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Mister Shivers #1
Beneath the Bed and Other Scary Stories
New York Times bestselling author Max Brallier's easy-to-read scary stories are perfect for beginning readers.
This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, and full-color artwork on every spread, these books will boost reading confidence and fluency. Acorn books plant a love of reading and help readers grow!
What is hiding under the bed? What is scratching at the window? Find out in New York Times bestselling author Max Brallier's scary stories collection. These five spine-chilling stories will have beginning readers everywhere begging to stay up late to read (with the light on!). With authentically scary, easy-to-read text and creepy, full-color artwork throughout, this book is perfect for young children who crave lite scares. This is also THE book to share at sleepovers or around a campfire. It will send SHIVERS down your spine!
This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, and full-color artwork on every spread, these books will boost reading confidence and fluency. Acorn books plant a love of reading and help readers grow!
What is hiding under the bed? What is scratching at the window? Find out in New York Times bestselling author Max Brallier's scary stories collection. These five spine-chilling stories will have beginning readers everywhere begging to stay up late to read (with the light on!). With authentically scary, easy-to-read text and creepy, full-color artwork throughout, this book is perfect for young children who crave lite scares. This is also THE book to share at sleepovers or around a campfire. It will send SHIVERS down your spine!
64 pages, Hardcover
Published September 3, 2019
36 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Max Brallier
93 books683 followersMax Brallier is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. His books and series include The Last Kids on Earth, Eerie Elementary, Mister Shivers, Galactic Hot Dogs, and Can YOU Survive the Zombie Apocalypse? He is a writer and producer for Netflix's Emmy-award-winning adaptation of The Last Kids on Earth. Max lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter. Visit him at MaxBrallier.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
October 20, 2019
We found this one so fun to read. The stories are simple but pretty creepy with the dark illustrations! This reads quickly and we enjoyed all five stories. Great for Halloween. It's probably best for ages 5/6 and up.
5*****
5*****
October 24, 2019
This is a very small book for little children. That, however, doesn't mean that the stories in it aren't creepy. *evil grin*
The five stories here are about
1. a dare
2. body horror
3. a witchy yard sale
4. a messy child being punished
5. living in a dangerous new home
All stories are relatively short and illustrated with very nice illustrations (some panels being cute, others rather creepy) of the appropriate colour palette.
Really cool addition to anyone's Spooktober book list, especially with children in the house (though I, as an adult, had a lot of fun with these too).
Oh, and in case anyone hasn't seen it yet: the cover has a nice hidden surprise as well!
The five stories here are about
1. a dare
2. body horror
3. a witchy yard sale
4. a messy child being punished
5. living in a dangerous new home
All stories are relatively short and illustrated with very nice illustrations (some panels being cute, others rather creepy) of the appropriate colour palette.
Really cool addition to anyone's Spooktober book list, especially with children in the house (though I, as an adult, had a lot of fun with these too).
Oh, and in case anyone hasn't seen it yet: the cover has a nice hidden surprise as well!
October 4, 2022
My son is 6, and luckily for me, he's become a major fan of scary stories. We read this together and he stopped everything he was doing to pay attention before asking at the end, "Are there more?" I've already bought the next book in the Mister Shivers series and I'm looking forward to reading it with him! These little stories were really cute and reminded me so much of growing up on Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, etc. I'm absolutely delighted that Max Brallier is taking on the torch and making something similar (but new) for today's kids!
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September 17, 2019
Okay, so everything about this book from the subject matter to the illustrations is obviously evoking In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories, which is THE early literacy horror classic. And the first story in this collection is REALLY GOOD, so I was all set for this to be an instant classic as well. Sadly, none of the other stories ever quite reached the high bar the first one set. Keep in mind, they were all entertaining and delightful in the same way as Alvin Schwartz's work, and I loved them all; it's just that when you put your best story first, you're setting the reader up for disappointment regardless of how good the rest of the book is.
I am truly excited to read the rest of the Mister Shivers books (whenever they come out), and I can't wait to recommend this over Spook Season and beyond.
I am truly excited to read the rest of the Mister Shivers books (whenever they come out), and I can't wait to recommend this over Spook Season and beyond.
January 16, 2020
Some of these actually gave me a chill.
September 13, 2019
Ok, I'll admit it : I was a little spooked. (And I'll be ok if I never read THE HAIR DOWN TO MY STOMACH ever again...)
I'm delighted there is a truly scary set of stories for beginning readers! So many of the kids in my library love scary stories - I feel like this would be right up their alley. We need all genres for beginning readers and characters of great diversity - I feel like this title is on the right track.
I'm delighted there is a truly scary set of stories for beginning readers! So many of the kids in my library love scary stories - I feel like this would be right up their alley. We need all genres for beginning readers and characters of great diversity - I feel like this title is on the right track.
May 9, 2019
Very fun! Easy to read. Some stories left you with an giggle, but all were just creepy enough to leave you feeling uncomfortable. Definitely in the same vein as Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark but for readers 5-7yrs old.
Lots of love! Can't wait to see the finished copy with full color artwork.
Lots of love! Can't wait to see the finished copy with full color artwork.
April 24, 2022
Scary Stories
Scary stories for kids (not real young children). Read the stories first since you know your children and what they can handle. This is what we grew up on and I just loved them! Great illustrations really bring home the concept of each story perfectly!
Scary stories for kids (not real young children). Read the stories first since you know your children and what they can handle. This is what we grew up on and I just loved them! Great illustrations really bring home the concept of each story perfectly!
December 29, 2019
A surprisingly fun early reader! Loved the stories, loved the illustrations.
February 11, 2020
My kids will love this one! They are always asking for scary stories.
September 18, 2022
Review from my six year old: "It was a scary book. Beneath the bed was my favorite but who is scratching? I don't know who scratched on the window! I don't know where the scratches are coming from! And the toys can't fight me. I'll fight them back!" 🤣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2020
Short and simple stories, but powerfully packed with chills and thrills! Perfect beginning reader/transitional chapter book for young horror fans.
September 1, 2025
Read with my 1st grader and LOVED it. Best kiddie intro to spooky books ever
February 4, 2021
these are so great - perfect for any blossoming horror lover!
December 5, 2019
This easy reader is a wonderful choice for older children who need a simpler text. The book is full of shivers and delights for those who love a good creepy story. The book has five individual stories, each a stand-alone tale which also makes this a great pick for smaller and shorter reading sessions. The book begins with a box left at someone’s door full of items for stories. Those objects are then the basis of each tale. There is a scary house and dare to enter it. There are neglected toys that seek revenge. A scratchy throat proves to be something truly awful. A statue insists on being warm. Scratching at the window may not be a tree branch after all.
The easy text works really well here, the simplicity of the words building a sense of not quite being told the entire tale and details being held back from the reader. Brallier builds suspense nicely in each story and readers will notice a nod to classic scary story tropes in the tales that doesn’t impact the delicious scariness of them at all. The illustrations are used liberally throughout the book and also will appeal to older readers. Their dark shadows add to the shivery nature of the book. It’s also great to see a diverse cast of characters in the stories.
A great pick to use in reading classrooms and to offer parents looking for easy readers for slightly older children. Appropriate for ages 5-7.
The easy text works really well here, the simplicity of the words building a sense of not quite being told the entire tale and details being held back from the reader. Brallier builds suspense nicely in each story and readers will notice a nod to classic scary story tropes in the tales that doesn’t impact the delicious scariness of them at all. The illustrations are used liberally throughout the book and also will appeal to older readers. Their dark shadows add to the shivery nature of the book. It’s also great to see a diverse cast of characters in the stories.
A great pick to use in reading classrooms and to offer parents looking for easy readers for slightly older children. Appropriate for ages 5-7.
March 27, 2020
Not quite a SStTitD but good for younger readers heading that direction! With a couple stories my kids found pretty creepy (they thought the first was the creepiest, which is good placement for it) and a few they found humorous, they enjoyed it. There is even a how-to draw section in the back for one of the characters along with a prompt to continue the story the character is featured in. This book also does a good job of balancing telling a good story with making it an easy read for new readers. 😊
September 1, 2022
Bought this book based on the near perfect reviews.
My daughter is a big fan of In a Dark, Dark Room (as was I) and so I thought she might enjoy this book also.
While the illustrations were spooky and reminiscent of In a Dark, Dark Room, the stories lacked the same creep factor. I did not find any of them, aside from maybe the first, to be spooky.
It isn’t a bad book by any means, I just wish I had rented it instead of purchasing it.
My daughter is a big fan of In a Dark, Dark Room (as was I) and so I thought she might enjoy this book also.
While the illustrations were spooky and reminiscent of In a Dark, Dark Room, the stories lacked the same creep factor. I did not find any of them, aside from maybe the first, to be spooky.
It isn’t a bad book by any means, I just wish I had rented it instead of purchasing it.
May 6, 2020
Fun to see scary stories for young readers! Loving Scholastic’s Acorn series!
These note that they "appeal to Kindergarten - 2nd graders," but they are honestly SCARY stories! Just be warned. =)
Also love that there's a how-to-draw at the end. They think of everything. =)
These note that they "appeal to Kindergarten - 2nd graders," but they are honestly SCARY stories! Just be warned. =)
Also love that there's a how-to-draw at the end. They think of everything. =)
September 18, 2019
The first story in this book genuinely freaked me out and the second made me want to vomit. 10/10, extremely spooky, perfect for early readers in need of a fright. Definitely going to recommend liberally this Halloween season.
February 1, 2021
A great book for beginner horror fans! My daughter's loved it!
May 13, 2023
I work in an Afterschool Program and one of the kindergarten children left the third in the series, The Doll in the House and Other Scary Stories behind a couple of weeks ago. I'd never seen this book before and I decided I was going to bring it home to read. I was quite shocked at how creepy and scary the stories were geared for K-2nd graders. Of course, it would all depend on what your child likes, his sense of humor and if she likes creepy and scary stories. But as an adult, I was addicted and had to order the 3 others from my library.
As I've already said, these five stories were all scary and really, and I mean, really, really creepy. I would imagine there would be some children who would have nightmares after reading the book. Other children would laugh and think it's all so funny. I think I would have had the nightmares. If these were made into movies, they would be Restricted. Upon showing my coworker the left book, she said she read one as a child, she was freaked out and scarred for life, and never picked up another again.
Beneath the Bed - the kids at school said the old house on the hill was full of ghosts. They dared a boy to visit it at night and to visit every room. He begged his sister Beth to go with him. The ending made me chuckle. I'm not sure it would had if I was a girl reading it.
A Hair Down to my Stomach - when a boy wakes up one morning, he feels he has a hair down his throat going down to his stomach. His mother confirms it, his doctor confirms it and then the doctor pulls it out and it's.....gross! Eek!
The Statue - A mother and young daughter go to a yard sale where the mother buys a creepy statue with a smelly, old and holey quilt on it. The ending was scary, but made me chuckle, because I'm an adult.
A Dark and Stormy Night - Oliver always leaves his toys outside because he forgets to bring them inside.They get rusty and ruined. Then something happens and ......yikes!
The Noise at the Window - A family moves to an old red house. On the first night, something keeps scratching at the girl's window. Her parents tell her it's the tree outside her window. When she wakes up in the morning.....
I have Shadow in the Woods and Other Scary Scary Stories next to read. I can hardly wait!
As I've already said, these five stories were all scary and really, and I mean, really, really creepy. I would imagine there would be some children who would have nightmares after reading the book. Other children would laugh and think it's all so funny. I think I would have had the nightmares. If these were made into movies, they would be Restricted. Upon showing my coworker the left book, she said she read one as a child, she was freaked out and scarred for life, and never picked up another again.
Beneath the Bed - the kids at school said the old house on the hill was full of ghosts. They dared a boy to visit it at night and to visit every room. He begged his sister Beth to go with him. The ending made me chuckle. I'm not sure it would had if I was a girl reading it.
A Hair Down to my Stomach - when a boy wakes up one morning, he feels he has a hair down his throat going down to his stomach. His mother confirms it, his doctor confirms it and then the doctor pulls it out and it's.....gross! Eek!
The Statue - A mother and young daughter go to a yard sale where the mother buys a creepy statue with a smelly, old and holey quilt on it. The ending was scary, but made me chuckle, because I'm an adult.
A Dark and Stormy Night - Oliver always leaves his toys outside because he forgets to bring them inside.They get rusty and ruined. Then something happens and ......yikes!
The Noise at the Window - A family moves to an old red house. On the first night, something keeps scratching at the girl's window. Her parents tell her it's the tree outside her window. When she wakes up in the morning.....
I have Shadow in the Woods and Other Scary Scary Stories next to read. I can hardly wait!
December 5, 2019
Mister Shivers shares five spine-tingling stories. In the first, a brother and sister accept a dare to enter an old mansion where they discover a startling surprise. In the second, a girl is sure a hair is stuck in her throat, but then maybe it’s not a hair at all, maybe it’s something much worse. The third story tells of a boy whose mother never should have bought a certain statue. In the fourth story it becomes quite clear that a boy should never have left his toys out in the rain. In the last horrifying tale, a girl hears a scratching at the window. Despite her parents telling her it’s branches scraping against the glass, she finds proof it was more than that.
This book is pleasantly spooky yet not inherently frightening. The illustrations have a cartoon feel, but with tones of grey and scribbly details fitting for the atmosphere of the stories. The scariest picture depicts a marionette puppet with glowing eyes. Each of the stories would be great for reading aloud, and they are simple enough some young children could read them themselves. Written with an audience of young elementary school children in mind, most of the stories are only scary because they end on a suspenseful cliffhanger. Nothing gruesome or violent is described or pictured. Overall this book might not be a fine fit for children prone to nightmares, but for other children it should prove just scary enough to send delightful chills down their spines.
++Review originally published on Children's Book and Media Review++
http://byucbmr.com/reviews/beneath-th...
This book is pleasantly spooky yet not inherently frightening. The illustrations have a cartoon feel, but with tones of grey and scribbly details fitting for the atmosphere of the stories. The scariest picture depicts a marionette puppet with glowing eyes. Each of the stories would be great for reading aloud, and they are simple enough some young children could read them themselves. Written with an audience of young elementary school children in mind, most of the stories are only scary because they end on a suspenseful cliffhanger. Nothing gruesome or violent is described or pictured. Overall this book might not be a fine fit for children prone to nightmares, but for other children it should prove just scary enough to send delightful chills down their spines.
++Review originally published on Children's Book and Media Review++
http://byucbmr.com/reviews/beneath-th...
June 14, 2020
"Never take the quilt off the statue," a voice said in my ear.
I'm sure you can guess what happens later in the story. But kids will wonder, "What WILL happen if the boy takes the quilt off the statue?" All good scary stories have an element of the unknown.
And that's what makes this little collection a good one. There are five stories in all geared toward ages 6-7. They aren't terribly scary stories, and they won't give your kids nightmares. They all end with something strange happening at the end, but nothing gruesome. All the stories are written in very simple text, like an early-reading chapter book with easy vocabulary.
And now I need to comment on the illustrations. Wow! Great job, Letizia Rubegni! These pictures were perfect for this kind of story. Eerie but cartoony enough not to give us nightmares. I loved the illustrations!
All in all, a great little scary story book for early readers.
I'm sure you can guess what happens later in the story. But kids will wonder, "What WILL happen if the boy takes the quilt off the statue?" All good scary stories have an element of the unknown.
And that's what makes this little collection a good one. There are five stories in all geared toward ages 6-7. They aren't terribly scary stories, and they won't give your kids nightmares. They all end with something strange happening at the end, but nothing gruesome. All the stories are written in very simple text, like an early-reading chapter book with easy vocabulary.
And now I need to comment on the illustrations. Wow! Great job, Letizia Rubegni! These pictures were perfect for this kind of story. Eerie but cartoony enough not to give us nightmares. I loved the illustrations!
All in all, a great little scary story book for early readers.
June 30, 2022
Evokes wonderful nostalgic memories of In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories! Essentially a modern day version of it! It’s very short unfortunately, clocking in at only 55 pages with 5 stories. I wish they were at least double in length (10 stories 110 pages). There are pictures on every page. Adds to the appeal and some panels are creepy. The first story was easily my favorite. The following four not bad but not as creepy or satisfying. Otherwise this would be five stars. Very fast read. You can blow through the sparse text in 20 minutes or less, but the intended audience is K-2. Perfect gateway horror for the younger ones!
Would totally have devoured this series as a first grader! I hope there will be many more in the Mister Shivers series in the years to come.
A very respectable first entry. Can’t wait to read the next one!
Would totally have devoured this series as a first grader! I hope there will be many more in the Mister Shivers series in the years to come.
A very respectable first entry. Can’t wait to read the next one!
May 28, 2020
Alright, so the first story was actually kind of creepier than I was expecting for a book targeted at K-2 =0 The illustrations are a darkish mostly gray and brown color palette. I always find dolls coming to life creepy and since kids in the target reading group still likely play with them it heightens the creepy factor. There are occasional words in bold and I'm not sure exactly the purpose of that. The second story is just gross and anyone who has ever felt they had a hair stuck in their throat will get the shivers. The other 3 stories weren't as creepy. As a parent, I liked the little bit of feed factor in the 4th story about picking up your toys... Ha! This is a great choice for K-1 kids especially who are asking for scary stories and try to sneak out some Goosebumps books. These would also be excellent for reluctant readers in 2nd - 4th grade because they are decently spooky stories and the illustrations do not seem "babyish" at all.
October 6, 2019
Just finished reading this book. I thought it was so great, for a kid’s short horror story collection. It reminds me so much of “In A Dark, Dark Room, and Other Scary Stories” by Alvin Schwartz (one of my favorite writers of all time). That book scared me, when I was a child, and I feel this one would have, as well, even though it’s brand new. I highly recommend this.
My favorite story is probably the one with the statue.
Even though I’m an adult, I will be buying all of these, as they come out lol.
Also: the art was really great!
Can’t wait to talk about this on my YouTube channel, tonight!
My favorite story is probably the one with the statue.
Even though I’m an adult, I will be buying all of these, as they come out lol.
Also: the art was really great!
Can’t wait to talk about this on my YouTube channel, tonight!
January 9, 2020
This was a great book to read with kids with the lights dimmed and using your creativity.. I read aloud slowly and paused often; this seemed to intensify the spookiness. Even though my sons were much older than the intended targe.t audience, they still Jumped at the end of the last story, A Noise at the Window( Probably with the help of my yelling "B00"!
My14 year old mused that the simple ending of A Dark and Stormy Night was more terrifying than telling the reader what happened. This is a fun book for your more mature first and second graders Who don't scare as easily at the spooky things at Halloween.
My14 year old mused that the simple ending of A Dark and Stormy Night was more terrifying than telling the reader what happened. This is a fun book for your more mature first and second graders Who don't scare as easily at the spooky things at Halloween.
October 18, 2022
Prepare to be scared! Five spooky standalone stories - each with its own creepy twist ending - are featured in this excellent first volume of a fun series for early chapter book readers who love scary stories. Full-color illustrations support the reader in interpreting the text, and add to the haunting atmosphere. This short story collection is the perfect precursor to Goosebumps and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library!
Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library!
October 23, 2025
I had the opportunity to meet Max Brallier at a library conference, and I have been excited to share his books with my students in the library. These last two weeks of October, we take a break from our set curriculum to do fun seasonal "lessons." I read all of the stories in this book (with the ebook pictures on my projector) to my second-grade classes with the library lights turned off. I was a little concerned that some of the stories might be too scary for the more sensitive second graders, but it seemed to be the right amount of creepiness. After each story, I had the students rate the story's scary/creepy/gross level from 0–5. It was quite fun.
May 23, 2020
Five not-too-scary stories for early readers.
Beneath the bed: Don’t worry, those eyes shining in the dark don’t belong to a ghost.
A Hair Down to my Stomach: Make sure you don’t sleep with your mouth open.
The Statue: Whatever you do, don’t take the quilt off of the statue.
A Dark and Stormy Night: Oliver really wishes he would have brought his toys in from the rain.
The Noise at the Window: Don’t worry, it’s just branches scraping against the window. Nothing to worry about. Just don’t open the curtain.
Beneath the bed: Don’t worry, those eyes shining in the dark don’t belong to a ghost.
A Hair Down to my Stomach: Make sure you don’t sleep with your mouth open.
The Statue: Whatever you do, don’t take the quilt off of the statue.
A Dark and Stormy Night: Oliver really wishes he would have brought his toys in from the rain.
The Noise at the Window: Don’t worry, it’s just branches scraping against the window. Nothing to worry about. Just don’t open the curtain.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews