Good afternoon on this bright and breezy All Hallow’s Eve’s Eve! Today I have three reads for the young and young at heart that are sufficiently spooky, creepy or icky as to qualify for the “Halloween Reads” category, while also having enough humour to satisfy those with a sissy sensitive consitution.
In ascending order of age-appropriateness, we have:
Spinster Goose: Twisted Rhymes for Naughty Children
by Lisa Wheeler and Sophie Blackall
Synopsis:
A cautionary tale in poetry warning children to behave, lest they be sent to learn proper decorum under the guidance of the horrid headmistress, Spinster Goose.
In case you’re wondering who might be sent to such a school and what their fate might be, the following verse from the tome will probably suffice to explain:
The pinchers get pinched,
and the pokers get poked.
The biters get bit,
and the smokers get smoked.
The takers get taken.
The sordid get sore.
The shakers get shaken right down to their core. (p7)
So watch out.
Spook factor: A resounding 3 out of 5 screams for anyone who has ever attended (or is about to attend) school…
Laugh-o-meter: Giggle-inducing. Particularly if you are, or ever have been, a teacher.
Reading Age: Read-aloud-able from early school age
And next we have…
Sucked In! The Story of an Appendix on the Loose
by Paul Jennings and Terry Denton
Synopsis:
A jaunty tale about a disembodied appendix that escapes its specimen jar and creates stomach-heaving havoc around the neighbourhood.
Spook Factor: 4 out of 5 screams for pure, unadulterated ingestion-by-appendix
Laugh-o-meter: Guffaw to Belly Laugh.
Reading Age: Read-aloud-able from early school age, read alone for middle grade
And finally…
Demon Dentist
by David Walliams
Synopsis:
Local kids begin finding unspeakable offerings under their pillows instead of the usual coinage, in exchange for loose teeth. On a completely unrelated note, a new, slightly odd dentist sets up shop in the town.
Spook Factor: 2 out of 5 screams for the unspeakable offerings
Laugh-o-meter: Chortle-icious
Reading Age: Middle grade
So there you have it – three spooktacularly fun reads for mini-fleshlings. Enjoy!
Until next time,
Bru -oooo -ce
my read shelf:
Love it Bruce, I hope I’ll be able to get to sleep tonight! 😳
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I’ll post some gentle bedtime reading suggestions just for you!
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Spinster Goose is such an original title for a book and I think the cover illustration has got it just right!
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They’re very Gorey-esque illustrations. It’s a very well put-together book. Thanks god dropping in 🙂
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Ooh – Spinster Goose looks like such fun (also love the cover) – my daughters and I love silly rhymes, and having the extra “dark” factor definitely a plus! Glad you included this!
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Sounds like it’s just the book for you! Thanks for hopping by:)
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Thats a fab collection.. one that will leave kids wanting more!! Demon Dentist simply must go on our must read shelf! :))
Thanks for sharing on Kid Lit Blog Hop!
-Reshama
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If you haven’t read any of Walliams’ other books yet, I’d suggest starting with Mr Stink or Billionaire Boy…or if you’re in for a slightly deeper story, The Boy in the Dress. But Demon Dentist is good too ;D
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These all sound incredible! Demon Dentist has been on my list for a while; David Walliams is twistedly hilarious. Thanks for sharing with Kid Lit Blog Hop!
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He’s the Roald Dahl of this generation I think. Although his writing voice is just a bit more twisted than Dahl, if that’s possible! Thanks for dropping in 🙂
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LOL – literally, my children are wondering what I’m laughing at. That disembodied appendix totally cracked me up!! Thanks so giving me my laugh of the day (oh, and for linking into the Kid Lit Blog Hop once again). How goes parenthood? 🙂
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Thanks for dropping in again! The fleshlings are doing as well as may be expected – mini-fleshling number two hungers after milk and adventure, mini-fleshling number one just hungers after adventure… 🙂
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