Haunted Castle on Hallow's Eve
The intrepid Jack and Annie are summoned once again to the fantasy realm of Camelot. There, Merlin the Magician tells them that the Stone of Destiny has been stolen. The answer to its disappearance lies within a haunted castle. With a young magician named Teddy, Jack and Annie take on the challenge in an adventure that takes them to new heights and places they couldn't even imagine!
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Scary Stories Boxed Set
Narrator George S. Irving speaks, shouts, sings, and shrieks his way through Alvin Schwartz's classic collections of spooky folklore. Irving's performances have been around for years, but Harper has repackaged them for a new generation with striking holographic cover art. Schwartz's stories are meant to be told, and Irving knows how to get every last jump and shiver out of them. Whether he's singing "The Hearse Song," building to crescendo in cumulative tales like "Clinkity-Clink," or portraying a variety of accents, Irving is convincing. With such a performance, the musical effects sometimes seem unnecessary, but they don't detract from the production. |
The Widow's Broom
When Minna Shaw comes into possession of a witch's broom, it is as if good fortune itself has dropped from the sky. The broom sweeps on its own and does other chores; it can even pick out simple tunes on the piano. The widow's ignorant neighbors hate and torment the implement, though, fearing what they cannot understand; but in the end the widow and her broom triumph. This resonant tale, one of its gifted author/illustrator's most impressive efforts, effectively draws on mystery and whimsy alike--both human nature and the supernatural are powerful forces here. |
Where the Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are is one of those truly rare books that can be enjoyed equally by a child and a grown-up. If you disagree, then it's been too long since you've attended a wild rumpus. Max dons his wolf suit in pursuit of some mischief and gets sent to bed without supper. Fortuitously, a forest grows in his room, allowing his wild rampage to continue unimpaired. Sendak's color illustrations (perhaps his finest) are beautiful, and each turn of the page brings the discovery of a new wonder. |
Haunted House
Originally published more than 20 years ago, Jan Pienkowski's terrifically twisted Haunted House returns in a mini-edition. Creepy creatures and hidden surprises await readers bold enough to accept the invitation on the great green door of a cover: "Let yourself in." A snaggle-toothed monster with enormous tonsils presides over the kitchen; a King Kong-size gorilla dominates the living room. |