A well - known children's scary story is 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff'. The troll under the bridge is quite menacing. It teaches kids about facing fears. Then there's 'Snow - White and the Seven Dwarfs' to some extent. The evil queen and her attempts to harm Snow - White can be a bit frightening for children.
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.
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.
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 famous Russian scary children's story is 'Baba Yaga'. Baba Yaga is a witch who lives in a hut that stands on chicken legs. She is often depicted as a menacing figure who can either help or harm those who cross her path. Another is 'Koschei the Deathless'. He is an evil sorcerer whose soul is hidden in a needle, which is inside an egg, which is inside a duck, and so on, making him very difficult to kill.
One example is 'The Little Match Girl' by Hans Christian Andersen. It's a sad and somewhat scary story about a poor girl trying to sell matches in the cold. Another is 'Bluebeard', which involves a cruel man with a dark secret in his locked room. And 'The Monkey's Paw' can also be considered scary for children as it shows how wishes can have terrifying consequences.
One classic is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a man who is haunted by the eye of an old man he lives with and his descent into madness as he tries to deal with his obsession. Another is 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' which contains a collection of spooky tales like 'Harold' about a scarecrow that comes to life. And then there's 'The Monkey's Paw' which tells the story of a family who gets a cursed monkey's paw that grants wishes with horrible consequences.
There's also the story of 'The Haunted House on Halloween'. In this story, a group of kids dare each other to enter an old, abandoned house on Halloween night. Once inside, they start to experience strange noises, cold drafts, and things moving on their own. They soon realize that the house is haunted by the ghosts of its former residents who died in a tragic fire long ago.