Topic: Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

The Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Book Series

The Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark book series is a 3-volume collection of short scary stories for kids, originally published between 1981 to 1991. They consisted of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (1981), More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (1984), and Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones (1991).

I made a documentary about the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books. And so arguably no one has spent more time thinking about them, from the folklore tales to the ghastly illustrations they are known for.

The books consisted of approximately 82 stories and songs. Below are listed each of them. And below that you can find a growing list of articles, diving deeper into the stories and the art. After spending years compiling research and interviews into a documentary, I decided there was a lot more to say. So over time I am taking all the wonderful and intriguing source material discoveries, social commentary, folk tale tidbits and artistic oddities I found and outlining them on Scary Studies. Right here.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Book

^{Courtesy HarperCollins}

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (1981)

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, The Thing, Cold as Clay, The White Wolf, The Haunted House, The Guests, 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?”, The Hook, The White Satin Evening Gown, High Beams, The Babysitter, The Viper, The Attic, The Slithery-Dee, Aaron Kelly’s Bones, Wait til Martin Comes, The Ghost with the Bloody Fingers

More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (1984)

Something was Wrong, The Wreck, One Sunday Morning, Sounds, A Weird Blue Light, Somebody Fell From Aloft, The Little Black Dog, Clinkity-Clink, The Bride, Rings on Her Fingers, The Drum, The Window, Wonderful Sausage, The Cat’s Paw, The Voice, “Oh, Susannah!”, The Man in the Middle, Cat in a Shopping Bag, The Bed by the Window, The Dead Man’s Hand, A Ghost in the Mirror, The Curse, The Church, The Bad News, Cemetery Soup, The Brown Suit, BA-ROOOM!, Thumpity-Thump

Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones (1991)

The Appointment, The Bus Stop, Faster and Faster, Just Delicious, Hello Kate!, The Black Dog, Footsteps, Like Cat’s Eyes, Bess, Harold, The Dead Hand, Such Things Happen, The Wolf Girl, The Dream, Sam’s New Pet, Maybe You Will Remember, The Red Spot, No Thanks, The Trouble, Strangers, The Hog, Is Something Wrong?, It’s Him!, T-H-U-P-P-P-P-P-P-P!, You May Be Next…

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WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY

scary stories to tell in the dark book

Part of the FOUNDATIONS OF HORROR ^more>>

the pale lady

Scary Stories

The Story Behind The Pale Lady from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

I made a documentary about Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. (Now available to watch.) The three books consisted of over 80 ...

By Cody MeirickMarch 9, 20220

me tie doughty walker

Scary Stories

Me Tie Doughty Walker! Origins and Meaning Behind the Scary Story

I made a documentary about Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. (Now available to watch.) The three books consisted of over 80 ...

By Cody MeirickFebruary 18, 20220

the red spot story

Scary Stories

Origins and Meaning of The Red Spot from the Scary Stories Books

I made a documentary about Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. (Now available to watch.) The three books consisted of over 80 ...

By Cody MeirickNovember 8, 20210

haunted house scary stories to tell in the dark

Scary Stories

Origins of The Haunted House and THAT Picture from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

I made a documentary about Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. (Now available to watch.) The three books consisted of over 80 ...

By Cody MeirickSeptember 3, 20210

vindow viper

Scary Stories

The Story of the Vindow Viper, The Famous (Funny) Campfire Tale

I made a documentary about Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. (Now available to watch.) The three books consisted of over 80 ...

By Cody MeirickJuly 2, 20210

the girl with the green ribbon

Scary Stories

The Girl with the Green Ribbon – The Story Behind the Tale

The story The Green Ribbon is a tale that often is confused with being in the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark ...

By Cody MeirickMay 12, 202112

stephen gammell interview

Scary Art

A Glimpse of Stephen Gammell: From Mudkin to the Few Interviews He Has Given

Stephen Gammell is an elusive figure. No one knows that more than me. Long story short, he has declined to be interviewed or ...

By Cody MeirickMay 4, 20210

the babysitter story, janett christman

Scary Stories

The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs and the Case of Janett Christman

I made a documentary about Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. (Now available to watch.) The three books consisted of over 80 ...

By Cody MeirickMay 1, 20210

Rawhead and Bloody Bones, Rawhead Rex

Scary Creatures

Rawhead and Bloody Bones or Rawhead Rex: The Folk Behind the Folk Tale

Ah, the bogeyman… or as Mr Burns would say, the “boogerman”… There are many bogeyman that grace our folklore from many traditions. Scary ...

By Cody MeirickApril 11, 20211

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Art Work

Scary Art

6 Best Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Art Works

We’re getting into a subjective and passionate topic here. The illustrations! The Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark art work has become ...

By Cody MeirickApril 7, 20210

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