Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: The Classic Anthology of Chilling Folklore and Ghost Stories for Children (Ages 8-12)

This is the one to buy. Stephen Gammell talent for illustrating the scariest pictures you will ever seen is unsurpassable, especially by someone as uncreative as Brett Helquist. Helquist is a great artist, but he lacks the artistic impulse of Gammell and he certainly has less of a grasp of the psychology or what it means, or takes, to scare someone. Helquist has a tendency to depict 'scenes' that are happening on the page, whilst Gammell, almost always places you, the reader, as the would-be victim. The unwilling focus of a strangled-to-death girl, of shadowy figures in the mist. Helquist also likes to be overt, and interpret to a frustrating extent. The amount of detail in his illustrations strips them of their affect. Gammell has an almost minimalist approach, forcing you to enter the darkest and most demented recesses of your own mind to fill in the gaps, to finish the story. You never feel in danger looking at Helquist's drawings, ever.Don't buy the re-release of the book, buy this one, the original.

I bought this collection of scary folk tales for kids because of the illustrations. The tales were a bit 'meh', even when I tried to stick my ten year old's head on (super glue is best). There was actually one - The Viper - I remember being told when I was younger. They are not terribly scary though.The illustrations were excellent, I love Stephen Gammell's style, very creepy.I recommend for a jaunt down memory lane as an adult or a bit of fun for a kid.

Not as terrible as everyone says but still doesnt come close as the original books. I only bought this book just to see if the new artwork really is that bad. Good news is that the new artwork is unique and effective sometimes. However, it doesnt nearly have enough impact as the previous drawings did. By removing the old drawings the books feel incomplete and less scary. Overall I would only recommend this to someone if they can find it for dirt cheap like I did.

Good series of very short scary bedtime stories . Not much more you can say............

I grew up with these books; they're probably what made me decide I was never doing horror ever again lol. But hubby, who loves scaring himself, hadn't. He's looking forward to the movie. :)

More scary stories. Great read. Grandson enjoyed retelling them to us!

Fantastic book, my little sister (with an interest in spooky happenings) cannot set the book down! Every time I read it to her I always get a jump, it's a spooky but completely child-appropriate book with very good illustrations.

Very good nice short and sweet spooky stories, fun to read aloud to friends to scare them. Good art work too.