First Grade "Horror" Books

 Kids love scary books. But what can you give a six or seven year old who wants to read books about horror? Our library has a bunch of non-fiction books about zombies, ghosts and werewolves; and the kids love to check them out. But the images are pretty scary for little ones. A first grader came up to me right before Halloween and asked me for some good horror books. My favorite scary story is The Dark by Lemony Snicket. It has just the right amount of suspense, yet ends happily. Oh my goodness, I just remembered another scary favorite of mine! I love, love, love "What Was I Afraid Of" in The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss. I get the chills every time I read that story.

The Black Lagoon series by Mike Thaler is really popular and is available as picture books or chapter books. I can't believe I haven't read Miss Smith and the Haunted Library by Michael Garland. A sixth grader actually recommended I give this book to our first grade friend to try. He came back and said he enjoyed both books.

Finally, a super popular series in our library is a collection of folk tales called Scary Stories compiled by Alvin Schwartz, with the illustrations by Stephen Gammell. They are truly chilling.

The Graveyard Book Seen At Nantucket Bookworks

Cover of the graphic novel
version of The Graveyard Book.

Something about this time of year makes me want to read a really scary book. I was in Nantucket this weekend for a friend's birthday party, and I saw a copy of The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman in the very cute and cozy Nantucket Bookwork's display window. This is the new graphic novel version, and I almost bought it then and there. I decided I didn't want to carry it home, but am now regretting the decision, because buying a book at a special bookstore is so much more meaningful than waiting for a brown package to arrive in the mail.

I read and loved The Graveyard Book when it came out as a chapter book several years ago; it started out as one of the scariest middle grade books I had ever read. In the Newbury award winning book, Nobody Owens, "Bod," is a human boy who lives in a graveyard among ghosts and ghouls. The story is at times terrifying, and other times touching and tender-hearted. I know it's been out for awhile, but I really want to read Neil Gaiman's latest, Fortunately, The Milk. I need to add it to the pile on my nightstand and put it in my "want to read" list on Goodreads.

Entry to the charming children's area
of Nantucket Bookwords

Two of my other favorites for scaring young readers out of their wits are Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hahn, and The Nest by Kenneth Oppel. These are all great books for your not-too-easy-to-scare 9-12 year old reader.

The Nest Will Give You Nightmares

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel, is a spine chilling story about an extreme hive of wasps living just outside a newborn's nursery. Steve is the baby's big brother, and he is also a worrier. Right now he is really worried about two things: the growing wasps' nest, and the baby's sickliness. Of course, Steve's parents are also more than a little preoccupied with the baby's health. Not only are the wasps keeping Steve busy during the hot days of summer vacation, they are also visiting him in his dreams. Steve is at first comforted by the visits and soothing words of the queen; however, he is horrified to later learn the sinister plot she has in mind for Steve's baby brother.

Steve is an unlikely hero and you'll cheer for him as he takes on the wasps single-handedly to help save his little brother. You'll want to have the exterminator's number handy as you fly through the pages of this short novel. The black and white illustrations by Jon Klassen add to the spooky ambiance. The Nest is the book you could get if you combined Jon Klassen's picture book The Dark, and any Steven King novel.  Check out this terrific HarperCollins book trailer for the story. This book is suitable for kids ages  9-up who don't mind a fright in their reading.

We-Be-Witching Books

One Witch at a Time, by Stacy DeKeyser, is a follow-up to her book, The Brixen Witch from a few years ago. Just as Ms. DeKeyser used the pied piper fable to weave her first magical tale, she now invokes Jack and the Beanstalk to form this story. I don't think this story is quite as good as the first, but it appears to have earned multiple children's literature awards. This book is perfect for a fourth or fifth grade reader.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare, is a suspenseful Newbury-winning classic set in the time of colonial America. In the story, sixteen-year-old Kit has arrived on the shores of Connecticut after having to leave her beloved island of Barbados. Kit is met with suspicion and hostility everywhere she turns, until an old woman befriends her. Sadly, this friendship does more harm than good as the locals think the old woman is a witch. This would be a great read for a student that plans to visit Salem, MA.

Do not be fooled by Quentin Blake's cartoony cover of Roald Dahl's classic twisted story, The Witches. As our seven-year old hero learns, witches are real; they live among us; and they are sinister, malicious children-haters. If you get a chance to watch the movie, be prepared for the special effects that will frighten even the most jaded young viewer.


Which witch will your reader choose?