Creepy Creatures (Goosebumps Graphix Series #1)

by R. L. Stine, Greg Ruth (Illustrator), Gabriel Hernandez (Illustrator), Sheila Keenan (Editor), Scott Morse (Adapted by), Greg Ruth (Adapted by), Gabriel Hernandez (Adapted by)

Overview

Three of Goosebumps' creepiest creature books ever!*
Now in a cool, new GB Graphix anthology adapted and illustrated by acclaimed comic artists Scott Morse, Greg Ruth, and Gabriel Hernandez.

Creepy creatures are howling, growling, and stalking through the artwork of the first Goosebumps Graphix anthology when three hot, talented comic artists adapt these bestselling Goosebumps books into a cool, new graphic novel format:

SCOTT MORSE, creator of the popular comic, "The Magic Pickle," brings his quirky sense of humor and madcap illustrations to "The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena," where two kids encounter an unlikely monster in sunny California.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780439841252
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	09/01/2006
Series:	Goosebumps Graphix , #1
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	47,819
Product dimensions:	8.84(w) x 10.88(h) x 0.43(d)
Lexile:	GN260L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

R.L. Stine's books have sold more than 300 million copies, making him one of the most popular children's authors in history. Besides Goosebumps, R.L. Stine has written series including: Fear Street, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room, and Dangerous Girls. R.L. Stine lives in New York with his wife, Jane, and his King Charles spaniel, Minnie. www.RLStine.com.

Hometown:

New York, New York

Date of Birth:

October 8, 1943

Place of Birth:

Columbus, Ohio

Education:

B.A., Ohio State University, 1965

Website:

http://www.rlstine.com

Editorial Reviews

SLJ
Gr 5 Up–These selections from the “Goosebumps” series have been abridged and put in a graphic-novel format, and the fast pace and horror elements make them perfect for this format. The black-and-white illustrations for each one are very different but fit each story well. In “The Werewolf of Fever Swamp,” the artwork bristles much like the hackles on a werewolf's neck. The smooth, realistic style of “The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight” makes the scarecrow chilling and haunting. The bolder, cartoon style of “The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena” perfectly fits this more humorous tale. This is a great option for younger readers interested in graphic novels, and the nostalgia is there for the older set.–Melissa T. Jenvey, New York Public Library

From the Publisher

It goes without saying that the Goosebump series is a favorite of the middle and young adult reader. This particular book is a collection of three creepy and eerie tales about a werewolf, a scarecrow, and an abominable snowman. The fact that the illustrations are in black and white actually add to the spookiness for the different plots. What perfect settings for scary stories...a swamp, a farm where a scarecrow walks at night, and a tundra where a monster breaks through a wall of snow and ice. The sounds "heard" throughout the stories add much suspense. Graphic books are favorites of mine, because they appeal to a wide range of young people. Struggling readers find them easier to follow and strong readers like the fast pace. Several pages at the end of the book include mini biographies of the artists. Let me leave you with a few choice words from the collection of stories. "Do you hear those howling sounds at night? Those howls aren't human! They come from a werewolf that has just killed!" "You shouldn't have come to the swamp at night, Grady...not when the moon is full!!!" "‘Please don't...go away! Hey! Let me out!' My heart was still pounding. I poked my head out the window and gazed to the ground...a scarecrow! It jerked its arms and legs at the sound of my scream." "Suddenly I felt myself being sucked down under the snow! The snow rushed up, swirled around us...and buried us. ‘We're trapped down here, Dad will never find us!'" These stories are not for the faint of heart, but rather for those who love a good horror story. A perfect gift, especially at Halloween time! Part of the "Goosebumps Graphics" series.

Children's Literature - Kathie M. Josephs

Goosebumps is a popular horror series for children; this graphic novel contains three creepy tales, each of which features artwork by a different illustrator. In "The Werewolf of Fever Swamp," a young boy suspects that a nearby swamp may be home to a werewolf. He soon finds out how right he is. A mob of animated scarecrows spoils a young girl's visit to her grandparents' farm in "The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight." Finally, a brother and sister learn what happens when you unfreeze a Yeti in sunny California in "The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena." Creepy Creatures is a fine choice for readers who enjoy a good scare. The main characters are all curious children saddled with the obligatory annoying brother or sister. This graphic novel doesn't contain a lot of blood and violence (the most violent sequences are in the werewolf story), and instead relies on the b/w art, which in two of the stories (the werewolf & the scarecrow) is actually quite atmospheric. The snowman tale is a bit cartoonish for my tastes. Recommended for the youngest YAs: it will be too intense for younger children, and older ones will be bored.

KLIATT - George Galuschak

Three Stine books, The Werewolf of Fever Swamp (Scholastic, 1993), The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight (1994), and The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena (1995), have been adapted for this first volume of the Goosebumps graphic novel series. Werewolf features the new boy in town who befriends a dog and explores the neighboring swamp with dangerous consequences. In Scarecrow, grandchildren visiting their grandparents' farm discover that the farmhand, Stanley, has been able to create life in scarecrows. Snowman brings sunny California youth to Alaska with their photographer father in search of the elusive snowman. When they find him, they decide to bring him home to Pasadena where he escapes and tromps through town. Each story has a different artist. Gabriel Hernandez and Greg Ruth both use realistic black-and-white artwork to tell their tales. In Werewolf, Hernandez uses shadows to build the suspense, which in most cases, works spectacularly. Ruth uses realism in Scarecrow to add a layer of beauty to the surreal nature of the story of scarecrows haunting a family. Scott Morse approaches Abominable Snowman differently. His black-and-white artwork is more cartoony and unrealistic than the other two artists. His style adds to the fun and humor that are highlighted in Stine's writing. Overall the book is a great addition to the Goosebumps realm. Older children and young teens who like Stine will eat it up.

VOYA - Kristin Fletcher-Spear