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Mary McScary
Renowned bestselling children's book talents R.L. Stine, creator of the Goosebumps series, and Marc Brown, creator of the Arthur Adventure series, join forces once again in a spine-tingling, wildly funny picture book story featuring a ...
Paperback
First published August 29, 2017
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About the author
R.L. Stine
1,740 books19k followersRobert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
April 23, 2022
More like Mary McBratty! Mary isn't scary, she's just a pest who needs a talking to about how she treats other people and especially animals. I felt sorry for her always-anxious cat. I much preferred her cousins Harry who likes all animals, even scary ones like hippos and giant spiders (the surrealism of her having all these wild creatures at hand was the most amusing bit of the story) -- at least up till the lame, "eww, girl cooties!" ending.
October 14, 2017
This wasn't very good and I was hoping since it was written by R.L Stine that it would be. I guess I was expecting something a tad spooky and fun, but this was just a meh read. It was nothing new to me.
March 16, 2020
Author R.L. Stine and illustrator Marc Brown, who previously collaborated on
The Little Shop of Monsters
, join forces again with this second picture-book venture, this time chronicling the (mis)adventures of the eponymous Mary McScary, a young girl who relishes frightening others. From her pet to her parents, Mary knows how to be scary. Unfortunately, the one person she can't seem to frighten, her cousin Harry McScary, is coming for a visit...
I was surprised to find, given the fact that I enjoyed this author/illustrator team's earlier book, that Mary McScary left me cold, and not in a good, shivery way. Somehow I just couldn't work up any interest in the story, or in whether Mary succeeded in her quest to scare Harry. I also wasn't really impressed by the artwork, in the same way I was in the monster shop book. Tastes vary, so I imagine some will find this an engagingly scary tale, but for me it fell a little flat.
I was surprised to find, given the fact that I enjoyed this author/illustrator team's earlier book, that Mary McScary left me cold, and not in a good, shivery way. Somehow I just couldn't work up any interest in the story, or in whether Mary succeeded in her quest to scare Harry. I also wasn't really impressed by the artwork, in the same way I was in the monster shop book. Tastes vary, so I imagine some will find this an engagingly scary tale, but for me it fell a little flat.
September 11, 2017
Just "okay" for me. I liked the refrain of "Beware of Mary McScary," but scary is also one of those words that starts to lose its meaning after you see it so often. Kids will probably get a kick out of Mary's vast and random collection of animals. (Where did the hippo come from??)
But I wasn't a huge fan of scaring the household pets (THAT'S the one that should have had the "don't try this at home" warning), and even the ending sort of rubbed me the wrong way. I've never been a big fan of the "girls have cooties" thing.
But I wasn't a huge fan of scaring the household pets (THAT'S the one that should have had the "don't try this at home" warning), and even the ending sort of rubbed me the wrong way. I've never been a big fan of the "girls have cooties" thing.
May 17, 2022
I love how ownry Mary is! Fun art as well!!!!
March 26, 2023
A short but funny kid's book by the master of children's horror, Mr. R.L. Stine
December 14, 2024
That poor kitty 🥺
June 3, 2019
It was pretty funny. I like how Harry McScary gets scared by a kiss. One day I want to kiss him. - G, age 7
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2017
Okay, so this one isn't technically about Halloween but it is a GREAT book to read during that time. It focuses on Mary who prides herself on her scariness. Until her cousin arrives that is. My son could not get enough of this book. I had to keep renewing it until the library wouldn't let me anymore. I think at this age (nearly 4) he's fascinated by the idea of a kid scaring another kid, and also by the idea of different personalities (Mary falls into the "loves horror, gore, and scaring others" category, quite a new concept for my son). He loves how Harry overcomes each of Mary's "scary challenges." I think any child 3+ who is interested in how all this scary/halloween/spookiness works, as well as the idea of how people are so different, will love this book.
November 2, 2024
This one felt super-dated and Mary just sucks.
October 27, 2017
R.L. Stine and Marc Brown working on a book together?! Yay! I've been familiar with both of their works since I was a kid so, it's really cool seeing them together.
This is about a girl who loves scaring people or animals, anything she can get a reaction out of, the only one who is not bothered by her tricks is her cousin! She tries very hard through out the book to find a way to scare him. The illustrations are really colorful and fun, the ending I found funny. This could be a fun story for Halloween.
This is about a girl who loves scaring people or animals, anything she can get a reaction out of, the only one who is not bothered by her tricks is her cousin! She tries very hard through out the book to find a way to scare him. The illustrations are really colorful and fun, the ending I found funny. This could be a fun story for Halloween.
November 11, 2017
Stine, R.L. Mary McScary, PICTURE BOOK. Orchard Books, 2017. $17.99.
Mary McScary LOVES to be scary. She’ll come up with crazy disguises and dangerous tricks so that she can scare her parents and her pets, even inanimate objects because she’s so scary. The only person she can’t seem to scare, is her cousin, Harry McScary. She takes it upon herself to scare him once and for all. Unfortunately, everything that she does, just doesn’t seem to work. As a final resort she tries to kiss Harry and that does the trick. He runs right out the door.
Marc Brown (the author and illustrator of the “Arthur books”) has created the artwork for this book and it is really engaging. The look very familiar, but have a different flair than what you are used to seeing in his illustrations. The book is very silly and has a few wild elements that my three year old loved. It’s a fun collaboration from a well known author and a well known illustrator.
PRE-K, EL (K-3)- ESSENTIAL. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
Mary McScary LOVES to be scary. She’ll come up with crazy disguises and dangerous tricks so that she can scare her parents and her pets, even inanimate objects because she’s so scary. The only person she can’t seem to scare, is her cousin, Harry McScary. She takes it upon herself to scare him once and for all. Unfortunately, everything that she does, just doesn’t seem to work. As a final resort she tries to kiss Harry and that does the trick. He runs right out the door.
Marc Brown (the author and illustrator of the “Arthur books”) has created the artwork for this book and it is really engaging. The look very familiar, but have a different flair than what you are used to seeing in his illustrations. The book is very silly and has a few wild elements that my three year old loved. It’s a fun collaboration from a well known author and a well known illustrator.
PRE-K, EL (K-3)- ESSENTIAL. Reviewed by Shay, School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...
October 5, 2017
Mary McScary likes to scare everyone. Beware of Mary McScary. She scares her mom, her dad, her dog, her fish, there's nobody she can't scare. Except for her cousin Harry McScary. Harry's coming over to visit and Mary feels that today is the day she'll finally scare him.
Mary tries everything to scare Harry: a costume, spiders, snakes, even a hippo, but nothing works. Mary starts to feel defeated when an idea forms in her mind. There's one thing she hasn't tried, but will it work?
I was so excited to see that R.L. Stine had a children's book out. I loved the Goosebumps series as a child and was excited to be able to share this one with my daughter. I loved the illustrations and how it has the spooky element that R.L. Stine is known, but it's child-friendly.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this book to fans of R.L. Stine who want to share his stories with their children. I also recommend this to fans of spooky books, especially during the fall and Halloween season.
Mary tries everything to scare Harry: a costume, spiders, snakes, even a hippo, but nothing works. Mary starts to feel defeated when an idea forms in her mind. There's one thing she hasn't tried, but will it work?
I was so excited to see that R.L. Stine had a children's book out. I loved the Goosebumps series as a child and was excited to be able to share this one with my daughter. I loved the illustrations and how it has the spooky element that R.L. Stine is known, but it's child-friendly.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this book to fans of R.L. Stine who want to share his stories with their children. I also recommend this to fans of spooky books, especially during the fall and Halloween season.
June 23, 2019
I thought I was being overly critical of this book, and then I read some of the other reviews. First of all, this is from a R.L. Stine, so I was expecting something entirely different. Mary is not scary in the horror sense, but in the jump scare sort of sense.
Many people have trouble with the idea that Mary scared her pets or that a boy ran away from her when she’s trying to be all smoochy. Yeah, the pet thing isn’t the greatest, but seriously, have you taught young kids? Romance and kissing is not something they like. It’s not that “girls have the cooties.” It’s that kissing is gross to them. Remember The Princess Bride? “Is this a kissing book?!” Lol!
I guess I was just not into this text. It would be great for a low level reader as there are many repetitive words and phrases-not a difficult lexile level. Overall, though, it just didn’t hold my interest.
Many people have trouble with the idea that Mary scared her pets or that a boy ran away from her when she’s trying to be all smoochy. Yeah, the pet thing isn’t the greatest, but seriously, have you taught young kids? Romance and kissing is not something they like. It’s not that “girls have the cooties.” It’s that kissing is gross to them. Remember The Princess Bride? “Is this a kissing book?!” Lol!
I guess I was just not into this text. It would be great for a low level reader as there are many repetitive words and phrases-not a difficult lexile level. Overall, though, it just didn’t hold my interest.
Read
December 3, 2022Mary McScary is an ok book by R.L Stine. Mary McScary likes to be scary. She could scare her mom, dad, her pet and even a balloon! But when her cousin Harry McScary comes over, she tries to scare him. She was pretty sure that she could. Not even spiders, snakes, and unusual things can scare Harry. She didn't give up! There was only one thing that could finally scare Harry and it worked!
This multimodal format of this book is an audio book. It is creating a perspective on Mary telling her story about how she can scare everything. It was a challenge to scare her cousin Harry but in the end she did one thing to scare him. I think you can put yourself in her spot and especially around Halloween time.. you think that you can scare anyone.
I would read this book to a 4-8 year old probably around Halloween time.
This multimodal format of this book is an audio book. It is creating a perspective on Mary telling her story about how she can scare everything. It was a challenge to scare her cousin Harry but in the end she did one thing to scare him. I think you can put yourself in her spot and especially around Halloween time.. you think that you can scare anyone.
I would read this book to a 4-8 year old probably around Halloween time.
October 28, 2017
Although I had a good idea of where this story was going from the start, I still smiled once the conclusion had been reached. Clearly, Mary McScary is a frightening child, and the things that scare others don't phase her at all. In this story, she is determined to scare the living daylights out of her cousin Harry when he visits her. But try as she might and no matter how large or creepy her efforts, Harry remains unflappable. That's when Mary pulls out the big guns and frightens Harry away with a little affection. The illustrations capture all the scary stuff and the two characters' personalities quite well, even while giving a nod to the usual fear most young boys of receiving a kiss from--ugh!--a girl, even if she is a cousin.
February 21, 2020
Early Reader K-2
Hardcover
Mary McScary written by R.L. Stine and illustrated by Marc Brown was published on August 29th 2017. Mary likes to be scary! She enjoys scaring her dad, mom, pets, even inanimate objects like a balloon! The only person Mary can’t seem to scare is her cousin Harry McScary. This is because Harry isn’t afraid of your typical scary stuff like spiders and snakes. This however does not detour Mary as she is determined to give Harry a big fright! This book is a comedic read for your K-2 child and comes from the bestselling author of the Goosebumps series, R.L. Stine. The whole family will have a laugh and enjoy reading this one.
Hardcover
Mary McScary written by R.L. Stine and illustrated by Marc Brown was published on August 29th 2017. Mary likes to be scary! She enjoys scaring her dad, mom, pets, even inanimate objects like a balloon! The only person Mary can’t seem to scare is her cousin Harry McScary. This is because Harry isn’t afraid of your typical scary stuff like spiders and snakes. This however does not detour Mary as she is determined to give Harry a big fright! This book is a comedic read for your K-2 child and comes from the bestselling author of the Goosebumps series, R.L. Stine. The whole family will have a laugh and enjoy reading this one.
September 1, 2017
The king of kiddie horror novels aims for a younger crowd with MARY MCSCARY. Mary thinks she can scare her cousin, but it turns out that even her most terrifying (and increasingly silly) ideas don't phase him. This picture book will elicit more giggles than shivers.
I do not like the fact, however, that one page depicts Mary scaring her household pets (a dog and a goldfish). Intentionally frightening pets isn't cool or funny, it's cruel and possibly dangerous. It bothered me that some kids might imitate this aspect of MARY MCSCARY.
I do not like the fact, however, that one page depicts Mary scaring her household pets (a dog and a goldfish). Intentionally frightening pets isn't cool or funny, it's cruel and possibly dangerous. It bothered me that some kids might imitate this aspect of MARY MCSCARY.
October 18, 2019
I really enjoyed reading Mary McScary. This book is not necessarily halloween related, but it could be used to read around this time of year and could be connected to the "scary" theme of halloween. Mary McScary is determined to do whatever it takes to scare he cousin Harry. I think that children would enjoy all of the creative ways that Mary tries to scare her cousin, Harry. Mary tries a costume, spiders, snakes, and being eaten by a hippo, but nothing scares Harry until Mary tries to kiss him. Ultimately Mary achieves her goal of scaring her cousin and proves that she is scary.
June 16, 2017
Fun children book. Maybe for a little bigger readers, so they don't get too scared. Illustrations are so vibrant and fun.
Mary McScary likes to scare everybody. Her mom, and dad, even dog and fish. The only person who seems to be immune to her scary tricks is her cousin Harry. But Mary doesn't give up easy. Maybe spiders will scare Harry? Maybe snakes, or hippopotamus? There must be something. And Mary is determined to find out.
Mary McScary likes to scare everybody. Her mom, and dad, even dog and fish. The only person who seems to be immune to her scary tricks is her cousin Harry. But Mary doesn't give up easy. Maybe spiders will scare Harry? Maybe snakes, or hippopotamus? There must be something. And Mary is determined to find out.
September 25, 2017
Agree with other reviewers who pointed out that they were sick of the word "scary" by the time they finished reading this. I wanted to re-name her "Bratty McScary" ;) Oy vey! Also, not a terrifically big fan of the whole girl's having "cooties" and that is the "SCARIEST" thing in the world. This book with its wild menagerie of animals that appeared out of nowhere and its horribly smug cousin just wasn't my thing.
December 30, 2017
Not sure, I just didn't love this. Something about how she used a kiss to scare her cousin didn't work for me. I also didn't love that she scared her pets. Not cool.
The other things Mary uses to scare Harry run from expected (spiders and snakes) to a little odd (a hippo and a gorilla).
Kids might like this, but it just didn't work for me.
*I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher through my district library services*
The other things Mary uses to scare Harry run from expected (spiders and snakes) to a little odd (a hippo and a gorilla).
Kids might like this, but it just didn't work for me.
*I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher through my district library services*
March 19, 2018
Mary McScary by R.L. Stine is a great read not only for Halloween, but any day!
Mary McScary loves to give everyone around her a good scare!! And it works on everyone, everyone except her cousin Harry McScary!! He is not of afraid of anything...not spiders, not snakes, not anything!! Mary is determined to find something, anything that will scare Harry! Will she be able to do it??🕷🐍👻
A super cute read for all little ones! I can’t wait to read it with our students!
Mary McScary loves to give everyone around her a good scare!! And it works on everyone, everyone except her cousin Harry McScary!! He is not of afraid of anything...not spiders, not snakes, not anything!! Mary is determined to find something, anything that will scare Harry! Will she be able to do it??🕷🐍👻
A super cute read for all little ones! I can’t wait to read it with our students!
October 7, 2023
It is a cute tale about a girl who likes to scare everybody, and does, everybody except for her cousin. I love R.L. Stine (Goosebumps) and Marc Brown (Arthur) so this was double the fun. I just think the ending was weird. One thing I don't get is that picture books aren't scary, but they promote them as such. When I was a kid there was this picture book called Heckedy Peg and it was creepy and I loved it. They just don't make them like they used to. My rating - 3/5
September 7, 2017
R.L. Stine and Marc Brown are back with what is sure to be a popular choice among young readers who delight in scaring others. Mary loves to scare her friends and family, and she is quite good at it. But her unflappable cousin Harry remains calm despite Mary's best efforts. She is about to admit defeat when she thinks of one final think that just might push Harry over the edge.
September 28, 2017
This is a really cute book by R.L. Stine and illustrated by Marc Brown. It is about a girl named Mary McScary who thinks she can scare her cousin Harry McScary. Well she tries everything to scare him but fails. She almost gives up until she realizes what would really scare him......a kiss! So cute.
October 3, 2017
What happens with you take scare specialist Stine and Marc Brown illustrator extraordinaire? You get Mary! This cute (but not really scary) character Mary can scare everyone but her cousin. What lengths will she go to attempt to scare him? Find out how she cutely scares him in the end. Kids will love if read with great enunciation and gusto!
December 11, 2017
My kids likes 'scary' picture books so I knew this would be a winner for her. I wasn't that wild about the illustrations, but, they're good, just not my style. Premise of the story is that Mary McScary enjoys scaring people, but has trouble scaring her cousin Harry. She does manage to scare him in the end, but not in the typical way.
Cute and funny, the sort of book that is fun to read aloud.
Cute and funny, the sort of book that is fun to read aloud.
September 20, 2020
Fun story about Mary and her acts that scare everyone in the family. This story got lots of hoots from my listeners when read aloud. She loves scaring everyone but her cousin Harry will not succumb to her antics until the last page and Harry couldn't take it when she stopped trying. Seems cousins have a lot of fun together in this story and colorful illustrations are a nice addition.
March 30, 2022
Super cute book for elementary students, Mary can scare everyone and everything but nothing will scare Harry! She tries everything spiders, gorillas, slippery slimy snakes, and even a hippo but nothing works! Until the last thing she could think of a kiss! and Harry goes running! such a cute book and would be good for a classroom library!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews