I get asked often why I read books and stories that are technically children's literature. Why not? Some of the best classic books were written for kids: Heidi, Little Women, etc. My favorite kids books are often collections of horror, folklore and ghost stories. No spurting blood, cursing or naked people -- just fun, spooky tales. In my opinion, reading is a wonderful hobby....and personalized to each person. Read what you enjoy....and make no apologies for it. I love to read kids books!

There are several Short & Shivery collections of scary tales for kids. The stories are all middle grade appropriate. Each story is spooky...but not TOO scary. Kids will be happy....and Moms will be happy. No 2 a.m. visits from little ones saying "Mom, I'm scared. Can I sleep with you?'' The stories are entertaining, not nightmare inducing.

I decided to re-read these nifty little story collections while snowed in at home this week. The south shuts down when it snows. Nothing to do out there but shiver in the cold.....and southerners can't drive safely in snow. Best for me to stay home with hot tea and good books. I can shiver peacefully at home with creepy tales of vampires, demons, vengeful dead pirates and all things that go bump in the night!

Even More Short & Shivery gathers 30 creepy tales from around the world. I enjoyed them all! I highly recommend any of the books in the Short & Shivery series. They are all great!! And at just over 160 pages, this book is a quick read for adults and a manageable easy read for middle grade kids. ( )

Z really likes these folk tales. They've inspired him to write his own and he's been illustrating each one from this series in his sketchbooks. ( )

Even More Short & Shivery by Robert D. San Souci is about chilly stories though I didn't think they were scary. This is a book with 162 pages and many short stories in it.

One story is called A Carolina Banshee. This story took place in North Carolina. Years ago, a mill stood on the Banks of the Tar River this sight is haunted by a BANSHEE. On August nights, when mist floats above the river and the rain crow warns of rain, a banshee's ghastly moans and shrieks rise from the reedy riverbanks, through the oaks, to fill the sky. Her cries are a reminder of tragic events that echo down to during the Revolutionary War. So the BANSHEE lives in the river and in August nights she haunts people. She pops out of the river she described like this...a shape of a women with flowing hair and a veil over her face. Men who saw her paled in HORROR. They say the BANSHEE’S cries tormented their sleepless nights. ( )

San Souci groups together 30 tales that not only read well but also work as splendid choices for telling around a campfire, on a trip, in school, or at a sleepover. According to the reading notes, it is targeted at children from around 8 - 12. The book has a multicultural flavor, with tales originating in Iceland, Ireland, France, China, Nigeria, Martinique, and in different parts of the U.S. Most are folktales, but some selections have been adapted from the work of great writers such as Washington Irving, and one is a popular urban legend. A few of the stories actually may be more familiar in other versions. He provides good source notes, a boon for storytellers looking for variants of a particular story. ( )