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Mister Shivers #3
The Doll in the Hall and Other Scary Stories
Beginning readers will love these spooky stories from New York Times bestselling author Max Brallier!
Pick a book. Grow a Reader!
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!
Who is that sitting in the hallway? What is itching underneath the cast? This scary story collection from New York Times bestselling author Max Brallier is perfect for beginning readers who are looking to be spooked. With simple text, creepy full-color artwork on every page, and genuine scares, these five hair-raising stories are sure to keep your reader coming back for more -- if they dare!
Pick a book. Grow a Reader!
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!
Who is that sitting in the hallway? What is itching underneath the cast? This scary story collection from New York Times bestselling author Max Brallier is perfect for beginning readers who are looking to be spooked. With simple text, creepy full-color artwork on every page, and genuine scares, these five hair-raising stories are sure to keep your reader coming back for more -- if they dare!
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2021
14 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Max Brallier
90 books666 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 34 reviews
January 27, 2021
These fun-sized horror stories for the younger set offer a few laughs along with the chills. Creepy enough to spook, but unlikely to cause nightmares.
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February 28, 2021I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THESE BOOKS!!! Ahem. This is the perfect series for 1) your young readers who are still on easy reader books but who are Very Brave and want an Actually Scary book OR 2) your readers who are old enough to be wanting to read books like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but those books are still beyond their reading level. Although the books are written at an easy level, I still find them pretty terrifying. The illustrations are not as scary as Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but the stories have that same vibe - short, creepy, sometimes leaving the truly terrifying conclusion up to the reader and sometimes spelling it out.
Get these books if you have young fans of scary stories. Breed the next generation of horror readers. Do it. Do itttt.
Get these books if you have young fans of scary stories. Breed the next generation of horror readers. Do it. Do itttt.
February 23, 2021
This one has some seriously creepy stories!!!
March 14, 2024
Pretty scary. Especially the first story like always.
April 30, 2021
Truly creepy book for your early readers who may not be up to the levels of Goosebumps or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark yet. It's very similar in tone and style to Alvin Schwartz's In a Dark, Dark, Room.
May 8, 2023
I work in an Afterschool Program and one of the kindergarten children left this book behind on Friday. I decided I was going to bring it home and read it. Yikes! I'm not really sure how I would feel about My children reading The Doll in the Hall and Other Scary Stories. Thankfully they are all adults.
These five stories were all scary and really, and I mean, really, really creepy. I would imagine there would be some small children who would have nightmares after reading the book, and others who would laugh and think it's all so funny. I think I would have had the nightmares.
Reading the book as an adult, I was first shocked at how creepy and scary the stories were because the stories are geared to first readers, but as an adult I really enjoyed them. If these were made into movies, they would be Restricted.
The Doll in the Hall - I don't like collective dolls. They have always freaked me out and this story would be the reason though it's not a collective doll, but it's a creepy doll all the same. This story made me giggle at the end though it wouldn't had made me giggle if I was a child reading it.
The Cast - As an adult you saw what was coming and it was gross all the same, and terrifying! OMG! I can't imagine a child breaking their arm and not thinking what they will find in their cast once it was cut off.
Bright White Teeth - I'm not sure any little person would want to eat carrots after reading this one!
The Jack-O'-Lantern - Halloween and pumpkin carving will never be the same again!
Billy Smiled - It's the only story with a life lesson, and a good one at that. Don't lie or else this will happen.
There are three others in the series. I've already ordered them from my public library.
These five stories were all scary and really, and I mean, really, really creepy. I would imagine there would be some small children who would have nightmares after reading the book, and others who would laugh and think it's all so funny. I think I would have had the nightmares.
Reading the book as an adult, I was first shocked at how creepy and scary the stories were because the stories are geared to first readers, but as an adult I really enjoyed them. If these were made into movies, they would be Restricted.
The Doll in the Hall - I don't like collective dolls. They have always freaked me out and this story would be the reason though it's not a collective doll, but it's a creepy doll all the same. This story made me giggle at the end though it wouldn't had made me giggle if I was a child reading it.
The Cast - As an adult you saw what was coming and it was gross all the same, and terrifying! OMG! I can't imagine a child breaking their arm and not thinking what they will find in their cast once it was cut off.
Bright White Teeth - I'm not sure any little person would want to eat carrots after reading this one!
The Jack-O'-Lantern - Halloween and pumpkin carving will never be the same again!
Billy Smiled - It's the only story with a life lesson, and a good one at that. Don't lie or else this will happen.
There are three others in the series. I've already ordered them from my public library.
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August 13, 2021*Books tagged in my EDLI371-Annotated Bibliography shelf are being reviewed for a project, and will therefore include information necessary for the project, as well as information that can be found in the Goodreads entry.
Title - The Doll in the Hall and Other Scary Stories (Mister Shivers #3)
Author - Max Brallier
Publisher - Scholastic, 2021
Project Categories - Series, Early Reader
*I chose to focus on this as an Early Reader because it is something I am able to give out to such a great variety of students and know that they are able to connect with it.
Grade Level - K-3
Reading Level - 1.7
Summary - This compilation of five scary stories for early readers is, in fact, scary for some adults as well. (It's me. The adult who got creeped out was me.) The illustrations, with their big eyes and creepy smiles, didn't help either. Even so, these stories are all appropriate for children as young as kindergarten, and my kindergarten students love them.
Awards - None as of now, but this is a newer book.
Reviews - Kirkus has not yet reviewed this book, but did review the previous two books in the series very positively.
Title - The Doll in the Hall and Other Scary Stories (Mister Shivers #3)
Author - Max Brallier
Publisher - Scholastic, 2021
Project Categories - Series, Early Reader
*I chose to focus on this as an Early Reader because it is something I am able to give out to such a great variety of students and know that they are able to connect with it.
Grade Level - K-3
Reading Level - 1.7
Summary - This compilation of five scary stories for early readers is, in fact, scary for some adults as well. (It's me. The adult who got creeped out was me.) The illustrations, with their big eyes and creepy smiles, didn't help either. Even so, these stories are all appropriate for children as young as kindergarten, and my kindergarten students love them.
Awards - None as of now, but this is a newer book.
Reviews - Kirkus has not yet reviewed this book, but did review the previous two books in the series very positively.
November 22, 2021
On the whole, a simple/early reader in a young horror genre, which is unique and fairly well-done on the creepy side, but very much not to my personal taste. Not in line with lessons/values I'd seek to teach my young reader.
While I understand there should be early readers across genres to appeal to children who, like adults, have varying interests, this one just did not sit well with me. I was a bit bothered by the creepy stories, as an adult. While I don't think all my young children are perfect angels, I don't need to go out of my way to prepare a gateway to horror fiction for my early elementary child. While I did enjoy some childish scary stories growing up, these seem to be aimed at too young an audience or are a little further on the creepy side than I'd like. The first story was a bit more innocent, the haunting demise of the girl who at the carrots was too much, and the popcorn kernel teeth was oddly disturbing.
Checked out at library and reviewed in consideration for Cybils Award Easy Reader shortlist for 2021.
While I understand there should be early readers across genres to appeal to children who, like adults, have varying interests, this one just did not sit well with me. I was a bit bothered by the creepy stories, as an adult. While I don't think all my young children are perfect angels, I don't need to go out of my way to prepare a gateway to horror fiction for my early elementary child. While I did enjoy some childish scary stories growing up, these seem to be aimed at too young an audience or are a little further on the creepy side than I'd like. The first story was a bit more innocent, the haunting demise of the girl who at the carrots was too much, and the popcorn kernel teeth was oddly disturbing.
Checked out at library and reviewed in consideration for Cybils Award Easy Reader shortlist for 2021.
January 15, 2024
Don't questions like these grab your attention, Goodreader? "What is itching underneath the cast?"
Spoooooooky stories can be delicious. Thanks to the Mister Shivers series, I'm beginning to see the allure. Even though, personally, I don't read scary novels, nor do I watch scary movies. But it takes all kinds to make a world of Goodreaders.
Here come some samples of the scary:
The doll's eyes seemed to follow Mia.
Its smile looked more MEAN than sweet.
And the dirt on its old clothes smelled fresh.
Oooh, Goodreaders. FIVE STARS go to author Max Brallier and illustrator Letizia Rubegni.
Spoooooooky stories can be delicious. Thanks to the Mister Shivers series, I'm beginning to see the allure. Even though, personally, I don't read scary novels, nor do I watch scary movies. But it takes all kinds to make a world of Goodreaders.
Here come some samples of the scary:
The doll's eyes seemed to follow Mia.
Its smile looked more MEAN than sweet.
And the dirt on its old clothes smelled fresh.
Oooh, Goodreaders. FIVE STARS go to author Max Brallier and illustrator Letizia Rubegni.
November 15, 2021
"Mia, we don't have a doll in our hallway ..."
The Doll in the Hall: a babysitter gets creeped out by a life-sized doll
The Cast: A boy can't stand the itchiness of his cast
Bright White Teeth: A girl eats on the carrots in the garden so she can see in the dark; now she's sorry
The Jack-o-Lantern: a lonely girl's only friend is Willy, the jack-o-lantern she carved
Billy smiled: Billy always cheated & got away with it until the day he tries to cheat the tooth fairy.
For younger kids who "want something scary."
The Doll in the Hall: a babysitter gets creeped out by a life-sized doll
The Cast: A boy can't stand the itchiness of his cast
Bright White Teeth: A girl eats on the carrots in the garden so she can see in the dark; now she's sorry
The Jack-o-Lantern: a lonely girl's only friend is Willy, the jack-o-lantern she carved
Billy smiled: Billy always cheated & got away with it until the day he tries to cheat the tooth fairy.
For younger kids who "want something scary."
March 30, 2023
I am completely obsessed with this series. The stories are all really creepy/scary. The illustrations are an innocent type of creepy and quite enjoyable as well. My son doesn't like scary books (yet?) so I read them to my older child and we absolutely loved them. I can't wait for the upcoming school book fair to buy the latest book in this series! If I didn't have kids this would still be a series I would be collecting for myself. I hope the author plans to continue writing many more books in this series.
March 10, 2021
Mister Shivers is back with 5 short and not sweet stories that are truly scary, very creepy! Doll in the Hall reminds me of urban legend babysitter type stories - my aunt has a doll perfect for this that I would out in the closet when I visited! Bright White Teeth would pair nicely with Creepy Carrots. Love them all!
October 15, 2023
This book appeals to K-2nd graders and is on a 1st grade reading level. I am the library media specialist at a K-2 school, so this is the perfect Halloween book for my young readers. The stories are short enough and not too scary. So, I can also use this book for read-alouds. I think the story my kids would enjoy best is the first one, The Doll in the Hall.
November 7, 2024
Short creepy horror stories. I found out about these books because my daughter told me that they read it at her school library for Halloween. I personally wouldn’t introduce these books to my kids, especially at this “I can read level.” It’s not our thing. My daughter had a hard time shaking off the story.
March 19, 2023
TW: creepy doll, Ekbom's syndrome (insects living in skin), teeth horror
This horror series took me right back to the days I shivered while reading "A Dark Dark Room" by Alvin Schwarz. Perfectly terrifying for young readers, but always including some silly ideas too.
This horror series took me right back to the days I shivered while reading "A Dark Dark Room" by Alvin Schwarz. Perfectly terrifying for young readers, but always including some silly ideas too.
December 14, 2024
Awesome short and shivery stories. Some of the stories are just creepy, some are pretty dark. This would have been an awful book for me under age 11, but lots of kids can enjoy this level of darkness. Great for Halloween or cold, winter nights.
January 27, 2021
Kind of scary for an I Can Read.
February 1, 2021
My kids love these books! They are great books for beginner horror fans😍
February 4, 2021
My first grader loves this series! As soon as we got this book it was immediately read and has been read many times already.
March 20, 2021
Purchasing because it's just that good!
April 11, 2021
3.5 stars for this emergent reader "horror" story collection
April 22, 2021
I love this series. It reminds me of In a Dark, Dark Room from when I was in elementary school. My students love the scary stories.
May 4, 2021
Library borrow very creepy be warned
June 17, 2021
These books were very weird. I've read some of the Eerie Elementary books and there good books.
June 30, 2021
I found this whole series to be pretty delightful, and the illustrations really add to it!
January 27, 2022
My son goes through these books with ease! Such creative storytelling and strong/smart use of language. Highly recommend to anyone with kids who are not quite to Goosebumps level of reading.
June 14, 2022
As a child of the 90s, this book hit all the nostalgic feel points for me. Some stories were dark and disturbing, others were slightly sweet. The illustrations complement the stories perfectly.
April 17, 2023
It was not very scary
February 18, 2024
The last one was a little disturbing, in fact all of them were a little.
October 23, 2024
Just meh. “In a Dark, Dark Room” is the same idea (early reader spooky story collection) but much better.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews