Happy Halloween everyone! Are you up for a few ghost stories?
I thought it would be fun to tell you a few spooky stories. I chose stories that either scared or fascinated me when I was a child. Just press play on the video below to travel back down memory lane! Story time lasts about 15 minutes.
You won't see anything in this video, but I posted a virtual campfire you can watch while listening to me tell a few tales:
Did you remember a few of these spooky stories or urban legends? They really stuck with me! Credit goes to Alvin Schwartz, the author of the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series. I chose to read the versions of "The Hook" and "The Golden Hand" that were retold by S. E. Schlosser. There are so many variations on "The Golden Hand", but I preferred the one that's closest to how I heard it when I was young. The man in the story has to be wicked and the ghost has to exact her revenge, otherwise it's just boring!
If you're around my age or older, you'll be familiar with the original illustrations that accompanied some of these stories. They were drawn by Stephen Gammell. The books have been redone with new less threatening illustrations. I find this strange, because I could handle those drawings as a kid! That one with the zit exploding with spiders traumatized me a bit, but only in the way where you enjoy being creeped out! Here are some of the original illustrations.
"The Hook" illustration with a nice bit of dripping blood, hair, and skin fragments:
"The Red Spot" illustration that really got to me! She's actually pretty icky looking even without stuff hatching out of her face.
Our little Vindow Viper, who is almost too cute for this book:
The Hearse and a bit of the music sheet that goes with "The Hearse Song":
I love all the shadows and drippiness in the artist's work.
Did I read any of your favorite old stories? Maybe you've heard them told differently. It's always interesting to hear the many different spins given to an urban legend or campfire tale. I always like hearing a new urban legend, so if you know any good ones, send them along!
I hope you all have a scary night in the best of ways!
I thought it would be fun to tell you a few spooky stories. I chose stories that either scared or fascinated me when I was a child. Just press play on the video below to travel back down memory lane! Story time lasts about 15 minutes.
You won't see anything in this video, but I posted a virtual campfire you can watch while listening to me tell a few tales:
If you're around my age or older, you'll be familiar with the original illustrations that accompanied some of these stories. They were drawn by Stephen Gammell. The books have been redone with new less threatening illustrations. I find this strange, because I could handle those drawings as a kid! That one with the zit exploding with spiders traumatized me a bit, but only in the way where you enjoy being creeped out! Here are some of the original illustrations.
"The Hook" illustration with a nice bit of dripping blood, hair, and skin fragments:
"The Red Spot" illustration that really got to me! She's actually pretty icky looking even without stuff hatching out of her face.
Our little Vindow Viper, who is almost too cute for this book:
The Hearse and a bit of the music sheet that goes with "The Hearse Song":
I love all the shadows and drippiness in the artist's work.
Did I read any of your favorite old stories? Maybe you've heard them told differently. It's always interesting to hear the many different spins given to an urban legend or campfire tale. I always like hearing a new urban legend, so if you know any good ones, send them along!
I hope you all have a scary night in the best of ways!
