The Dancing Skeleton

by Cynthia C. DeFelice

Book Overview

A man rises out of his grave to haunted his widow in this scary funny story. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0027264521
• ISBN13: 9780027264524
• Release Date: September 1989
• Publisher: Atheneum Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 8.3" x 10.3"
• Age Range: 4 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

a family favorite

My son found this book at the school library last autumn and has been checking it out regularly ever since. The idea might seem macabre, but we think the story is hilarious. It's especially fun to read out loud--the language is great, really rhythmic. At 6, my son knows that people can't come back from the dead and that skeletons can't dance, and sees the humor in one that does, so we haven't had any death issues resulting from the book. I highly recommend this for a fun Halloween read. As the skeleton says, "Oooooweeee! Ain't we havin' fun!"

A quirky read

My son and I found this book at a library in Spain. Every week he would want to check it out again. When I first began looking for this book to own, it was out of print. We finally found it again here and have been enjoying it since. We have lent it to several friends who have also enjoyed the book. A word of warning: the book starts explicitly with the husband's death. Some people don't want their kids exposed to matters such as this. I do not think this book would be a useful book to explain the concept of death to a child. It takes death very lightly and is a fun book to read. But for a child who has had a recent loss, the idea of the loved one coming back as a skeleton and sitting in the living room might be a bit too much. Great Halloween book! We truly enjoy this book!

rollicking fun

My two kids (3,4) love this book - they picked it up at the library, and we've read it six times in the last two days.The prose is lyrical - I'm not at all unhappy when my daugher asks me to read it yet again, as it is really quite at its best when read aloud. I'm not a fan of horror, or even ghost stories, but this is really quite funny, and not at all disturbing. Indeed, it takes what would be a classic haunting story and makes light of it.I'll definately buy this one if I can find a copy.BTW "Are You Mad" needs to read it again - the village isn't celebrating (no one missed him, because he was mean), nor is the widow only interested in the insurance money (she's concerned that she won't be able to afford the coffin if Aaron doesn't stay dead, as the insurance won't pay if he isn't).A childrens book that both you and your children will enjoy. One caveat... my kids have been introduced to "death" already - they're missing two grandparents and a horse, and we've talked about death a fair amount. Your mileage may vary.

An amusing book for all ages

My three year old son has a fascination with skeletons. We checked this book out of the library and read it to him many times. It is so funny. I am now buying a copy, I hope for Christmas.

Wonderful to Read Aloud

The text and illustrations complement each other perfectly in this amusingly gruesome but never too-scary tale about a man who wouldn't let his wife have any peace in life--or death. Just try to read it aloud without a bit of a mountain twang! What a pity that it isn't more widely known.