Beginning readers looking for scary stories, look no further. This mix of tales includes spooky encounters, cemeteries, ghosts, and scary homes. Retold by Alvin Schwartz from folklore, these tales are genuinely creepy and a bit funny at the same time. (Reading Level: 2.3)

Similar books: Ghosts!: Ghostly Tales From Folklore retold by Alvin Schwartz

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 7/27/2011

ISBN-10: 006025274X

ISBN-13: 9780060252748

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Seikei, the son of a tea merchant, wants more than anything to become a samurai in 18th century Japan. Unfortunately, because he was not born into a samurai family, by law he cannot become one of those honored warriors. However, Judge Ooka, one of the most revered judges and samurai in 18th century Japan, has adopted him. Where Samurai Lord Inaba, is murdered in his sleep by a Ninja, Judge Ooka, and his apprentice, Seikei, are called on to solve the murder. Judge Ooka sends Seikei on a journey to Lord Inaba's province, along with a Ninja named Tatsuno, to discover who Lord Inaba's enemies may be, and who would have hired a Ninja to kill him. They learn many startling facts about the old Lord Inaba, and his son, the new Lord Inaba. Seikei even ends up in the Inaba castle dungeon and must be rescued by Tatsuno. Their search ends up on the sacred Ninja mountain where Seikei faces the Ninja murderer. Will Seikei overcome the Ninja's powers, defeat him, and learn the identity of who hired the Ninja to kill Lord Inaba? This is the third book in a series of stories starring Seikei and Judge Ooka. The other books are The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn, The Demon in the Teahouse, The Sword That Cut the Burning Grass, A Samurai Never Fears Death, and Seven Paths to Death.

Similar books: Blue Fingers-a Ninja's Tale by Cheryl Whitesel; Samurai Spirit: Ancient Wisdom for Modern life by Burt Konzak; Sword of the Samurai: Adventure Stories from Japan by Eric Kimmel

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/29/2009

ISBN-10: 0399237674

ISBN-13: 9780399237676

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A mother must be away from her son for the day. She tells him that no matter where she goes, he is in her heart. 'When I'm standing with other people waiting for the bus, and when I'm sitting by myself reading the paper, and when I take off my coat and begin doing my work, you're in my heart. Plenty of room for you here!' The tale takes us through her whole day (with her activities as well as her son's activities) until the two finally reunite at the end of the day. The book closes with the son sleeping peacefully in bed, with all his family members inside his own heart.

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 7/20/2010

ISBN-10: 0316796174

ISBN-13: 9780316796170

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What's in Ned's head? Eleven-year-old Ned uses his diary to record his wild thoughts about school, romance, and the rest of his crazy life. It's his secret. He can't help it. He can't stop writing. To protect his reputation, he writes under the code name, Treb Vladinsky, just in case anyone were to ever find his diary.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/29/2009

ISBN-10: 0689838700

ISBN-13: 9780689838705

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The Andrew Lost series follows Andrew, his cousin Judy, his inventor uncle, and his robot named Thudd, and chronicles the adventures they have when inventions go awry. In this entry, Andrew, Judy, and Thudd must save Uncle Al when he is kidnapped and taken back in time by the evil Doctor Kron-Tox. When they enter the Time-A-Tron, however, the time machine malfunctions, and they are in terrible danger as they race backwards through time. This action-packed read includes suggestions for further reading for fans who want to know more about space, time, and the history of the universe.

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 9/30/2010

ISBN-10: 0375829490

ISBN-13: 9780375829499

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