The Very Scary Almanac

by Eric Elfman

A compendium of trivia, facts, and lore about the world of the supernatural and the occult furnishes information on topics ranging from cannibalism, Ouija boards, and the Bermuda Triangle to vampires, zombies, poltergeists, and werewolves. Original.

Genres: Horror, Childrens, Nonfiction

80 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 1993

About the author

Eric Elfman is the author of fourteen books for kids and adults, including Tesla’s Attic, Edison’s Alley and Hawking’s Hallway (all co-written with Neal Shusterman), an award-winning Middle Grade series from Disney-Hyperion Books. Eric and Neal are now developing a TV series based on Tesla’s Attic Eric’s Almanac of the Gross, Disgusting & Totally Repulsive, from Random House (now in its 6th printing), was named an ALA Recommended Book for Reluctant Readers. As a screenwriter, Eric has sold projects to Dreamworks, Universal, Walden Media and Interscope. Eric is also a private writing coach, with a number of award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors among his clients.

Reviews

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much as a kid that I eagerly repurchased it when I found a used copy as an adult.

[Capn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I had forgotten!!! This one stayed with me! Loads of interesting facts that I have never forgotten in 25+ years!

[Conal Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, this book pushed all the right buttons when I was a kid. Gruesome and adult enough to delight a morbid child, but not so nasty as to be inappropriate or truly frightening. I still vividly remember the illustrations and explanations of torture methods, and the gleeful rogues' gallery of the wickedest people in history (Vlad the Impaler, Aleister Crowley, Countess Bathory, Lizzy Borden). Good, clean, wholesome--yet sick and depraved-- fun.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a find! Inside the author put everything in short form on creepy culture you ever might have thought of with excellent illustrations: the most famous creepers, terrortainment (the scariest books, stories and movies), the year in fear (when do we celebrate Halloween), which is witch, strange sorcery, poltergeists, apparitions and haunts, interview with a ghostbuster, UFOs, peculiar places, horrible humans, bizarre beasts, phobias, superstitions, nightmares and the physiology of fear. You can't do any better. Entertaining and to the point. Highly recommended!

[Noelle Rowland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun! I read this book as a kid and carried it with me everywhere because there were so many spooky facts!

[Jonathan Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spooky book for spooky kids

[David Estela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know it's meant for kids but it was a fun read. Actually learned a few things I didn't know. haha

[Dave Estela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read

[Amanda Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, set in many different places around the world, informs the reader of many interesting things ranging from witchcraft, ghosts, vampires, zombies, horror movies, superstitions, and other scary and weird subjects. This fast paced read takes the reader on a fantastically, creepy journey through all kinds of weird and strange things. Did you know that "according to English tradition", it is unlucky to be born on May 17? Did you know that the plural of Genie is Jinn? Have you ever been abducted by aliens and then visited by the men in black? If you'd like to learn more about some of these weird and intriguing things, pick this book up and immerse yourself into it's pages...you won't be disappointed!

I would recommend this book to kids in 4th grade and up or for kids/adults who love weird and scary things.

Read-a-likes:
Ripley's Believe it or not books because they give the reader weird facts about sometimes creepy topics.

"Supernatural" by Andrea Mills because it provides the reader with explainable reasons for the spooky and mysterious. It also gives science behind the stories.

[Thuraya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd checked this out at the library countless times as a child...pouring over the pages and hiding it from my parents like a delicious secret. I thought I was very well studied and knowledgeable back then about all things dark and strange and grim...now it's just a fun item of nostalgia on my shelf (presented to me thoughtfully on a birthday in my adult years by my boyfriend whom I'd brought to the library in the town I'd grown up in to shared with him this child secret).

This was one of my introductions to the genre of dark and spooky that I still love as an adult.

[Dan Gladwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book when i was in 5th grade, and I think about it often. In fact, I think I'll pick it up on Amazon. It's just a fun little book full of light hearted ghost and vampire stories. Can't get enough!

[Ehren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book practically made me who I am today. This was my introduction not only to ghost-hunting and fears of cannibal tribes in New Gunea, but Aleister Crowley, Vlad the Impaler and Nosferatu. Lovely little children's book that I carried with me everywhere for many many years.