THE SCARIEST CAMPFIRE STORY YOU'VE EVER HEARD (SCARIEST SILLIEST STORIES)

In Keres’ series picture book, two siblings have a silly fright during a family camping trip.

After a day of typical camping activities (including fishing) in a wooded area, two kids and their father try to sleep in their tents—but then they hear something out of the ordinary: a “moan, then a whine” and then “panting and wheezing.” Suddenly, the creature howls, and the moonlight reveals that the mysterious beast has big, scary claws. Maybe it’s a wolf or a bear—or possibly a sasquatch, they think. Should they climb a tree for safety? As the delightful rhymes, images, and comically illustrated onomatopoeias go by, young readers will be on the edge of their seats as they try to imagine what’s outside the tent. In the end, they see the monster’s true face and learn why it came for a visit. Young children are likely to be entertained by Keres’ succinct yet playful storytelling and Lin’s expressive, full-color cartoon illustrations. It’s the perfect book to bring on a family camping trip, as it presents a scary campfire story that won’t have kids losing sleep afterward. The family members are portrayed with pale skin.

A fun tale for little ones while sitting around a campfire.