In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories (I Can Read Book Series: Level 2) by Alvin Schwartz, Dirk Zimmer (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

In 1957, Harper published its first I Can Read title, Little Bear, written by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Large type, simple vocabulary, chapter-like divisions, and decorative pictures made Little Bear perfect for emerging readers—they could read the story comfortably and not feel overwhelmed by the text. Following suit came such classics as Peggy Parish's Amelia Bedelia series, Lillian Hoban's books about Arthur the monkey, and Syd Hoff's popular Danny and the Dinosaur. Many books in this series are special in the depth of emotion evoked - Little Bear, the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel, and Daniel's Duck by Clyde Bulla, to name a few - and all are enjoyed by children of all ages. Preschool - Grade 1.

Children's Literature

Alvin Schwartz, best known for the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series, shares seven spine-tingling stories for young readers in this "I Can Read!" book. The stories and illustrations, originally published in 1984, are a bit dated, but kids will find plenty to enjoy in the simple, engaging stories about graveyards, skeletons, and ghosts. Parents and teachers will want to remind readers of "The Night It Rained" to never get into a car with a stranger. The stories are creepy without being too frightening and are an excellent addition to a Halloween-themed unit of classroom readings. The book is designated a Level 2 reader, for developing readers. The simple vocabulary and sentence structure are well-suited for that level. The accompanying audio CD includes two tracks, one with page-turn signals and one without. Each track runs about fourteen minutes and includes all the stories. Both tracks also have music and sound effects. While these add to the atmosphere of the stories, truly struggling readers may have trouble focusing on the reading. Reviewer: Kristina Cassidy

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3

This collection of short stories (HarperCollins, 1984) retold by Alvin Schwartz are just creepy enough to give youngsters shivers without causing nightmares. The seven tales were collected from a variety of sources and include some classics such as "The Green Ribbon" (holding on a severed head) and "The Night It Rained" (a man discovers that his hitchhiker was a ghost). Dirk Zimmer performs the stories in a sepulchral tone with a measured pace and different voices for the characters. Background music is light and seems deliberately designed to lessen the scary mood. This Level 2 I Can Read book is perfect for younger children who are constantly pestering the librarian for "something scary."-Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary School, Federal Way, WA

Product Details