The Araminta Spookie Series
This series of books is geared toward children in Grades 2-4. The books have amusing illustrations and tell the story of young Araminta Spookie. Araminta and her family are spooky, but not too scary for young readers. The series involves her whole family of characters including Aunt Tabby and her nocturnal Uncle Drac.
I read the first book, My Haunted House, with my daughter. She was drawn to the book by the interesting cover—which is weird, but somehow funny-looking at the same time. Soon Araminta and her surroundings became a fun read for my child. The stories have all the trappings that most eerie books have (frogs, bats, ghosts, spells, vampires, wizards, trapped doors and secret passageways) without blood and gore or spine-tingling effects. I found it to be very appropriate reading for this age. They are a good lead-in for future readers of Harry Potter books. Definitely a fun escape!
