Grab a flashlight, crawl under the covers, and dive into the twisted, unexpectedly hilarious world of Rowley Jefferson’s imagination.
Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories is the perfect book for young readers who like a bit of a spooky story without being ready for the actual scariness of Goosebumps books. Jeff Kinney begins the book with a warning: “BOO! Did that scare you? If it did maybe you should put this book down and pick up something else that’s a little less scary…”
This collection includes fourteen spooky stories ranging from tales about a boy’s first transformation into a werewolf; what happens when your best friend becomes a ghost; to the tale of what happens when a high-tech security scanner accidentally turns the people who use it into skeletons.
Rowley’s version of spooky stories left me laughing as the absurdity of each scenario unfurled. Each story is cheekily funny with a tiny bit of spookiness, and the illustrations are on point. Kinney uses as few lines as possible to create expressive and relatable characters in black and white. The language is kid friendly and written in the same style as his other books (Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid, and Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure). Each story comes with its own moral, but it’s not in your face and doesn’t detract from the hilarity.
I had the privilege of reviewing a special edition copy of this book which included an orange-foil detail cover (shiny!) and zombie theme stencils on the edges in black and orange. The stories within are the same as the original version.
Either version will be a perfect read for younger readers this Halloween.
Grab a flashlight, crawl under the covers, and dive into the twisted, unexpectedly hilarious world of Rowley Jefferson’s imagination.
