only four books in the series, so once they have read these four that's all there is.

Great Chapter Book
My son is a big fan of Garfield.That being the case it was a real joy to discover this chapter book series.What IS in Jon's basement?I won't say because I don't want to spoil the surprise.I would recommend this forchildren 8 to 12 years of age.Older children might find it too easy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Cats    2. Children's 9-12 - Fiction - General    3. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Graphic Novels    4. Children: Grades 2-3    5. Comics & Graphic Novels - General    6. Fiction    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Mice    10. Monsters    11. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    12. Short Stories    13. Non-Classifiable   

Subjects:  1. Adventure and adventurers    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Comics & Graphic Novels - Manga    4. Fiction    5. Fiction - Fantasy    6. Graphic Novels - Manga    7. Graphic Novels-Manga    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Kings, queens, rulers, etc.    10. Monsters    11. Comics & Graphic Novels / Graphic Novels / Manga   

Reviews (1)

Wonderful!
My 5 year old son is interested on bats, vampires and other little critters & monsters.However, I couldn't find any book on this subject that was appropriate for his age.I'm so glad I came across Mercer Mayer's collection.I have read Little Critter in the past and have found it amusing and helpful.However, Critters of the Night is much more appealing to my kid.The characters and illustrations are very expressive and colorful.The text is clear, easy and fun to read.It's very rhythmic.He's learning to read now, but I always take him a step further.The Critters of the Night collection is helping me on this endeavor. We love it! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Grades 1-2    4. Fiction    5. Humorous Stories    6. Monsters    7. Readers - Beginner    8. Social Issues - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    9. Social Situations - Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance    10. Horror & ghost stories, chillers    11. Juvenile Nonfiction / Language Arts / General   

Reviews (1)

Victorian Scare with High-tech Flair
This is a fabulous blend of mystery and horror for young adults who would like a Victorian scare with high-tech flair. The story was fast paced, and I was riveted to my seat from start to finish in one sitting. I am a big fan of the author's Invisible Detective series and found this another great title to enjoy. Like in the Invisible Detective series, the plot mixes a nice blend of endearing characters with some very nasty villains and lots of action and mystery to keep one turning the pages without stopping. . Two thumbs up for this creepy suspense novel! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Books - Young Adult Fiction    2. Children: Young Adult (Gr. 7-9)    3. Fiction    4. General    5. Horror & Ghost Stories    6. Juvenile Fiction    7. Monsters    8. Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories    9. Mystery and detective stories    10. Social Issues - Friendship    11. Zombies   

Reviews (2)

Lima Bean Monster
This book is perfect for kids who don't always eat all their vegetables- they will find it funny and easy to relate to! The Lima Bean Monster captures the interest of children who, like Sam, try to be sneaky and find ways around eating their vegetables. Kids in kindergarten through third grade especially would find this book amusing and funny.

Good, Clean--OK, messy--Fun
This is a very cute and funny book that shows the unexpectedly silly consequences of not eating your veggies (and feeding them to the dog or hiding them in your sock). I was afraid it would be heavy-handed but it is not at all preachy, and the illustrations make it even more fun. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's 4-8 - Picturebooks    2. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    3. Children: Preschool    4. Cooking/Food    5. Fiction    6. Food habits    7. Humorous Stories    8. Juvenile Fiction    9. Lima bean    10. Lima beans    11. Monsters    12. Nature & the Natural World - General    13. Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic    14. Juvenile Fiction / General