Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is the first book of the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark trilogy, each story was collected and retold by the late Alvin Schwartz. The illustrations were drawn by Stephen Gammell and the book was published in October 14, 1981.
In 2011, the book along with the other books in the trilogy, would be receive reprints in 2011 by HarperCollins, with new art by Brett Helquist which was more cartoonish as opposed to Stephen Gammel's more disturbing art, this change would stir controversy among fans of the original artwork.
The first book and the trilogy would be once again released in 2017 in a box set. The books would later be re-released once more in 2019 as tie ins to the film of the same name that had been released the same year. Both re-releaseses would retain Stephen Gammel's original artwork instead of Helquist's less disturbing drawings.
Stories included[]
There are 29 stories in total divided among 5 chapters. Strange And Scary Things precedes all these stories.
"Aaaaaaaaaaah!": This chapter is filled with "jump stories" you can use to make your friends JUMP with fright.
- The Big Toe
- The Walk
- What Do You Come For?
- Me Tie Dough-ty Walker!
- A Man Who Lived In Leeds
- Old Woman All Skin and Bone
He Heard Footsteps Coming Up the Cellar Stairs...: There are ghosts in this chapter. One comes back as a real person. Another takes revenge on her murderer. And there are other stranger happenings.
They Eat Your Eyes, They Eat Your Nose: There are scary stories about all kings of things. The ones told in here are about a grave, a witch, a man who liked to swim, a hunting trip, and a market basket. There also is one about worms eating a corpse - your corpse.
- The Hearse Song
- The Girl Who Stood on a Grave
- A New Horse
- Alligators
- Room for One More
- The Wendigo
- The Dead Man's Brains
- May I Carry Your Basket?
Other Dangers: Most of the scary stories in this book have been passed down over the years. But the ones in this chapter have been told only in recent times. They are stories that young people often tell about dangers we face in our lives today.
"Aaaaaaaaaaah!": This chapter has the same title as the first chapter. But the stories in the first chapter are not meant to scare you. The ones in this chapter are meant to make you laugh.
The Ghost with the Bloody Fingers
Gallery[]
Illustrations not associated with any of the stories
