Kids' books treats for right ages

What the world needs now is a scare-o-meter.

Parents could enter the age of a child and the title of a book and the scare-o-meter would register, on a scale from 1-10, just how gently or badly the child would be scared. I recently made the big bad mistake of reading "The Three Little Pigs" to a child who was too young. That Big Bad Wolp (this child can't pronounce the letter "f") would have registered a perfect "10" had there been a scare-o-meter available.

For Halloween, we can expect "wolps" and lots of other scary critters to appear front and center. Many of my closest neighbors put tremendous energy and creativity into making their houses spooky. For little kids, this can be terrifying. And fun. And terrifying fun. Ideally, children have the fun of being gently scared and the satisfaction of learning that they can laugh at something they thought was scary.

"I'm Looking for a Monster" by Timothy Young is perfect for children ages 2-5. With pop-ups, lift-the-flap and other interactions, children search for exactly the right monster: not too big, not too scary and definitely not slimy.

"Here They Come" by David Costello is great for children ages 4-7. They get the joke that the monsters are scared of the children who are wearing their Halloween costumes.

"Annie Was Warned" by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, also for children 4-7, has a clue embedded in the story and a surprise ending.

"A Tiger Called Thomas" by Charlotte Zolotow is a wonder- ful book any time of year, but especially at Halloween. A shy child finds it easier to meet his new neighbors when he thinks his costume hides him.

"What Was I Scared of?" by Dr. Seuss, for children ages 5 and up, is the story of "a pair of pale green pants with nobody inside them."

For older kids (I think at least third grade), "Lucy Dove" by

Janice Del Negro is the retelling of a Celtic tale that is seriously spooky. One mother recommends it for reading at slumber parties. I would do that if I wanted the guests to have nightmares.

And my all-time favorite, "Kate Culhane: A Ghost Story" by Michael Hague. This tale from Irish folklore is not for the fainthearted. It isn't for anyone who isn't prepared for details like a bowl of bloody oatmeal. Even high school students listen to this book with a certain amount of shock and awe.

For the more literally minded children (just the facts, please), "Dr. Ernest Drake's Monsterology: The Complete Book of Monstrous Beasts," edited by Dugald A Steer, is an excellent choice. Centaurs, cyclops, specimens of phoenix ashes and sea-serpent skin, advice on how to find the beasts and which spells and charms are useful — it's all there in a book full of flaps and surprises.

Until the scare-o-meter is invented, knowing the child and knowing the book ought to do the trick (or treat.)

Contact Fran Hawk at franbooks@yahoo.com.