The Tailypo

by Joanna C. Galdone, Paul Galdone (Illustrator)

Kids and adults will delight in this bone-chilling, classic tale. 

In this spooky, horror-filled picture book, a strange varmint haunts the woodsman who lopped off his tail and had it for dinner.

Genres: Picture Books, Horror, Childrens, Halloween, Fiction, Animals, Folklore

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Joanna C. Galdone is the author of many children's books, including The Tailypo: A Ghost Story, and the daughter of acclaimed author and illustrator Paul Galdone.

Reviews

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

true story: when i was a kid, our school librarian read this to us in class. that night when i was drifting off to sleep, i found that the creature had followed me home and was scratching on the wall right outside. which was totally unfair because i hadn't even taken his damn tailypo. i mean, do your research, jerk... i had to sleep in my parents' bed for like a week. and that's why i have no younger siblings. way to go, tailypo.

come to my blog!

[Ronyell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read many horror children’s books that deal with monsters, witches and ghosts, but I had never read any children’s books or folklore books for that matter that deal with the Tailypo before. So when I picked up Joanna Galdone’s retelling of the Tailypo story called “The Tailypo: A Ghost Story,” along with artwork by her father Paul Galdone, I was pleasantly surprised by how creepy this story came out!

The story starts off with an old man taking his three dogs (Uno, Ino and Cumptico-Calico) out hunting and they managed to capture a rabbit, which the old man ate for dinner. Suddenly, the old man spots an odd creature coming in through the cracks between the logs in the wall and he notices that the creature has an extremely long tail. The old man then took his hatchet and chopped the creature’s tail off as the creature escaped from the house. The old man then took the tail and ended up eating it for supper and went to bed in a satisfied state. However in the middle of the night, the old man started hearing strange sounds inside the cabin and it was then that he heard a mysterious creature say to him:

“Tailypo, tailypo,
All I want is my tailypo.”

The old man then sent his three dogs out to chase the creature away and after that, he went back to bed. But then he heard the creature say again:

“Tailypo, tailypo,
I’m coming get my tailypo!”

Will the creature get its tail back and what will happen to the old man?

Read this book to find out!

Joanna Galdone has done a great job at retelling this ancient ghost story about a creature trying to get its tail back after an old man ended up eating the creature’s tail. I will admit that this is the very first book that I had read that was written by Joanna Galdone, who is the daughter of Paul Galdone, whose books I am well acquainted to, and for a first book, it is a really solid story that I would not mind reading again. I loved the way that Joanna Galdone made the story atmospheric and haunting in tone as I was literally on the edge of my seat wondering if the creature will get the old man for eating its tail as I wonder how that horrific situation would be resolved in a children’s book. Paul Galdone’s artwork is truly beautiful and haunting to look at as the creature is shown as being a black cat like figure that has a long bushy tail and is constantly shown disappearing throughout the pages, not allowing the readers to really see what its true form really is, which brings so much mystery and terror to the story. I also loved the fact that the colors on the artwork are dark and a bit faded as it gives a creepy vibe to the story.

The reason why I gave this book a four star rating was because I felt that the characters were a bit too flat and even though the story itself was pretty interesting, I found myself not really caring about any of the characters except for the creature looking for its tail, since they were not developed enough for me to be interested in how they deal with this scary situation of an unknown creature sneaking into their home.

Overall, “The Tailypo: A Ghost Story” is a great horror story that fans of ghost stories will enjoy and I would recommend this book to children ages five and up since the tailypo creature might scare some children.

Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog

[Arthur Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like a meal I could call my own
Have a chance encounter with a tailypo
Chop off its fat tail, that would be a start
I would eat that thing wholly à la carte

From "Regret (Tusslin' with Tailypo)", by New Order

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've heard other spooky folktales about wronged spirits haunting the living to get back what's theirs, but this version was a new one for me. A surprisingly violent ending may make this story a bit too intense for very young readers/listeners, but most kids should get a kick out of it. This was a delightful daughter/father effort, with Joanna's famous dad, Paul Galdone, doing the artwork.



This would be a perfect read for some dark October evening.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 4 out of 5]

An old man living in a ramshackle hut in the woods with his three dogs goes hunting one night bringing home only a skinny rabbit. Once he has eaten the rabbit he is still hungry until a strange animal breaks into his hut. He chases after it but only manages to get its tail which he promptly cooks and eats. Then when he goes to bed, he hears a ghostly voice calling out to him that it is coming to get its "tailypo".

I'd never heard of this strange children's book when I was a kid and was curious to read it. Having read it, I can say that if I were a 5 year old being read this story to, I would probably be terrified. The strange old man and his lethargic dogs are weird enough but the non-descriptive "tailypo" is terrifying and with an adult doing a creepy voice it would certainly spook anybody.

I won't spoil the ending but it's definitely an interesting kid's book that I think any child will do well to be introduced to and any adult as well as it's not at all like the cutesy Gruffalo or Dr Seuss and might be a nice change of pace to bedtime.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite scary stories as a kid. I don't think anything beats Southern folklore. But I practically memorized this version, and I don't know how many times I had to retell it to my little brother, because he never got sick of it. I think this story also had to do with why I was always afraid of looking at the foot of my bed when I was little.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hungry old man chops off the tail of a curious creature that creeps into his cabin, cooks it, and eats it for dinner. Satisfied, he goes to bed, but is awakened by the scratching of something climbing the side of his cabin and calling, Tailypo, tailypo, all I want is my tailypo! The thing is persistent, and the story does not end well for the old man.

This is one of my favorite Halloween read-alouds for 1st and 2nd graders. The quieter my voice and the creepier the tailypo's, the bigger their eyes get. Afterward we discuss what they think the creature was (cat? giant rat? wolf?) and how it got its tailypo back, as it sings in the closing lines. I don't tell them what happened, I just let them look at what the story says and figure it out for themselves. When they really think it through, they make some good grossed-out faces. Terrific, and perfect for Halloween week.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a great ghost story for kids. moral of the story: if a demonic creature comes into your house during the night, make sure it's really dead after you hack at it with an axe. otherwise, you'll just make him mad.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was asked to visit the 3rd grade classrooms of a local elementary school to booktalk several different kinds of "storytelling" books.

I wanted to give an example of a truly American folktale, so after talking to my fellow children's librarian, she suggested Tailypo. Kids love ghost stories, although I got a mixed reaction to this one. About a third of the boys were very vocal in saying that, "Oh, it's not that scary." A good number of students were very engaged, especially when the varmint chanted his spooky verses. And of course, you have the kids who just stare off into space, but the percentage was very low.

It was a good length for a read-aloud. The illustrations are somewhat scary, but I almost think it would've been better telling the story without the distraction. The creature in my mind was much more sinister than the pictures.

It worked well for the purpose, so for that, I liked it. And I hope the kids were interested enough to come and check out other books from the library.

[K.T. Katzmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having started blogging the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series, I've returned to one of my favorite childhood spooky stories: the Tailypo. In short, an isolated mountain man cuts off an eat a weird critter's tale, and the critter wants it back.

How did this one do? This one is a good basic standard. It keeps the flavor of the spoken folktale. If you want to check the accuracy of a Tailypo story, check the distinctive names of the dogs. Honestly, though, there's nothing spectacular, although I do love how the book, like many, never shows the Tailypo's full face.

If you need a spooky story to read to your kids, you could do worse. Much worse. Believe me, I've the worst Tailypo possible. . .

[Petergiaquinta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never had the pleasure of reading this tale as a wee lad, but I read it out loud many times to my own children, and still today the refrain, "Tailypo, Tailypo, where is my Tailypo...?" often runs through my head at oddly random times, just like the "Fat Albert Theme Song" or the Old Spice jingle or George Clinton's vulgar limerick about that man from Peru who went to sleep in his canoe.

So thanks, Karen, for calling this fine book to my attention again. It's not going to get five stars from me, though, because of the false advertising in the title. It's not a ghost story, dammit...it's a Tailypo story!

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Tailypo, tailypo, now I’ve got my tailypo.’

[Evelyn]

An old cabin dweller and his dogs are alarmed by a mysterious creature living in the walls. They catch its tail, but their troubles are not over-- the creature soon returns howling for its "tailypo." This is the kind of book we read all the time when we were young, and I did read this type of book to my kids born 98-05. Today people are more cautious and it's worth considering if The Tailypo might frighten sensitive children. I don't want to overstate the scariness-- it has the feeling of a story told by a campfire for fun--but the ending is pretty frightening. On some level, I expected a comic resolution. The drawings are more lively and comic than horrifying. There's also a call and response aspect that would work well in read-aloud situations. Kids are always asking for "scary" picture books, here's one that works well year round (and would be good to add to the Halloween bookshelf as well).

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gets 5 stars mostly for nostalgic reasons, but without that it’s still a solid 4 stars.

Tailypo is an Appalachian ghost story that was first read to me in a darkened library room near halloween by my librarian with her Tailypo puppet. Scared me to death as a kid and I loved it! It’s a great creepy story of a creature bent on revenge. Great for older elementary kids.

[The Reading Writing Puppet · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s really creepy and disturbing… but it does say ghost story in the title. I just wasn’t sure there was actually horror stories in picture book form for children.
It’s a little boring so I skimmed read through some of it… but if you’re looking for something to scare your kid with… this is it.

[David Turko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I never expected a kids scary book to have an effect on me. Highly recommend.

[Rereader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 70s had no qualms with traumatizing children.

[Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sister brought this picture book home from the library the other day, and wanted to share it with me. I had totally forgotten about it but as soon as I saw that fuzzy, sinister creature on the cover I memories came back. School librarians reading aloud from this picture book, affecting scratchy, high pitched screeches of the menacing, vengeful beast a-searching for its “tailypo” and a creaky, breathless moan for the hapless old hermit who just happened to have eaten it. Creepy stuff!

If I recall, my sister had been more affected by the story than I was, and I believe the story or one like it appeared in one of the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series, too. All I had to do to run shivers up her spine was whisper, “tailypo, tailypo,” especially in an isolated, rural location. As is true in many such works, the brooding, haunted artwork is what really pulls this adaptation of the old Appalachian folktale together and set you up for a moody, bleak tale. You can see it in the haunted eyes of the old hound dogs, eyes that inform the reader, “man, we’ve really seen some stuff, lemme tell ya.” That’s so you know what you’re in for from the title page. The art, with its shadowy lines and muted colors, paints an evocative picture of the dark autumnal woods and the dilapidated cabin, isolated from all human contact but the relentless, tailless “thing” and its glaring yellow eyes and its long, sharp claws. This would be a good choice for a Halloween or folklore themed story time, though with a trigger warning ahead for the younger kids; things get grim. There are some things out there that are merciless and there’s no happy ending.

[Hollowspine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I noticed this on the shelf at the library while I was showing someone where the Paul Bunyan books were and couldn't help but check it out. I have fond memories of having read this as a child and being so afraid of the creepy creature depicted searching for it's tailypo.

Too right too! This story doesn't lose much as I revisit it as an adult. I didn't really remember the entire book, just that I was creeped out as a kid, but the ending of the book is downright chilling.

As I opened the cover to read it to my brother one night we both laughed as we took in the first image. The three hound dogs gazing out at the reader seem to be warning us of the contents. Their haunted eyes tell of things that cannot be unseen. In the background an ax waits sunken into a log, a menacing presence that speaks of coming violence.

The story is basically about a man living with only his three dogs as companions out in the deep woods and his quest for a good meal. Sadly for him, chopping the tail off a mysterious creature, while filling his belly, is ultimately a poor choice. The man and dogs try to get through the night haunted by the cries of the creature, "Tailypo, tailypo, I'm coming to get my tailypo!"

The final scenes where the man cowers under his quilt while the creature creeps (quite literally, creeping through each illustration getting closer and closer) towards the man will no doubt send any child reading seeking a trusted adult's lap. The extremely long black claws and giant staring yellow eyes of the creature will no doubt haunt me all my days.

In the end there is nothing left of the cabin, the dogs or the man, but at least the creature got it's beloved tailypo.

Creepy Creepy Creepy. Read it to some kids today!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly spooky for a picture book. An intriguing story with a very creepy ending. I enjoyed this tale, but my daughter says it's too scary for little kids but a good Halloween read for older children.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was surprisingly creepy for a picture book.

[Kimberly Ollison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book.. Its spooky for little ones. I remember my teacher reading it when I was small.

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tailypo" is such a classic scary story! And there are so many different versions of it, such as "The Big Toe," retold by Alvin Schwartz in his book Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Either way, the story is the same: someone finds a piece of a creature (a tail, a toe), takes it home, eats it (it was delicious!), and finds that the creature now wants that body part back.

This version of the story fleshes it out nicely. The strange creature looking for its tail is just creepy enough to keep a young reader wondering, but not scary enough to give them a real fright. And the story is just the right amount of "chill" as well, being somewhat scary, but not terrifying.

All in all, a great presentation. More atmospheric than other versions of this tale I've seen, but again, not too scary, either.

[Mackenzie Lookingland · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Tailypo: A Ghost Story" by Joanna Galdone is a folklore book for younger readers who are looking for a small scare! This book is about an old man who lives by himself in a cabin in the woods. One night as he is going to sleep, he hears scratching at his door and he goes outside to look and try to find what the scratching and voices outside is. The first few times the old man looks outside, he finds nothing, but after looking a few times he finds the "Tailypo" at the bottom of his bed climbing up his bed. The "Tailypo" claws up the old man's stomach and gets his tail back, because the old man hunted and ate it. This book is a good book for children interested in scary stories, but who are still young. This story is not too scary, but has the creepy effect to it that the author creates to keep readers on their toes.

[B T · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this review is really from my childhood memory. A teacher read it to the class when I was in first or second grade. Scared the shit out of me! Because of that and the fact that I know I had nightmares, I must’ve been a big wuss as a kid, I am giving this 5 stars. I’ve never forgotten this story. I read it once when I got a little older, though I was still a kid, and it didn’t scare me much anymore but definitely still held a fright factor because of my childhood trauma. I really think the way the teacher read it had partly to do with my fright too. I like scary things so even though I had nightmares from it this big brings back fond memories.

[Libby Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picture book that will truly send chills up your spine. This book has been around since the early 80’s but is based on an old folk tale hailing from the swamps of Tennessee.

An old hunter who lives with his hound dogs acts out of desperate hunger. He cooks and eats the tail of a mysterious creature that sneaks in through the logs of his cabin wall one night.

This creature haunts him thereafter seeking revenge for his “taily-po”.

My 4 year old was fixated on this all month long. It was fascinating in a “I can’t look away from this train wreck” sort of way.

Probably not a win for all families but it definitely created memories for mine.

[Enthusiastic Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I read this to my sophomore English classes today, just for a bit of fun. It's one of my favorite stories, though I found myself adding more echoes and almost turning it into verse: "Long, long ago, in the deep, dark woods, an old man lived in a little wooden cabin with a tall stone chimney."

I wonder if my parents or siblings remember driving down the road on Route 15, seeing that empty space in the middle of the woods, with nothing there but a tall stone chimney...

[Aeryka Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

My best friend's mom told us this story when we were little girls in about 1999. She told us from memory and it honestly scared the heck out of us! When left to our imagination on what this critter looked like, we found ourselves terrified to let any of our appendages dangle over the edge of our beds. When I got older I learned the history of the story and was introduced to this book and illustrations. Will always be one of my favorite childhood monster stories 💜

[Mark Nuzzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgia... what triggers our memories of the past are different. This triggers mine, going to the public library in my youth, and reading this story. A little scary for me back then...back that was okay.

"You know, and I know, that I am here to get my Tailypo."

Of course, as a adult I have my own copy that just sits on the shelf. As I said...nostalgia, a powerful tonic.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my boyfriends favorite story growing up. We recently dug old books out of his attic and took this one home. Since I’ve never heard of it, he read it to me. Complete with character voices and all :)