Book Review: 'Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story' by R. L. Stine

✰✰✰½  Rick Scroogeman thinks he's the life of the party. He likes to joke around with his friends, but can't understand why they don't appreciate his humor. That's because Rick is a twelve-year-old bully. He thinks teasing his fellow classmates at Oliver Twist Middle school is funny just as long as the joke's on them.

Rick doesn't tolerate it when other people tease him. Take Christmas, for example. Every year the other kids get their chance to get back at Rick when the class watches the classic old movie, A Christmas Carol. All the kids start calling him Scrooge, and Rick gets all prickly about it.

This year Rick is ready to retaliate with even more teasing. What he doesn't know is that things are going to be different. Just like in the movie, Rick is haunted by three ghosts who whisk him away to different eras and try to teach him a lesson. Will Rick change his bullying ways, or is he a lost cause? Only time will tell as Rick tries get back to his family in time to celebrate Christmas.

The Bottom Line: This ghostly retelling of a holiday classic (A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens) features a scary twist with a modern lesson to learn. Middle grade readers will identify with the characters on both sides of the bullying issue. Recommended seasonal reading for young fans of horror.

Details: Young Scrooge: A Very Scary Christmas Story by R. L. Stine. hardcover published by Square Fish in 2016. 208 p. ISBN: 978-1-250-12955-0

Book Review: 'Skeleton Bones & Goblin Groans: Poems for Halloween' by Amy E. Sklansky

✰✰✰½ This is a spooktacular collection of Halloween inspired poems that are guaranteed to make you laugh. These rhyming poems ranging in topic from a haunted house to Frankenstein to Halloween candy are quick and easy to read. 

The Bottom Line: Unique beaded creations on canvas were used to make the illustrations for this book. The delightful poems are perfect for little ones just learning to read. Recommended for ages 4 - 7. These poems will get you in the holiday spirit.

Details: Skeleton Bones & Goblin Groans: Poems for Halloween written by Amy E. Sklansky & illustrated by Karen Dismukes. Picture book published by Henry Hold and Company in 2004. 32 p. ISBN: 0-8050-7046-X

Book Review: 'Bonaparte Falls Apart' by Margery Cuyler

✰✰✰✰✰ Bonaparte is a little skeleton boy with a BIG problem. He is falling to pieces. Every time he does anything, his bones fall off or roll away. He can't play catch or ride his bike without losing a piece of himself. How will he ever go to school?

His friends try glue, webbing, and mummy wrappings, but nothing works. What's a skeleton to do? Things look hopeless until Bonaparte makes a new friend with a clever idea. Will they figure out how to hold Bonaparte together in time for the first day of school? Visit your local library and check this book out to find out!

The Bottom Line: Adorable illustrations with a muted palette feature kid-friendly monsters and a few hidden gems. Highly recommended read-aloud choice for kids anxious about the first day of school.

Details: Bonaparte Falls Apart written by Margery Cuyler & illustrated by Will Terry. Hardcover picture book published by Crown Books in 2017. 40 p. ISBN: 978-1-101-93768-6

Book Review: 'Sir Simon: Super Scarer' by Cale Atkinson

✰✰✰✰ Sir Simon is a ghostly Super Scarer. It's okay to be scared of him because that is his job. He has haunted lots of places. It's a hard job, but someone's got to do it.

Sir Simon was recently transferred to his first haunted house. That's the good news. The bad news is that a haunted house calls for extra Ghost chores like causing lights to flicker and stairs to creak. Once he's finished with chores, he can get back to his hobbies. Unfortunately, there's a problem named Chester. All Chester wants to do is play with Sir Simon. How will Sir Simon ever get his chores done? Check out this ghostly tale to find out.

The Bottom Line: This sweet tale of friendship is not too scary. The illustrations are colorful and humorous. A seasonal, spooky read recommended for kids ages 4 - 8, especially for those a bit apprehensive about Halloween.

Details: Sir Simon: Super Scarer written & illustrated by Cale Atkinson. Hardcover picture book published by Tundra Books in 2018. 48 p. ISBN: 978-1-101-91909-5

Book Review: 'Tales From Beyond the Brain' by Jeff Szpirglas

✰✰✰✰✰ Going to school is just a part of daily life for most kids, but some schools are different from others. Some schools harbor secrets that could be dangerous to the average student. In the terrifying world of author Jeff Szpirglas, kids need to be on the look out for abandoned brains, holes in the universe,and old films. Even bringing your teacher a traditional apple can have disastrous effects. If this sounds like your cup of tea, pick up this book and dive right in for some frighteningly good fun.

The Bottom Line: This delightfully creepy collection of thirteen tales of horror is perfect for the middle grade set. The stories are short and engaging. Kids will easily relate to the troubles the main characters have. Every story features at least one spooky, black and white illustration. These bone-chilling stories remind me of the ones featured in the television series, Tales from the Dark Side. Highly recommended for young fans of horror stories. NOTE: Not for squeamish readers.

Details: Tales From Beyond the Brain by Jeff Szpirglas & illustrated by Steven P. Hughes. Advance Reading Copy published by Orca Book Publishers in 2019. 192 p. ISBN: 978-45982079 NOTE: I received a free advance reading copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible by the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing.