Bibliography
Prelutsky, Jack, and
Plot Summary
Nightmares Poems to Trouble Your Sleep is a wonderfully creepy collection of poems by Jack Prelutsky. It starts easily enough with The Haunted House and then moves on to scarier poems about the Bogeyman, the Werewolf, The Ghoul, and more. Some of the topics of the poems are well known like Dracula, but some are general like the Witch or the Wizard. Each rhyming poem describes each monster with great detail – enough to strike fear into some adults!
The most frightening poem is called, The Ghoul. This poem goes into detail about the ghoul waiting for children outside of their schools and then what he does with them like, “…he chews their thumbs like candy snacks and pulls apart their tongues.” After describing even more what the ghoul does and eats, he goes on to another school, waiting atop the playground equipment for little boys and girls to come out.
Critical Analysis
This is a chilling gathering of poems that would be a wonderful fall or Halloween time read for children who are old enough to appreciate the frightful tones of the poems. The rhyming verses almost mimic the footsteps one would hear after reading them while alone. Besides rhyme, Prelutsky uses alliteration in some of his poems as well.
What really adds to the eerie tone of this book are the dark feeling black and white illustrations by Arnold Lobel. These black pen drawings really help communicate the scariness of each evil lurking and the innocence of each unknowing victim. Some of these illustrations are even humorous, like the Troll’s duck-billed nose and long fingernails. The art is very detailed and is very well done. Each picture shows shadow and depth that contributes to the dismal theme of the book.
Overall, children, teens, and adults would like to be spooked by this compilation of nightmarish poems. Teachers, librarians, and parents could create much fun for children with this book at Halloween time.
Review Excerpts
Kirkus Review: “Whether or not they trouble your sleep, Prelutsky's ogre's gallery makes other monster poems turn pale.”
School Library Journal: "A dozen original poems on the `horrifying' subjects (ghouls, vampires, skeletons, etc.) so dear to many young hearts....Your steel-nerved patrons will appreciate both poems and pictures."
Connections
Have students go to Jack Prelutsky’s web site (http://www.jackprelutsky.com/). Let them explore the children’s site of his site and the poems on his site. Also, check out the parent/teacher side of his site for more ideas.
Other Jack Prelutsky books for Halloween time:
Awful Ogre's Awful Day
It’s Halloween
Monday’s Troll
The Headless Horseman Rides Tonight : More Poems to Trouble Your Sleep
The Gargoyle on the Roof: Poems
Wild Witches’ Ball
The Wizard
Have students come up with sound effects for one of the poems to be performed before the class.
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