One classic children scary story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's vulture - like eye and eventually kills him. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' where a family makes wishes on a magical paw with horrifying consequences. And 'Little Red Riding Hood' can also be a bit scary when the wolf is involved.
Well, there's 'Bluebeard'. In this story, Bluebeard has a locked room that his new wife is forbidden to enter. When she does, she discovers the bodies of his former wives. 'Hansel and Gretel' can be scary too. The two children are left in the forest by their parents and then have to face the witch who wants to eat them. Also, 'The Headless Horseman' story, where a horseman without a head chases people at night.
There's 'Bluebeard'. In this story, Bluebeard has a locked room that his new wife is forbidden to enter. When she does, she discovers the horrible secret inside. It's a great children's scary story because it creates a sense of mystery and dread. Also, 'The Monkey's Paw' can be considered. It shows how wishes can go horribly wrong, which is a scary concept for children.
Another example is 'In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories'. It contains short, scary stories that are perfect for younger readers who are just starting to explore the world of spooky tales. The simple language and vivid descriptions in these stories can make a child's imagination run wild with fear and excitement.
One classic is 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'. It features the Headless Horseman who chases Ichabod Crane through the town. Another is 'The Turn of the Screw' which has a very eerie atmosphere with the ghosts of the former servants haunting the children in the house. And 'Casper the Friendly Ghost' can also be a bit spooky in some versions as he is a ghost after all.
The 'Goosebumps' series by R.L. Stine is also well - known. There are numerous books in this series, each filled with hair - raising adventures. For example, in some of the stories, kids encounter monsters that lurk in the shadows or strange events that occur in their own neighborhoods. These stories are great because they are not overly terrifying but still give that spooky feeling.
One popular children's book with scary stories is 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark'. It has a collection of spine - chilling tales that are both spooky and engaging for kids. The stories often involve things like haunted houses, strange creatures, and eerie events.
There's also 'The Tell - Tale Heart'. It's about a man who is driven mad by an old man's 'evil eye'. The narrator's descent into madness and his obsession with the eye, and then the way he hides the body and is haunted by the sound of the heart is super spooky for children. It makes them think about guilt and the consequences of bad deeds.
One classic scary children story is 'Hansel and Gretel'. It's about two children who get lost in the forest and find a house made of gingerbread, but it's owned by a wicked witch who wants to eat them. Another is 'Little Red Riding Hood'. The girl goes to visit her grandmother in the woods and meets a big bad wolf along the way. The wolf then tries to trick her and eat her and her grandmother. 'The Three Little Pigs' is also a bit scary. Three pigs build houses of different materials to protect themselves from a wolf who is determined to blow their houses down and eat them.
One scary ghost children story is 'The Changeling'. It's about a child who is secretly replaced by a malevolent spirit. The family notices strange behavior in the 'new' child, like speaking in an unknown language and having an otherworldly look in its eyes. Another is 'The Orphanage Ghosts'. In this story, an old orphanage is haunted by the spirits of children who died there under mysterious circumstances. People who visit at night often hear the sound of children crying and see shadowy figures running around.
One of the scary children's stories is 'The Little Match Girl' by Hans Christian Andersen. It's a sad and somewhat spooky tale about a poor girl trying to sell matches in the cold. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' which has elements of horror as the wishes made on the paw come with terrifying consequences. And 'Bluebeard' is also quite scary, with the idea of a man having a secret room full of the bodies of his previous wives.
One classic scary story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is driven mad by the old man's vulture - like eye and eventually kills him. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw', where a family gets a cursed paw that grants wishes but with terrible consequences. There's also 'The Yellow Wallpaper', which is a disturbing tale of a woman's descent into madness.