What makes a children's story scary is often the sense of the unknown. For example, in 'The Yellow Wallpaper', the woman's slow descent into madness as she is confined in a room with strange wallpaper is scary because we don't really know what's going on in her mind or what the wallpaper represents. Another factor is the threat to the main character. In 'Snow White', the queen's attempts to kill Snow White create a lot of tension and fear.
One of the scariest elements is the presence of supernatural or unexplained entities. In a children's scary story, when there's a ghost, monster, or some otherworldly being like the Babadook, it immediately gives a sense of dread. These entities often defy the normal rules of the world that children are used to. Also, the isolation of the characters can be very scary. If a child in a story is all alone in a big, dark forest or an empty house, they seem more vulnerable. And when the story builds tension slowly, it gets scarier. For instance, if a strange noise starts small and then gets louder and more frequent as the story progresses, it makes the reader or listener more and more afraid.
When a king is associated with the macabre and the supernatural, it can be really scary. Like King Vlad III and his connection to the Dracula legend. The idea of a king being so cruel that he becomes a symbol of horror in folklore, with stories of impaled bodies and a blood - thirsty reputation, makes for a truly terrifying king story.
Relatability can also be a key factor. If a scary story touches on common fears like the fear of death, the dark, or being alone, it can be scarier. For instance, stories about being home alone at night and hearing strange noises play on our real - life fears. We can easily put ourselves in the shoes of the characters, and that makes the horror more palpable. It makes the scariest scary story one that really gets under our skin.
One of the scariest children's stories is 'The Little Match Girl' by Hans Christian Andersen. The girl is so poor and alone in the cold, and her tragic end is really heart - breaking. Another is 'The Monkey's Paw' which has elements of horror as the wishes made on the paw come with terrifying consequences. Also, 'The Tell - Tale Heart' can be considered scary for kids as it has a sense of madness and guilt that is quite disturbing.
One reason could be that the characters and their problems are very specific to a child's world. Maybe the story has lots of colorful pictures or fun rhymes that appeal to kids' senses. Also, the moral lessons might be presented in a straightforward way that children can understand easily.
The unknown. In a scariest ghost story, not knowing what the ghost is, where it comes from, or what it wants makes it terrifying. For example, if a ghost just appears as a shadowy figure in the corner of your eye but you can't figure out its form or intention, it sends shivers down your spine.
A good children's story often has interesting characters. For example, like the curious little monkey in 'Curious George'. It also has a simple and engaging plot that kids can easily follow. And it usually contains a positive message, such as the importance of friendship or being kind.
An amazing children's story often has engaging characters. For example, in 'The Gruffalo', the mouse is a very clever character that kids love. Simple and clear language is also important so that children can easily understand. For instance, in 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?', the repetitive language is easy for kids to follow.
A good children's story often has interesting characters. For example, in 'The Little Prince', the little prince himself is a very charming character that children can easily be attracted to. It also has a simple yet engaging plot. The story should be easy for children to understand but still full of surprises. And it usually contains some positive values like friendship, kindness and courage, which can help children learn important life lessons.
A good children's story usually has simple yet engaging language, colorful characters, and a positive message. It should also be fun and easy to follow.