Reading Metrics
Description
All the stories contained in this book have been reported by real kids while baby-sitting.
Quick Summary
If you've ever been babysitting and felt like something was just a little off, this book will hit different. Allan Zullo collected real stories from kids who were actually babysitting when strange things happened, and there's something way more chilling about hearing it from someone your age rather than an adult trying to sound spooky. It's pitched perfectly for middle graders the AR level and length make it totally manageable for kids who might be intimidated by thicker chapter books, but it's got enough creepy moments to keep even reluctant readers flipping pages late into the night. Parents will appreciate that the stories stay at that sweet spot of giving kids a thrill without being genuinely horrifying, kind of like Goosebumps but with the twist that these supposedly really happened. Whether a kid loves urban legends, wants to feel a little spooked safely, or just needs something quick and fun to read, this works really well. It's especially great for kids who are starting to babysit themselves, since it plays into that whole "being alone in someone else's house at night" feeling. If your kiddevours scary stories, they'll also likely enjoy the similarly kid-friendly Creeped Out: True Spooky Stories collection, which has that same quick-hit format. Bottom line it's the kind of book kids will actually pick up on their own and then immediately want to tell you about at breakfast.