A little fear is fun!
As a parent, I'm always concerned that a movie, TV show or book might be too scary for my kids. But as a kid, I loved being scared (as long as it was just a little).
Storytelling is big in South Texas, so even before I was reading, I heard stories of La Llorona, the Donkey Lady, the Devil with Rooster Feet, the Ghost Tracks, and many others. These were huge entertainment on the playground! If you want to get a taste of the sort of scary stories I grew up with, Xavier Garza has a wonderful collection: Creepy Creatures and Other Cucuys.
The timeless popularity of the Brothers Grimm (stories that were original meant for an adult audience) also reminds us that kids like their stories a little darker than we might think. The Hansel and Gretel story scared the crud of me when I was small - what with the witch and the evil stepmother and the kids stuffed into the oven - but I still wanted to hear the story over and over, and I wanted to visit that house made of goodies. And Rumplestiltskin? Forget about it! I was sure that guy was going to appear at the foot of my bed some night and make me a deal I couldn't refuse.
Another book I loved was The Wishing Ring: A Trip Through a Haunted House. Very much out of print, I'm afraid, but in the groovy 1960s of my childhood, this pop-up book was cutting edge entertainment. It would present terrifying images, which turned out to be completely normal things when you turned each page. That's part of the appeal of scary stories for kids: Learning that frightening things don't look so bad in the light of day, and that even normal things have the potential to be terrifying.
Scary stories also appeal to children, I think, because in most of these tales, we see a child (or children) alone against sinister forces. It allows the reader to imagine himself in control, making decisions, and facing his fears. It's a safe way for a child to explore and master the unsafe.
Any good scary stories you remember from your childhood? Break out the flashlights and gather round the campfire. I'd love to hear them!
Editor's Note: Rick Riordan is the bestselling author of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series. Rick jump starts our Summer Reading Program, which will continue through August with guest authors and celebrities posting every Monday and Thursday.
