It’s difficult to find a good scary story collection for children these days. While there are several good ones, I often defer to the classics when recommending this particular genre of book. I’m pleased to say that Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark stands the test of dated material and still offers fun and interesting scares for younger readers.

The effectiveness of the Scary Stories series is undoubtedly linked to the fact that Schwartz imbues his tales with wit while he draws heavily from American and cultural folklore. Leaving no urban legend unturned, Schwartz skillfully writes each story in an “in-your-face,” no-nonsense way that is actually endearing and entertaining. Oh yes, there are death, violence, and other hellish implications, but despite the gruesome material, it’s all about the children.

In rereading the collection, we cannot overlook the original artwork by Stephen Gammell, which is more disturbing in many instances than the yarn itself. Gammell has captured the darkness of our childhood imaginations as he twists the most innocent of pictures into haunting portraits that seem to capture each Schwartz story with uncanny accuracy.

The popularity of the books today, almost thirty years after their original publication, is evidenced by such reviews found on mega sites like Amazon.com. Bottom line: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is a book for the ages, and a fun and intelligent read for those younger than the dead.