THE ZEBRABOOK JOURNAL · HALLOWEEN 🎃
Why Do Children Love a Little Scare?
How stories turn little shivers into wonderful discoveries.
Grinning pumpkins, funny ghosts, mysterious mummies and fantastic creatures… As Halloween approaches, children enter a world where the spooky and the silly go hand in hand.
But why do some children enjoy those little shivers of fear so much? Why do they ask for another ghost story, even when the slightest unexpected noise sends them hiding beneath the covers?
Perhaps stories offer something rather wonderful: a chance to explore the unknown, at their own pace.
A Little Fear Can Help Children Explore Their Feelings
Fear is one of the many emotions children gradually learn to recognise, understand and put into words.
A strange noise in a story, a mysterious shadow, an intimidating character… These moments of suspense can spark all sorts of reactions: surprise, excitement, uncertainty or curiosity.
But there is an important difference between a playful scare and fear that genuinely upsets a child.
In a story suited to their age and sensitivity, children can encounter something a little frightening while still feeling safe. They can close the book, ask a question or snuggle up to the person reading with them.
“Something that seems frightening at first can turn out to be funny, heartwarming… or simply fascinating!”
A Ghost Who Lost His Shoes: When a Scare Turns into a Smile
Picture an old Scottish castle, rain falling over a loch, and a mysterious presence wandering through its corridors…
That's the setting for an unexpected encounter in A Tour of Europe , a personalised children's book by Zebrabook.
As the little adventurer enters a rather gloomy castle, they call out: “Hellooo, is anybody there?”
And, to their surprise, someone answers!
It's a ghost. But not quite the kind you might expect. For more than a hundred years, he's been desperately searching for his shoes so he can finally go to the pub. Nobody has helped him, and he's been stuck in the castle ever since.
Luckily, the young adventurer has just spotted his shoes by the entrance! Moments later, the ghost can finally leave, calling out a cheerful “Thanks a lot!”
This little scene offers a lovely reminder: a mysterious character isn't necessarily dangerous or mean.
Behind a spooky appearance, there might simply be a funny story, a misunderstanding or someone who needs a helping hand.
Discover the Adventure
A journey across Europe, surprising traditions and a little Scottish ghost who just needs a helping hand!
Discover A Tour of Europe →Why Do Children Love Mysteries?
Children love asking questions, imagining explanations and discovering what's hiding behind things they don't yet understand.
What's inside that ancient pyramid? Why did the ancient Egyptians make mummies? Which animals live in the deepest parts of the ocean? And what might we discover if we could travel hundreds of years into the past?
All these questions encourage children to look beyond first impressions and explore something new.
Something that seems strange or intimidating can become a wonderful opportunity to learn.
Mummies, Ancient Gods and Mysterious Civilisations: When History Gives Us Goosebumps
Halloween often brings to mind mummies, skeletons and mysterious tombs. Yet behind these images lie real traditions and fascinating civilisations.
In ancient Egypt, mummification was closely connected to beliefs about life after death. Certain organs could be preserved in special containers known as canopic jars.
In A Journey Through Time – Volume 1 , the young hero meets an embalmer who asks for help preparing the mummy of Pharaoh Hatshepsut.
But when the child discovers what the task involves, the answer is immediate: “Uhhh, sorry, I have to go!” And off they dash!
Later in the adventure, the young traveller encounters the Maya and learns about their complex calendar, their beliefs and certain rituals that may seem particularly surprising to us today.
These scenes are told with a touch of humour and adventure. They introduce children to sometimes astonishing historical practices, without turning the story into a horror tale.
After all, discovering the past also means understanding that people haven't always lived, thought or understood the world in the same way we do today.
For Little Explorers of the Past
A personalised adventure through different eras, fascinating civilisations and their surprising secrets.
Discover A Journey Through Time →Can Stories Help Children Talk About Fear?
It's not always easy for children to put their feelings into words.
Why does a particular scene frighten them? Why does a character make them sad? Why do they want to know what happens next, even when they're feeling a little nervous?
Reading together can open the door to these conversations. Rather than brushing a feeling aside, adults can ask a few simple questions.
Questions to Ask While Reading Together
- “What do you find a little scary in this story?”
- “How do you think the character is feeling?”
- “What might help them feel safe?”
- “Would you like to keep reading or take a little break?”
These conversations give children a chance to express their feelings and discover that every emotion has its place, even the uncomfortable ones.
This is also a theme we love exploring at Zebrabook. In The Ocean of Feelings , younger children can discover different emotions through a gentle adventure.
Three Ideas for a Halloween Full of Discoveries
Halloween doesn't have to mean terrifying monsters and nightmares!
Mummies, pyramids, ancient castles and lost civilisations: there are so many ways to spark a young explorer's curiosity.
A secret door, a forgotten treasure chest, a ghost who's lost his shoes… Let the child imagine what happens next!
Ask the child what makes them feel afraid, what makes them laugh or what helps them feel safe. You could even invent characters to represent different emotions.
The most important thing is to respect each child's pace. Some children love a little thrill, while others prefer gentle, reassuring stories. And that's perfectly fine.
✦ 🎃 ✦
Stories to Grow, Learn and Discover
At Zebrabook, we love stories that take the imagination on a journey and inspire children to ask a thousand questions.
A slightly clumsy Scottish ghost, an Egyptian mummy, an ancient civilisation with astonishing traditions… And a whole world of emotions to explore along the way.
Because a wonderful story doesn't have to be scary to be captivating.
Discover Zebrabook's Personalised Books →Happy Halloween to all our little explorers!