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Goatllama She is already safe in her coffin so you better find someone else to munch on, mister!! Community Reviews· 4,504 ratings · 473 reviews Start your review of In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories
i liked the story of the girl whose head falls off so much that i got a baby doll when i was 3, named her Jenny, and tied a green ribbon around her neck, and then i'd untie it and i'd make her head fall off. when my parents figured out what it was supposed to be, they knew i would be weird forever. i liked the story of the girl whose head falls off so much that i got a baby doll when i was 3, named her Jenny, and tied a green ribbon around her neck, and then i'd untie it and i'd make her head fall off. when my parents figured out what it was supposed to be, they knew i would be weird forever. ...more
My daughter finds it quite intolerable that I "read scary stories all the time" but that she's not allowed to. Mind you, most of the stories I read to her are cheery books with unicorns, talking animals and more than a dash of the color pink. She's also a child who has hid some of my books before because the cover was "too scary and I wanted to make sure it didn't bother anyone." I honestly figured
anything remotely scary would not go over well… then I remembered a book I enjoyed as a kid. The s My daughter finds it quite intolerable that I "read scary stories all the time" but that she's not allowed to. Mind you, most of the stories I read to her are cheery books with unicorns, talking animals and more than a dash of the color pink. She's also a child who has hid some of my books before because the cover was "too scary and I wanted to make
sure it didn't bother anyone." I honestly figured anything remotely scary would not go over well… then I remembered a book I enjoyed as a kid. The stories weren't particularly scary and the illustrations looked very similar to Halloween decorations I remember from my childhood. I went online, ordered it and figured it would be fun to read. This is what I remembered: This is what we got: So yeah, the illustrations were revised in recent years and instead of making them less scary (like that horrible revision of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark which I will not allow in my house because if anyone is reading it they will be as traumatized as I was a kid damn it all) it was made significantly creepier. While I personally love the artwork, I would call it significantly scarier. I read through the stories and was delighted to remember them, but the accompanying illustrations, were certainly a bit more than I thought my daughter could take based on her personality and decided perhaps it was better if I hid it for a bit. … So, story time hits that night and my daughter tells me "I want the story about the girl whose head falls off." I look at her blankly, wondering what the hell she's talking about and if she's somehow figured out the iPad's code and has been pulling up things on Youtube that she really shouldn't when she runs over to my bookcase and pulls this out. Apparently she had seen me put it away earlier in the day, pulled it out, looked through all the pictures, and returned it to the bookcase. Well, bravo child, my hands are tied, time for some scary stories. Overall she enjoyed the book and I was pleasantly surprised to not be woken up with screams about ghost pirates or anything throughout the night. While it worked out well for me and my daughter, I highly advise parents to look through this one prior to buying… that said, who knows? Maybe the child is braver than you think. 4/5 stars. Side note: after reading through it and losing the nostalgia filter, I do think the illustrations in this version make for a better book. ...more
I don't usually add my son's books to my reading log while reading them to him, but this was so nostalgic and fun that I had to. I didn't realize until a few
days ago that the Alvin Schwartz scary story collections were recently re-made in the "I Can Read" books for today's kids, and that's super exciting to me because there isn't nearly enough children's horror in the book world these days and it would be nice to see these take off and inspire more modern authors to write more horror for kids! I don't usually add my son's books to my reading log while reading them to him, but this was so nostalgic and
fun that I had to. I didn't realize until a few days ago that the Alvin Schwartz scary story collections were recently re-made in the "I Can Read" books for today's kids, and that's super exciting to me because there isn't nearly enough children's horror in the book world these days and it would be nice to see these take off and inspire more modern authors to write more horror for kids! In the meantime, my son (who is 6) really liked these and I had fun re-visiting such familiar stories I grew
up on. ♥ ———
Oct 13, 2012 Jen rated it it was amazing This book is hands down one of my favorite children's books. My kindergarten teacher read this to us Halloween (1989) and I fell in love with it. The story of the little girl named Jenny with the ribbon around her neck really stuck with me. In middle school and high school
I started asking people if they ever read a book with that story in it, or heard of it. No one did. As an adult I was determined to find it but I didn't remember what it looked like. Every Halloween season I would look in book This book is hands down one of my favorite children's books. My kindergarten teacher read this to us Halloween (1989) and I fell in love with it. The story of the little girl named Jenny with the ribbon around her neck really
stuck with me. In middle school and high school I started asking people if they ever read a book with that story in it, or heard of it. No one did. As an adult I was determined to find it but I didn't remember what it looked like. Every Halloween season I would look in bookstores and ask booksellers if they ever heard that story. I was beginning to think that I made it up. I started working at Borders Books & Music (R.I.P.) fall of 2005 and started working in the children's section doing
inventory and merchandising. This book was on a cart that I was re-shelving in the I Can Read Book spinners and I happened to flip through it. Oh my god I was so excited. I bought it that day and then I had the author and the title and was able to order some in hard cover. Now when I wander through Barnes and Noble I sometimes see the hardcover in the bargain books section during Halloween time. I make sure to pick up a copy and I give them to my nieces and children of my friends. I just
bought a new one to use when I work with young children so I can keep my copy nice.
I bought this last year so I could read it out loud to my son when he got a little older. I borrowed it from the library a couple times when I was a wee one. Today seemed like a good time to read it to him
since it's gloomy out and he's home sick. Anyway, my son was too busy jumping around so I read it to myself. This book contains seven ghost stories told in a style suitable for young readers. I was in first grade when I read it so that gives you an idea of the reading level. The Green Ribbon is Anyway, my son was too busy jumping around so I read it to myself. This book contains seven ghost stories told in a style suitable for young readers. I was in first grade when I read it so that gives you an idea of the reading level. The Green Ribbon is still my favorite almost forty years after I first read it. Her head falls off when the green ribbon is removed. Who doesn't love
that? The Night it Rained is another favorite. "But our son has been dead for over a year," etc. Dirk Zimmer's art is creepy but not super creepy. I'm glad this edition still uses the art from the 1984 edition. Four out of five stars. I'll be glad to read it to my son when he's not too busy bouncing around the living room.
Alvin Schwartz is one of the best tellers of scary stories for kids, and in this book he has adapted that ability for a younger audience than ever: the early reader. The best thing about Alvin Schwartz's scary stories is
that the best ones really do make chills run up and down one's spine, and cause a bit of paranoid fear about what could be lurking around the corner in one's own house. The stories that comprise In a Dark, Dark Room are very short, but effective. Kids won't soon forget the eerie The best thing about Alvin Schwartz's scary stories is that the best ones really do make chills run up and down one's spine, and cause a bit of paranoid fear about what could be lurking around the corner in one's own house. The stories that comprise In a Dark, Dark Room are very short, but effective. Kids won't soon forget the eerie endings, solidly embedded in the American tradition of horror and folklore storytelling. To me, the best story of In a Dark, Dark
Room is about the girl who always wears a green ribbon tied around her neck for no obvious reason. She resists telling a boy she knows (and ends up marrying) the purpose of the ribbon until her dying day, and then... I like this book. It's a brief read, but completely worth it. I rate In a Dark, Dark Room two and a half stars, and am tempted to round to three. Alvin Schwartz's most famous illustrating partner is the incredible Stephen Gammell, but Dirk Zimmer pairs wonderfully
with him as well.
Folklorist and children's author Alvin Schwartz presents seven spooky selections in this early-reader collection. From the opening tale about The Teeth, in which a boy runs from a series of men, each with teeth
longer than the last, to the closing children's song about The Ghost of John, the contents here is sure to give young beginning readers the shivers. In the Graveyard sees a fat woman speaking to three thin corpses in a graveyard, while The Green Ribbon follows the tale of a young girl who Folklorist and children's author Alvin Schwartz presents seven spooky selections in this early-reader collection. From the opening tale about
The Teeth, in which a boy runs from a series of men, each with teeth longer than the last, to the closing children's song about The Ghost of John, the contents here is sure to give young beginning readers the shivers. In the Graveyard sees a fat woman speaking to three thin corpses in a graveyard, while The Green Ribbon follows the tale of a young girl who always wears a ribbon of green around her neck. The titular In a Dark, Dark Room uses repetition to build
suspense, and scare the reader, while The Night it Rained and The Pirate both chronicle a ghostly encounter. Although I have vivid memories of reading Schwartz's
Mar 12, 2011 Susan rated it liked it Oh, the memories! I remember my first grade teacher reading this book to me. VERY VERY scary. There were some scary stories which I somehow forgotten over my childhood/teenhood, but the one story I ALWAYS
remembered and would randomly replay in my head is the story of THE GREEN RIBBON. THE GREEN RIBBON............so it's about this girl named Jenny who always wore a green scarf/ribbon around her neck. Jenny marries a boy and the boy always asks Jenny why she has the scarf on. Jenny simply just sa THE GREEN RIBBON............so it's about this girl named Jenny who always wore a green scarf/ribbon around her neck. Jenny marries a boy and the boy always asks Jenny why she has the scarf on. Jenny simply just says she'll tell him someday. So one day, **SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT ALERT ALERT** when Jenny is dying and at her deathbed, Jenny
tells the boy to undo the ribbon around her neck. When the boy does, Jenny's head falls off. Regardless, this book has amazing suspense, mystery, and horror.
This is one of my favorite books of all time and one of the first books I ever read. The illustrations are spectacular and very creepy, and the stories are wonderfully told twists on classics. Perfect for kids and new readers, as well as anyone who wants a gentle but spooky read.
Oct 30, 2019 Tova rated it it was amazing I read this years ago, and The Green Ribbon was something.
This is a short
collection of very short stories aimed at beginning readers. Though most are based on older folktales, I felt the stories were kind of watered down, to the point that they'll probably only be entertaining to the age group they're aimed at. Kids might get a sense of accomplishment from reading these little morsels of fright, but older readers are likely to be left unsatisfied. That said, the illustrations are great. The edition I read features new illustrations from 2017, which bre That said, the illustrations are great. The edition I read
features new illustrations from 2017, which breathe some new life into this 1984 collection. Here are my thoughts on the individual stories: "The Teeth" - Creepy more than scary--and without much of a plot--this is basically just the story of a boy who encounters a series of men with progressively larger teeth. The fright factor is highly dependent on the illustrations. "In the Graveyard" - I can't quite tell if this one features fat-shaming or not (but if
I'm questioning it, it could probably be construed that way). An overweight woman sitting in a graveyard meets some corpses. She asks them if she will be like them when she is dead. They say yes. The illustrations show a vision of her future self as a skinny corpse that looks awfully happy. Make of that what you will. "The Green Ribbon" - I think I've seen a version of this story somewhere before. It's probably the most comical and macabre of the bunch. It concerns a young
girl named Jenny who wears a green ribbon around her neck. She won't tell anyone what it's for until the day she's on her deathbed... when everyone finds out in a startling way. (The illustrations make the girl look disconcertingly like Anne Shirley... so the finale becomes even more disturbing!) "In a Dark, Dark Room" - The title of this story is probably the spookiest part of it. It relies on word repetition to build up suspense. Unfortunately, the payoff is kind of...
meh. This is another story in this collection that relies heavily on the illustrations; the ending is next to worthless without them. "The Night it Rained" - If you're over the age of ten, you'll probably have encountered a variation on this story. A man sees a little boy standing next to a cemetery. It's raining, so he offers the kid a lift and the use of his sweater, with a promise to return the next day to pick up said garment. For kids who haven't read something like this
or seen the twist, it will probably be more engaging. "The Pirate" - Here's yet another story that looks like it stars Anne Shirley (this time with bosom friend, Diana Barry). "The Ghost of John" - This is apparently a poem written by an 8-year-old girl (who would now be 48, according to the note at the end). It's surprisingly good, considering the age of the poet; I've read rhyming poems by adults that are a lot worse. I might recommend this to young children who are starting to read on their own. The actual writing is pretty decent, and the illustrations are
deliciously creepy (while still maintaining a sense of humour). For older readers who want a story collection that's actually satisfying on a plot level, though, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.
4.5 stars Now,
I have been introduced to Alvin Schwartz’s works before through his famous and controversial “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” series and after I found out that Alvin Schwartz had written another pair of horror stories for children called “In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories,” of course I had to give this series a whirl! This is a collection of horror stories for children and there is a total of seven stories being told in this book. The stories featured in this colle 4.5 stars Now, I have been introduced to Alvin Schwartz’s works before through his famous and controversial “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” series and after I found out that Alvin Schwartz had written another pair of horror stories for children called “In a Dark, Dark Room and Other
Scary Stories,” of course I had to give this series a whirl! This is a collection of horror stories for children and there is a total of seven stories being told in this book. The stories featured in this collection are: 1. The Teeth Wow! Alvin Schwartz really knows how to create stories that are both scary and tame for any
child and all of these horror stories contain a mixture of humor and horror that made me both smile and cringe at the same time. I loved the fact that Alvin Schwartz did some research on these stories and allows the readers to understand where these stories came from as he mentions it in the “Where the Stories Come From” section at the end of the book as I wanted to know where these stories came from. I also enjoyed many of the stories in this book with my favorites being “The Green Ribbon” and
“In a Dark, Dark Room” as I believe that those are the creepiest stories in this collection, especially “The Green Ribbon!” Dirk Zimmer’s artwork conveys both horror and comedy in this book as the characters have exaggerated features which includes some of the characters have large noses and wide eyes and I also loved the way that the characters look so pale and frightened in most of the images as it shows what kind of horrors the readers will be introduced to when they start reading this
book! The reason why I took off a half point from the star rating was because I felt that there were too many abrupt endings in each story and I wanted to see some closure in these stories, although given the short length of this book, that was to be expected. Also, even though I have enjoyed Alvin Schwartz’s work on “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark,” I felt that this collection of horror stories was not as scary as “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.” Maybe it is because the artwork was not as scary as Stephen Gammell’s artwork in “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” and that took away the creepiness of the stories, although stories like “The Green Ribbon” still remained creepy no matter how the illustrations looked like. Overall, “In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories” is a great collection of horror stories that children will gladly enjoy during Halloween time! I would recommend this book to children ages six and up since there are some scary stories in this book that might creep out younger readers. Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Nov 03, 2021 Jodi rated it it was amazing Saw someone dressed as Jenny from "The Green Ribbon" for Halloween and viscerally recalled the fear of reading this book as a kid. It spooked me then and I love how fun and creepy it is now! I love the genre of horror within readers for kids who want something scary but aren't ready for Goosebumps yet. Nightmarish AND developmentally appropriate! Saw someone dressed as Jenny from "The Green Ribbon" for Halloween and viscerally recalled the fear of reading this book as a kid. It spooked me then and I love how fun and creepy it is now! I love the genre of horror within readers for kids who want something scary but aren't ready for Goosebumps yet. Nightmarish AND developmentally appropriate! ...more
It's been in print for almost 40 years and there's a reason. If you have a young child that thinks they are ready for a ghost story, give this one to them or read it together with them. It's been in print for almost 40 years and there's a reason. If you have a young child that thinks they are ready for a ghost story, give this one to them or read it together with them. ...more
Mar 12, 2009 Nicole rated it it was amazing From the author of middle school favorite and frequently challenged
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Alvin Schwartz’ In A Dark, Dark Room is a collection of seven stories written with a younger elementary school audience in mind. The Foreword sets the stage in describing why scary stories are liked and sets up the premise for the book “when there is no real danger, feeling scared is fun.” And it is fun. The Zimmer’s illustrations incorporate the important spooky elements of the stories to demon The Zimmer’s illustrations incorporate the important spooky elements of the stories to demonstrate
the plot, but are also quite funny. The people have exaggerated features and the scare-factor is more of a surprise twist that can lead to a smile. Repetition of text is used, and text is spaced for anticipation and buildup to find out what happens next when the page is turned. An ALA Notable Children’s Book as well as winner of several state recognition awards, In A Dark, Dark Room incorporates both traditional folklore as well as song in these stories. “Where The Stories Come From” at
the end of the book describes the basis for the adaptation and retelling of the stories and song included in this collection for children. This is definitely a book beginning readers will pick up, enjoy, and remember.
Oct 30, 2013 James rated it it was amazing Obviously for young kids. I remember reading this back in the '80s, and picking it up and taking the few minutes to read all of the stories and take in the artwork was a lot of fun. Just spooky enough for toddlers and elementary school kids before they dare enter the creepy world of the original "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" books, and just fun enough for adults looking for a quick shot of nostalgia during the Halloween season! Obviously for young kids. I remember reading this back in the '80s, and picking it up and taking the few minutes to read all of the stories and take in the artwork was a lot of fun. Just spooky enough for toddlers and elementary school kids before they dare enter the creepy world of the original "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" books, and just fun enough for adults looking for a quick shot of nostalgia during the Halloween season! ...more
I will always remember The Green Ribbon.
Jun 29, 2019 Cam rated it really liked it These are level 2 reason with help short scary stories. Very cute but they are to short and the stories feel open ended.
3.776659 stars Well, that was a fun little read. I came across this on bibliobeth’s
blog review. As it is coming up to Halloween I like to sit in the garden with my nieces and do a bit of a Halloween/Samhain campfire where we roast marshmallows and tell scary stories. HEATHENS! You can be sure that this book will be making an appearance on that night! Although these stories are very much intended for use with children, it did make me laugh that they reminded me of many of the short 'horror' storie 3.776659 starsWell, that was a fun little read. I came across this on bibliobeth’s blog review. As it is coming up to Halloween I like to sit in the garden with my nieces and do a bit of a Halloween/Samhain campfire where we roast marshmallows and tell scary stories. HEATHENS! You can be sure that this book will be making an appearance on that night! Although these stories are very much intended for use with children, it did make me laugh that they reminded me of many of the short 'horror' stories that one may find on the reddit dot com. You know, the ones where the twist at the end is always 'and it turns out they were dead all along!' Anyway, I'm off to tie a green ribbon round my neck. Peace and Love. ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here. I was scared. This book scared me. I read it more than ten years ago.. I was scared.. creeped out, horrified and fascinated. This was one of my earliest horror stories I read as a kid. There was one
story that thinking about gave me scared the willies out of me and that was the story of the girl with a ribbon around her neck... *shivers* Still scares me today.. 'Everyone asked her what the ribbon was for but she never told them. Time went by and she go herself a boyfriend who became her husband. There was one story that thinking about gave me scared the willies out of me and that was the story of the girl with a ribbon around her neck... *shivers* Still scares me today.. 'Everyone asked her what the ribbon was for but she never told them. Time went by and she go herself a boyfriend who became her husband. He asked her what the ribbon was for but she never told him; just kept telling him, "not yet". Finally, as they(or just her?) lay dying in
bed, I believe, she said, "now, now untie the ribbon." He does and her head falls off. I don't remember the teeth story but thinking about it gave me a small shudder.. I think my subconcous was scared of it when I was younger too..
Mar 09, 2010 Josiah rated it it was ok Alvin Schwartz is one of the best tellers of scary stories for kids, and in this
book he has adapted that ability for a younger audience than ever: the early reader. The best thing about Alvin Schwartz's scary stories is that the best ones really do make chills run up and down one's spine, and cause a bit of paranoid fear about what could be lurking around the corner in one's own house. The stories that comprise In a Dark, Dark Room are very short but effective. Kids won't soon forget the eerie The best thing about Alvin Schwartz's scary stories is that the best ones really do make chills run up and down one's spine, and cause a bit of paranoid fear about what could be lurking around the corner in one's own house. The stories that comprise In a Dark, Dark Room are very short but effective. Kids won't soon forget the eerie endings,
solidly embedded in the American tradition of horror and folklore storytelling. To me, the best story of In a Dark, Dark Room is about the girl who always wears a green ribbon tied around her neck for no obvious reason. She resists telling a boy she knows (and ends up marrying) the purpose of the ribbon until her dying day, and then... I like this book. It's a brief read, but completely worth it. I rate In a Dark, Dark Room two and a half stars, and am tempted to
round to three. Alvin Schwartz's most famous illustrating partner is the incredible Stephen Gammell, but Dirk Zimmer pairs wonderfully with him as well.
New illustrations by Victor Rivas reinvigorate this classic easy reader with cartoonish, creepy kids, ghosts and ghouls. Schwartz begins his book writing, "Most of us like scary stories because we like feeling scared. When there is no real danger, feeling scared is fun." He uses repetition, suspense and sudden revelations to great effect. Rivas' illustrations amp up the fright with creepy cartoon characters in the style of Tim Burton and Edward Gorey. New illustrations by Victor Rivas reinvigorate this classic easy reader with cartoonish, creepy kids, ghosts and ghouls. Schwartz begins his book writing, "Most of us like scary stories because we like feeling scared. When there is no real danger, feeling scared is fun." He uses repetition, suspense and sudden revelations to great effect. Rivas' illustrations amp up the fright with creepy cartoon characters in the style of Tim Burton and Edward Gorey. ...more
Oct 31, 2019 Di rated it it was amazing I had such nostalgic feelings reading this for what feels like the millionth time. The Green Ribbon was always my favorite story in this book, but I am surprised I remembered so many of the stories after all this time! It has been a couple decades since I read this last, and I'm happy to say that it remains a favorite to this day. I had such nostalgic feelings reading this for what feels like the millionth time. The Green Ribbon was always my favorite story in this book, but I am surprised I remembered so many of the stories after all this time! It has been a couple decades since I read this last, and I'm happy to say that it remains a favorite to this day. ...more
I wished I had read this as a kid because then I would have definitely enjoyed it more. The only story I truly liked was Jenny and her Green Ribbon, though who doesn't? What a classic. And not forgetting the cool illustrations in the book. I wished I had read this as a kid because then I would have definitely enjoyed it more. The only story I truly liked was Jenny and her Green Ribbon, though who doesn't? What a classic. And not forgetting the cool illustrations in the book. ...more
Oct 23, 2016 Elaine rated it liked it The first few stories aren't at all spooky, but the stories become progressively scarier as you read further in. The first few stories aren't at all spooky, but the stories become progressively scarier as you read further in. ...more
That story about Jenny's green ribbon still haunts me That story about Jenny's green ribbon still haunts me ...more
Jun 26, 2022 Lindsey rated it it was amazing A gift from Sally, contains the story that haunted my childhood, about the girl with a ribbon around her neck.
Nov 20, 2022 sissy rated it it was amazing the green ribbon charged me in a subatomic way Alvin Schwartz was the author of more than fifty books dedicated to and dealing with topics such as folklore and word play, many of which were intended for young readers. He is often confused with another Alvin Schwartz, who wrote Superman and Batman daily comics strips and a novel titled The Blowtop. Related ArticlesAuthor Alice Hoffman has written dozens of novels, including the Practical Magic series, The Dovekeepers, The Marriage of Opposites,... Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. What stories do they tell in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark?The stories in this book include:. jump stories (stories that end with a jump scare). ghost stories, including a retelling of The Suffolk Miracle.. folk music, including The Hearse Song.. a story involving voodoo death.. a witch story.. a story of a man who shapeshifts into an alligator.. a couple of stories of omens of death.. How many pages does in a dark dark room have?In a Dark, Dark Room is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.
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Product information.. What is the story about the girl with the green ribbon?In it, we get a love story between Jenny and Alfred. Jenny always wears a green ribbon around her neck, and every time Alfred inquires about it, she tells him that she will let him know when the day is right. The couple eventually marries and Alfred never once sees Jenny without the ribbon around her neck.
Which monsters are in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark?The Monsters in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Ranked by How Scary They Actually Are. The Ghost of Sarah Bellows. The story it's based on: "Haunted House" ... . The Blind Ghost. The story it's based on: "Haunted House" ... . Harold. The story it's based on: "Harold" ... . The Spiders. ... . The Rotting Corpse. ... . The Jangly Man. ... . The Pale Lady.. |
What stories are in a dark dark room?
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