I Want to Be in a Scary Story

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School, Brunswick, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 8, 2017

Review

Even better than Taylor's Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise, this interactive picture book centers around the construct of a little monster who wants to be part of the story. He thinks that he wants to be in a scary story, but when the usual scary-story tropes are introduced, he clarifies that he wants to DO the scaring, not BE scared; each page piles on a little more drama, building the suspense until the shout-out-loud ending. A great text to introduce elements of the horror genre, a fun Halloween-time read aloud that doesn't mention the holiday, or an entertaining monster-filled humorous story that allows audience interaction and guess work. The book also invites a lively monster voice from the reader. Sure to be a crowd pleaser; the exuberant purple monster with his arms up on a bright orange cover will call to young readers.

Overall Book Score: very good