A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery: Thirty Creepy Tales
Short & Shivery Series
What’s inside...
Twenty blood-curdling illustrations complement thirty classic and contemporary spooky, very short stories from Australia, Germany, India, El Salvador, and especially America, retold and accompanied by source notes, in the Short & Shivery series' fourth collection. Reprint. Ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and long-legged beasties inhabit these 30 chilling tales gathered from around the world. Twenty hair-raising illustrations highlight creepy classic and contemporary stories from Australia, Germany, India, El Salvador, and more, including a healthy helping of American apparitions. Do you dare walk down the lane where 'Crooker Waits'? Or would you rather shake 'The Hairy Hands'? These vivid retellings will keep readers and listeners on the edge of their seats, while thorough source notes are a boon to students and teachers. A supernatural treat for spine-chilling fun!
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-10
Length
176 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Which story made you feel the most curious and why?
How did the characters in the stories handle their fear?
What lesson do you think each story was trying to teach?
If you could change the ending of any tale, which one would it be and what would you change?
How do you think the setting influences the mood of the stories?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the stories, and relate them to their own experiences when possible. Ask them to imagine alternative scenarios or endings to foster creativity. Use the tales as an opportunity to discuss the importance of facing fears and the concept of moral lessons. Emphasize understanding and empathy by discussing how different characters might feel in various situations.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Courage in the face of fear
Explanation: Throughout 'A Terrifying Taste of Short & Shivery,' characters often face spooky and eerie situations. Their responses to these challenges demonstrate bravery and resourcefulness.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to manage their own fears and demonstrate courage when encountering new or intimidating situations in their daily lives, whether it’s trying a new activity or facing school challenges.
Example Lesson: Consequences of actions
Explanation: Many tales in the book showcase scenarios where characters' decisions lead to various outcomes, teaching that choices have consequences.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand that their actions affect not only themselves but others around them, encouraging them to think before they act.
Example Lesson: Importance of empathy
Explanation: In some stories, characters show kindness and understanding towards others, even when they are different or misunderstood, highlighting empathy.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this by showing kindness and trying to understand people who are different from them, promoting inclusivity and compassion in their interactions.
Example Lesson: Value of curiosity and learning
Explanation: Characters often delve into mysteries and the unknown, which drives the narrative and shows the importance of seeking knowledge.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to be curious about the world around them and to seek knowledge, enhancing their educational growth and critical thinking skills.