Title: Haunted House.Author/Illustrator: Jan Pienkowski.
Publisher: Heinemann.
Published: 1979.
Format: Hardback.
Source: My own copy.
Haunted House tells the story of a mouse who asks his local doctor for help due to several issues, which turn out to be linked with the spooky house that he lives in. A brilliant example of the pictures telling more than the story, we get to learn more information about the house that the mouse does not know. There are many ways in which the reader can discover the secrets via interacting with the book - opening a flap may reveal a scary monster hiding behind a door, for instance. The illustrations are suitably spooky, but drawn in a way that will appeal to a child reader.
Title: The Dwindling Party.
Author/Illustrator: Edward Gorey.
Publisher: Heinemann.
Published: 1982.
Format: Hardback.
Source: My own copy.
The Dwindling Party is a story told in verse about the hapless MacFizzets, who set off to visit the mysterious Hickyacket Hall estate but slowly disappear one by one. Gorey's trademark dark humour runs through the book - we are offered a wry observation as to what happened to each member of the family, right up until the end when the survivor joins in with their own humorous comment on what just occurred. The illustrations are suitably gothic with many different spooky creatures appearing to take the MacFizzets away, and the reader can make these scenes come to life by pulling the tabs (thus controlling their fate).
I hope you all have a happy Halloween and enjoy these books as much as I do. Whether you remember them from childhood like I do, or have heard about them for the first time from this blog, you can be sure that they will provide a fascinating and chilling experience for the whole family!
