The Unseen: Scary Stories
on Goodreads (26)
What’s inside...
This collection of spine-tingling poems and fiction will stay in the reader's mind for a long, long time. Even if you don't believe in the unseen you will enjoy these spooky stories and poems. A collection of twenty-one short stories and poems about ghosts and other things supernatural by a variety of Canadian authors including Tim Wynne-Jones, Kit Pearson, Jean Little, Karleen Bradford, Janet Lunn, and L.M.Montgomery.
Age
8-12
Length
123 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What emotions did you feel while reading the stories? Can you explain why?
Which story was your favorite and what lesson did you learn from it?
How did the characters in the stories handle their fears?
If you could change the ending of any story, what would it be and why?
What would you do if you were in a similar situation as one of the characters?
Tip: Role play these questions
Create a comfortable and cozy reading environment to help your child feel secure while discussing potentially scary topics.
Validate your child’s feelings and fears, emphasizing that it’s okay to feel scared and discussing ways to manage those feelings.
Encourage your child to imagine different scenarios or endings to the stories, boosting their creativity and problem-solving skills.
Link the stories to real-life situations or personal experiences to make the themes more relatable and meaningful.
Use follow-up questions to encourage deeper thinking and connection to the characters’ experiences and choices.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Courage in facing fears
Explanation: The characters in 'The Unseen: Scary Stories' often encounter eerie situations that test their bravery. Through their journey, they learn to confront and overcome their fears.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to face everyday fears such as trying new activities or standing up in class, understanding that bravery is about facing up to challenges even when scared.
Example Lesson: Empathy and understanding
Explanation: As the characters interact with various supernatural beings, they learn to understand and empathize with perspectives different from their own.
Real-World Application: This can help children appreciate the feelings and viewpoints of others in their school or family, fostering a more supportive and inclusive environment.
Example Lesson: The importance of storytelling
Explanation: The book beautifully highlights how stories can be a way to connect with others and pass on important lessons and cultural values.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to share their own stories or listen to those of others, enhancing their communication skills and deepening their connections with people around them.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving
Explanation: Characters in the book often find themselves in tricky situations that require clever and creative solutions, showcasing the importance of critical thinking.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think critically and creatively in their own lives, whether in solving a math problem or resolving a conflict with a friend.
Example Lesson: The value of curiosity
Explanation: The protagonist's curiosity drives them to explore and uncover the unknown, proving that curiosity is a powerful tool for learning.
Real-World Application: This lesson can motivate children to ask questions and seek out knowledge, fostering a lifelong love of learning and exploration.