The Oxford Book of Scarytales

Hardcover | 1 October 1992

Sorry, we are not able to source the book you are looking for right now.

We did a search for other books with a similar title, however there were no matches. You can try selecting from a similar category, click on the author's name, or use the search box above to find your book.

There is a Great Swallowing Monster who eats up whole villages, tribes, herds of cows, even clumps of trees. Then there's the terrible Slitherydee who slips out of the sea (but doesn't catch me...yet). What about a Bush woman who transforms before our very eyes into a savage lion (or does she?--don't believe everything you hear or see), and Timmy, an imaginary friend, who knows games to play that will curl your toes and rattle your bones. They're all here--and more--in The Oxford Book of Scary Tales.
Children know that it's great fun to be scared (but not frightened), and Dennis Pepper has carefully collected classic and contemporary legends, folktales, and poems that are sure to do the trick. From the mysteriously chilling to the comically bizarre, a wide variety of cultures and traditions are represented, retold and illustrated in cheerfully gruesome detail by some of the finest artists and writers for children. These are great stories to read aloud or by yourself over and over again to savor the chills of suspense and shivers of delight.
Beautifully packaged and designed, this collection not only entertains but also testifies to the exceptional powers of literature to heighten our emotions and stir our hearts.

Industry Reviews

A potpourri of original and traditional ghosts, monsters, shadows, night terrors, and other unpleasant surprises from the likes of Ian Serrallier, Maria Leach, Adele Geras, and dozens more, with vibrantly dramatic pictures by a host of modern illustrators. Half of these stories and poems are previously unpublished; the rest are of relatively recent vintage. Verses from Dave Calder's cumulative "Key to the Castle" ("This is the rat with the yellow teeth/Sharp as sorrow and long as grief") start and finish the collection on a proper note. In between, readers can quail at "The Start of a Memorable Holiday" at the Hotel Hades (Roy Fuller); flee the "Great Swallowing Monster" (Geraldine McCaughrean); suffer a Christmas visit from Jan Mark's "No-Good Claus," who steads stockings; or experience being small and lost in a crowded "Supermarket" (Dennis Hamley). Eeriness and dead people are common here, but there's little pain or violence, while the illustrations are more suggestive than explicit. Despite the book's length, each story seems fresh, thanks partly to their varied art and typography. Especially hair-raising in small doses. (Kirkus Reviews)

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

Orders over $79.00 qualify for free shipping.

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.