Literally Disturbed: Tales to Keep You Up at Night
Gr 3–6—Subtle humor and forthright horror are laced throughout this collection of Poe-like poems. For those who enjoy being terrified while having their senses tickled, the verses are full of dark, creepy imagery enhanced with ghostly pen-and-ink drawings confirming the mind's wildest imaginings. For example, "There's only one problem—/it's a big one, I won't lie./If you're gonna be a ghost,/well, then first you've got to DIE." Winters's verses cover typical scary topics, such as black cats, witches, and monsters, but also focus on subjects like a child whose cold might be more serious than it seems and a strange monkey statue with "glowing green eyes." A suitable compilation for late October, though some students might prefer lighter fare.—Magdaline Henderson-Diman, formerly at Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME