TalesFrightenDelight.jpg
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Age Range
8 - 11
Genre
folktale
Copyright Year
2009-05-16
Page Count
80
Publisher
August House Kids
Grade Level
3rd - 6th
ISBN
9780874839166
Themes
scary stories
imagination 
storytelling

Tales to Frighten and Delight

Written by Pleasant DeSpain

Scary stories have always been a favorite with kids. It makes sense—listening to spooky tales wakes up our imaginations, adds excitement to everyday life, and lets us practice being brave while knowing we’re completely safe.

In these nine stories, skeletons leap and twirl, cats hold conversations, and a greedy troll gets outsmarted by a clever innkeeper. The tales come from many places around the world, including Japan (“The Dancing Skeleton”), Uruguay (“The Hungry Witch”), the Sioux Nation (“The Ghost Wife”), and the Congo (“The Talking Skull”).

Support Materials

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Age Range
8 - 11
Genre
folktale
Copyright Year
2009-05-16
Page Count
80
Publisher
August House Kids
Grade Level
3rd - 6th
ISBN
9780874839166
Themes
scary stories
imagination 
storytelling
Additional Book Resources
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Inviting the Wolf In: Thinking About Difficult Stories (Story Cove)

Written by Loren Niemi & Elizabeth Ellis
Some stories are hard to tell because they talk about things that are sad, scary, or confusing. These kinds of stories can be tough for the person telling them and for the person listening. But when they’re shared with kindness and care, they can help people understand each other and even feel braver.
5th - 10th
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Peace Tales: World Folktales to Talk About

Written by Margaret Read MacDonald
Maybe it’s a king who spills a drop of honey and refuses to clean it up—until that tiny mess grows into a giant problem. Maybe it’s some sandpipers and whales who start a silly argument that nearly destroys the place they all call home. Or maybe it’s a man who thinks a weapon will make him powerful, or a troop of monkeys who follow their leader into water that’s far too deep.
K - 4th
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Mexican-American Folklore: Legends, Songs, Festivals, Proverbs, Crafts, Tales of Saints, of Revolutionaries, and More (American Folklore Series)

Written by John O. West
This collection opens a window into the vibrant world of Mexican‑American traditions. Inside, readers will find lively proverbs, riddles, folktales, and songs; stories about heroes like Pancho Villa and spooky urban legends; and a look at everyday customs—from family shrines and farming rituals to charreadas, the exciting Mexican‑style rodeos. There are also children’s games, home remedies, favorite foods, crafts, clothing, and so much more.
5th - 10th
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Tales of Heroes

Written by Pleasant DeSpain
What does it really take to be a hero? Do you need giant muscles, towering height, or endless power? Not at all. Sometimes being a hero starts with quick thinking, a brave heart, or the simple choice to help someone else. When we read about the bold characters in these stories, we can feel our own inner hero waking up, reminding us that we all have the power to do good.
3rd - 6th
TalesofCats2.jpg

Tales of Cats

Written by Pleasant DeSpain and Illustrated by Don Bell
This book is perfect for anyone who adores cats. All around the world, people see cats as special—sometimes magical, sometimes mysterious, always full of personality. The nine stories in this collection show cats at their very best. Some are sweet, some are sneaky, some are brave or stubborn, but every single one is clever.
3rd - 5th
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Spiders in the Hairdo: Modern Urban Legends

Written by David Holt & Bill Mooney
Have you ever heard the silly story about the woman whose beehive hairdo was sprayed so stiff that tiny creatures decided it would make a perfect home? Everyone seems to know someone who knows someone it happened to—though the details always get a little mixed up. That’s the magic of urban legends. They’re modern folktales, passed along as “totally true,” even though they always happened to a “friend of a friend.”
6th - 9th
How Tiger Got His Stripes

How Tiger Got His Stripes

Written by Rob Cleveland and Illustrated by Baird Hoffmire
Once the proudest animal in the jungle, Tiger becomes jealous of Man’s wisdom and demands it for himself, only to be outsmarted in a humorous battle of wits.
Pre-K - 3rd
Growing Gold

Growing Gold

Written by Padma Venkatraman and Illustrated by Tom Wrenn
Growing Gold is an engaging Indian folktale by Padma Venkatraman that follows a clever mother's plan to motivate her three lazy sons.
Pre-K - 3rd
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Preacher Joke Book: Religious Anecdotes from the Oral Tradition

Written by Loyal Jones
This cheerful collection of church humor doesn’t make fun of faith—it simply reminds us that even the people who lead us can be wonderfully human. These stories and jokes are gentle enough to share with your pastor and clean enough to tell right in church, but they still carry an important message: good leaders serve others with kindness and humility.
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PreacherJokeBookAH.jpg

Preacher Joke Book: Religious Anecdotes from the Oral Tradition

Written by Loyal Jones
This cheerful collection of church humor doesn’t make fun of faith—it simply reminds us that even the people who lead us can be wonderfully human. These stories and jokes are gentle enough to share with your pastor and clean enough to tell right in church, but they still carry an important message: good leaders serve others with kindness and humility.
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Tuck Me In Tales

Tuck-Me-In Tales

Written by Margaret Read MacDonald and Illustrated by Yvonne Lebrun Davis
Tuck-Me-In Tales is a charming collection of five bedtime stories from around the world, perfect for helping young children wind down.
Pre-K - 2nd
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Tales of Insects

Written by Pleasant DeSpain and Illustrated by Don Bell
Insects have been part of our world since the very beginning. Sometimes they buzz in our ears or give us itchy bites, and sometimes they amaze us with their bright colors, clever tricks, and tiny superpowers. People everywhere have watched insects closely enough to imagine what their lives might be like, giving them stories, personalities, and even heroic moments.
3rd - 6th