The Big Book of Horror: 21 Tales to Make You Tremble

by Pedro Rodríguez, Alissa Heyman (Abridged by)

These chillingly illustrated tales deliver shivery pleasure for brave young readers willing to confront murderers, body snatchers, madmen, and other creatures of the night. What terror lurks on these pages, with their eerie, unsettling art, filled with dark shadows and distorted lines? In Guy de Maupassant’s “The Hand,” a hunter proudly displays a gruesome trophy from a manhunt…until the trophy decides to take revenge. The hero of Le Fanu’s “Sir Dominick’s Bargain” makes a deal with the devil: all goes well until the day the devil returns to claim his half of the bargain…
With stories by such classic writers as Poe, Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson and many others, it’s the perfect Halloween collection for fearless kids.

Genres: Horror

112 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2005

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the art work throughout this book!

[Joselyne Gómez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Las ilustraciones lo son todoooo🙌🏼

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

~Genre: Poetry
~Awards: None
~Audience: Grades 4-6
~Describe the type of poetry (lyric, narrative, form, free verse). Free verse narrative Each poem tells its own individual story with no particular structure.
~Discuss one way the author uses poetic elements (rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, onomatopoeia, figurative language, or sensory imagery). Figurative language mixed with visual sensory imagery is used throughout the various poems. The final poem describes the best example of this. It describes what happened when a man boastfully struck the wall behind which he had buried his wife whom he murdered, “When the cane hit the wall, it was answered by a voice from within the tomb! At first it sounded like the sobbing of a child, but it soon grew stronger, until it turned into a terrifying, inhuman, howl, a wail of horror and triumph. I staggered to the opposite wall, almost fainting. Fear rendered me helpless.” Though simply reading words on a page, readers can hear the sound that emitted from behind the wall and share in the feeling that it gave the man. The author begins with phrases and sounds that are familiar such as “the sobbing of a child”, then builds, making readers use their imaginations to interpret what “a wail of horror and triumph” must sound like. The author goes on to describe the man’s response. Though most people have never felt the guilt or fear that comes from having murdered someone and being found out, readers can watch the scene play out and empathize with the man, though they disagree with his choices.

[Eloi Nortes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any 2012. El meu primer any com a mestre en una escola pública. Tinc 25 anys. Soc co-tutor de 6è. Els alumnes no volen llegir. Estan farts de lectures obligatòries. Vaig a la biblioteca del poble i em recomanen aquest llibre. Me’l llegeixo sol a casa i em fascina. El següent dia vaig a l’escola decidit a convèncer i vèncer la idea preconcebuda dels alumnes que llegir és avorrit per culpa de les tedioses lectures obligatòries. Prohibit hauria d’estar que es diguin obligatòries! Jugar, respirar, divertir-se, somriure i riure… En definitiva, estimar! Com es pot obligar als nens a estimar la lectura quan el sol fet d’obligar, el fet d’obeir i executar, ja significa reprimir qualsevol estímul i gust per llegir?
En fi, només escoltar la primera història ja els va encantar. I és que encara que siguin adaptacions senzilles, els relats que en aquest llibre s’expliquen són tan potents que interpel·len a la persona que els llegeix. El recomano notablement, sobretot per adolescents que es vulguin endinsar en lectures de l’àmbit de la por i el misteri.

[Uku · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of old and not so old classic horror stories. Can only wonder why the heck they have gotten children's book edit with rahter odd, blocky illustrations. At least the illustrations were somehow related to the story but not spooky or anything. Minus one star come from children's book edition and from illustrations and illustration style which I didn't like. And seeing siluette of cat hung on the tree... just.. call it tasteless. It's in Edgar Allan Poe's story where main character start to develope drinking problem along with mental problem and starts to abuse his pet and wife. He gets what's coming for him in the end. -Spoilers.

[Łukasz Ziarko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Świetne

[Miss Ryoko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little torn as to what my rating would be for this book, because in the beginning, I was very bored. The stories were boring and tedious. But about halfway through, they started getting better. However, despite how I felt at the beginning of the book, what I enjoyed most about this book is the language. The book is comprised of short stories by very well known authors, such as Edgar Allan Poe, Guy de Maupassant, H.P. Lovecraft, Robert Louis Stevenson, etc. and I was pleased to see that even though the book was adapted as a children's book, the language was still rich and authentic. I love seeing detailed language and extensive vocabulary in children's books because I feel a lot of their books are being dumbed down with the language these days, which is just ridiculous.

The illustrations by Pedro Rodriguez were very fun. I enjoyed them. And I'm pretty sure the title font both on the book cover and the stories inside are in the Guitar Hero font, which I found amusing.

Collectively, a decent book for kids introducing them to some of the most historic authors of all time.

[SemneBune · Rating 5 out of 5]

M-am ȋndrăgostit de cele „21 de povești care te vor face să tremuri”, o mini-antologie apărută la editura Corint și minunat ilustrată de Pedro Rodríguez. A fost dragoste la prima vedere prin gaura cheii, după cum va observa și cititorul care va achiziționa această bijuterie ȋnnegurată și-i va deschide coperta ingenios decupată.

La ȋnfățișare, cărțulia pare destinată copiilor: fiecare pagină este ornată cu poze colorate, iar textele marilor autori de literatură horror și fantasy sunt despuiate de lungimea lor din fașă; ele sunt transformate (nu, nu ȋn vȃrcolaci) ȋn mici istorioare ce rezumă povestea originală, păstrȃnd elementele-cheie de mister și suspans.


de la sursă: „Poe-vesti” de groaza – 21 de motive sa nu citesti noaptea – SemneBune http://semnebune.ro/2014/poe-vesti-de...

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is unique about this book is that it can introduce children to many classics authors such as, Dickens and Poe. The stories are each only a page or two long and aren't too scary. Rodriguez's eerie illustrations bring the stories to life and this book will likely be appealing to readers from many reading levels.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grabbed this book on my way out of the library. Little did I know it's intended for young readers. I didn't let it come to my heart and excitement grew once I saw the list of stories! But... then the disappointment hit me in the face. Obviously they meant ‘children’. They might indeed require some sort of adaptation, yet I can’t help but thinking all those great authors deserve a lot more.

[Alissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this is the best horror book I've ever read, er adapted . . .

[Angelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me only a day to read this book and even thought its title is "The Big Book of Fear" I didn't scare at all! The stories were nice, but not what I expected them to be!

[natycuac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahora a ver monitos o algo adorable para poder dormir sin pensar en lo que leí xD

[Catalina Veliz · Rating 5 out of 5]

De los mejores libro de mi infancia, la ilustración lo es todo y diría que fue el responsable de meterme al mundo del terror.