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Found this meme the other day and it made me laugh. I believe that kids know what they like and don’t like, what works for them and what, well, doesn’t. In a room full of peers they might all raise they hands when asked if they like scary stories, but privately they might answer differently. It’s important to me on school visits to respect that distinction. I don’t talk about these books below 3rd grade and always in terms of the creative process — asking “What if?” questions — developing story ideas.
At book festivals I’ll meet young readers who looooove this series. They are disappointed there are only six titles. (I know that feeling; so am I.) Other kids reach a little hesitantly for one of the books. Drawn to it, curious, but unsure. Maybe Mom stands behind them, a little unsure herself. One tip I share is that if they are at all worried about it, maybe they should first try reading it during the day time. Like the meme says, it’s much easier to believe in scary things when the lights go out.
Here’s a piece of art from the great Iacopo Bruno from Nightmareland. I think of this one as my most Twilight Zone-inspired story, less scary, more twisty. But your mileage may vary.
