Tales of Ghosts and Hauntings

Posing the question, ‘Do ghosts really exit?, ‘Tales of Ghosts and Hauntings’ contains six gripping mysteries to investigate. Challenging the reader to consider the evidence and come to their own conclusions, this book is every bit as engaging as ‘Tales of Scary Beasts’ by the same author/ illustrator team, both excellent for promoting non-fiction’s role in reading for pleasure.

Each mystery is presented in an engaging and accessible manner, with key vocabulary clearly explained to support the reader’s comprehension. Eye witness quotes are included and the dates of events are clearly indicated as the evidence in each case is gathered. This is followed by a ‘Let’s Investigate’ section which gathers the key points together to support the reader in coming to their own conclusion.

The range of mysteries included ensures that there is something here to pique the curiosity of everyone. ‘Palace Phantoms’ investigates strange happenings at Hampton Court Palace. Other mysteries are included such as ghosts at the Tower of London, the Scheffler Palace in Stockholm and Himeji Castle in Japan as well as creepy rumours at Houska Castle in the Czech Republic. Historic details surrounding these events are given, with maps and plans to clarify and support understanding. ‘Demon Dogs’ investigates the many folklore stories which include strange dogs- Black Shuck is the focus story here, but other stories from the UK and around the world are included.

Perfect for the Hallowe’en season, ‘Tales of Ghosts and Hauntings’ is sure to entice readers and inspire them to investigate these stories - and any others which they might encounter!

Tales of Ghosts and Hauntings

Susan Martineau, illustrated by Vicky Barker

b small publishing ISBN: 978-1916851207

You can read my review of ‘Tales of Scary Beasts’ here.