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Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep
"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."--School Library Journal.
40 pages, Library Binding
First published June 1, 1976
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714 people want to read
About the author
Jack Prelutsky
141 books226 followersJack Prelutsky is an American poet. He attended New York public schools, and later the High School of Music and Art and Hunter College. Prelutsky, who has also worked as a busboy, furniture mover, folk singer, and cab driver, claims that he hated poetry in grade school because of the way it was taught. He is the author of more than 30 poetry collections including Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep< and A Pizza the Size of the Sun. He has also compiled countless children's anthologies comprised of poems of others'. Jack Prelutsky was married to Von Tre Venefue, a woman he had met in France. They divorced in 1995, but Jack remarried. He currently lives in Washington state with his wife, Carolyn. He befriended a gay poet named Espiritu Salamanca in 1997 and both now work together in writing poems and stories for children and adults alike.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
October 6, 2017
Nightmares” is a book of poems written by Jack Prelutsky along with illustrations by Arnold Lobel. This book contains poems about various monsters, wizards and ghosts doing horrible things to unsuspecting people. “Nightmares” might be too scary for smaller children, but older children will love the macabre content of this book.
Jack Prelutsky’s writing is dramatic and intense as he brings true horror to these poems. Each poem describes a monster doing horrible acts towards their victims and Jack Prelutsky brings great detail to how these victims are tortured, such as in “The Vampire” where Jack Prelutsky describes how the Vampire bites down on its victim and licks the blood off its lips. Arnold Lobel’s illustrations are the center of attention here as they are in black and white coloring, giving the story a gothic feel to it. The image that stood out the most was the image of the Dragon of Death having seven heads and vicious looking eyes in the poem “The Dragon of Death.”
“Nightmares” is surely one of Jack Prelutsky’s most haunting books he ever created since it talks about how monsters torture their victims to death. I would recommend this book to children ages seven and up since there are too many advanced words that young children might not understand and because of the macabre content displayed vividly in this book.
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
September 27, 2024
Could any artist have brought Jack Prelutsky's eerie poetic visions to life better than the iconic Arnold Lobel? I thought not before I cracked the binding on Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep, and my confidence was only bolstered by the book's contents. Jack Prelutsky adroitly treads close to crossing the line into gruesome description that might be too much for some kids and their parents, but it's Arnold Lobel's illustrating magic that places Nightmares on solid footing among the best juvenile books of its kind. Every drawing is shrouded in deep, palpable mystery, inviting the minds of spooked readers to imagine things ten times more alarming than what the story describes. It's no surprise that this pairing of beloved poet and artist were able to meld their unique abilities into such an extraordinary expression of the best of the Halloween season, and young readers are the beneficiary of the end product. Young or old, emerging literate or veteran of hundreds or thousands of books, Nightmares won't quickly seep out of your brain after you read it. Its brand of gothic menace is apt to linger in the back of one's memories for a lifetime.
"On a hilltop bleak and bare
looms the castle of despair,
only phantoms linger there
within its dismal walls.
Through the dark they're creeping, crawling,
frenzied furies battling, brawling,
sprawling, calling, caterwauling,
through the dusky halls."
—Nightmares, P. 6, from the poem The Haunted House
The Haunted House inimitably sets the atmosphere for the poems that follow, hinting at unspeakable horrors roaming the forbidding old mansion, where no child would want to be trapped within. Who could survive the myriad ghoulish presences that dominate the house, each reigning in its own area of the deserted property? Next up, The Will O' the Wisp warns of a pure, clean light burning in the darkest heart of the cold, desolate forest, a seeming beacon of hope for young ones hopelessly lost along the wooded path. But the will o' the wisp is a fraudulent caretaker, a sinister apparition that will lead you to your demise should you follow its beguiling flame. In The Bogeyman, the titular creature lurks betwixt gigantic gnarled trees and a sheer cliff face in the black abyss, waiting to pounce on lost children and rend their fragile bodies where no one can hear and respond to their piteous cries. You must avoid the bogeyman at all costs, "for oh!... what he'll do... when he gets you!" Arnold Lobel's drawing of the bogeyman skulking in the shadowy depths of his ravine is a spine-tingler, a disturbing depiction of the monster in its habitat. The Vampire tells of a being who seeks night after night to satiate the bloodlust that drives its murderous activities, sneaking in open windows to find victims and sap them of every ounce of blood their bodies hold. Oh, how the twisted curse of eternity gnaws at the heart of both monster and human, piercing each with their own unrelenting anguish.
The Dragon of Death reveals a fantasy beast straight out of Tolkien, a Smaug-like seven-headed reptilian fire breather living so far within the bowels of the earth that few humans have ventured deep enough to be killed by it. The dragon ferociously guards its stash of gold, effortlessly reducing would-be thieves to piles of charred cinders. Woe to him who disregards his own life for the sake of riches, and challenges this dragon to a battle of wills. The Troll cautions readers of another lowly, evil fiend like the bogeyman. The troll waits in his underground hole for tasty children playing nearby to suffer a misstep, and plunge down onto his readied plate where no little one has a prayer of escaping alive. Fear the troll in his subterranean abode and stay far from him, for his appetites are death to the young and innocent. Arnold Lobel's drawing that accompanies The Troll is decidedly discomfiting, with the hungry, unhappy creature gazing up at a couple of kids near his hole in the ground, hoping one of them will fall in. We witness the flight of a madcap hag as ghastly as any of lore in The Witch, which is mostly a description of the demonic harpy as she soars through the dark skies, her wicked intentions and occultic ability to fulfill them too awful for the narrator to elucidate. The Ogre is another cautionary piece warning the defenseless young to refrain from wandering about where they may become victims of an odious monster. No child with the misfortune to enter the ogre's underworld den has ever exited alive, and the tiny bones of countless victims line the walls of its catacombs as too-late warning to those feckless youngsters who step within.
A particularly scary scene is set by The Werewolf, of a vicious man-eating creature prowling the streets at night for humans who lack the wisdom to be tucked away safe in bed. Even people indoors quake with fear at the prospect of the werewolf hunting on the streets by night, so close to where they lie sheltered in bed. Arnold Lobel's illustration flawlessly captures the feeling. Earlier we read about a witch, and now is the time for The Wizard, an electrifying ode to the fearful power of the wizard in his tower stretching high above the skyline, where he resides in reclusive villainy ready to inflict his spells of torment and doom on hapless humans. Adding to the theme of monsters out to hunt children, The Ghoul paints a vivid picture in word and image of the treacherous ghoul waiting on the jungle gym for kids to be dismissed from school. The ghoul snatches the first child who gets too close, spiriting him or her away to his lair to make a meal of them (which the poem graphically depicts the preparation of), then makes his way to another school, perhaps the reader's, to wait for his next gourmet meal. What are children to do when so many supernatural predators have their number? Nightmares finishes with its twelfth poem, The Dance of the Thirteen Skeletons, a harmless tale of a snowy graveyard in the bleakest stretch of winter. The graveyard comes alive against the frigid air when skeletons rise up to perform a jubilant dance, until the bewitching hour is through and return they must to their loamy tombs until the clock once more chimes midnight. The skeletons do no wrong but to frighten the living should they happen into the cemetery at the wrong hour, and why should the dead be condemned to inactivity forevermore? A spirited dance social seems a relatively attractive way to pass the afterlife.
Jack Prelutsky and Arnold Lobel give tremendous performances in this poetic anthology, their respective contributions each essential to the book's success. Will O' the Wisp is one of my favorites of the collection, a wan precaution against the siren songs that can easily bring us down if we succumb to their superficial loveliness. The Vampire is another special favorite, a glimpse at the soulless nightmare of eternal life as an undead personage, craving the warmth and companionship of living humans but only being able to hurt the people we desire to be close to. The Troll evokes similar emotional response: Even a detested, reviled creature has to eat, but who will tolerate such a beast when his meal of choice is children? The troll lives underground and alone, with no hope of life ever improving. I love The Werewolf purely for its ill-boding, threatening vibes. This is Arnold Lobel at his artistic best, and it's ominously wondrous. The dozen poems that comprise Nightmares are the sort of stories that stick with young readers for decades, providing unforgettably lurid images to match their fears so that years later when they see a copy of the book, they say, "Oh! I remember that! It was so scary when I was little!" For the creators of a book like this, that's the most validating response possible. I adore the work of Jack Prelutsky and Arnold Lobel as a team or on their own, and it pleases me to look forward to immersing myself in their stories again in the future. I give Nightmares two and a half stars easily, and heartily recommend it to kids who think they can handle some serious scares. I loved this book, and I'm positive they will, too.
"On a hilltop bleak and bare
looms the castle of despair,
only phantoms linger there
within its dismal walls.
Through the dark they're creeping, crawling,
frenzied furies battling, brawling,
sprawling, calling, caterwauling,
through the dusky halls."
—Nightmares, P. 6, from the poem The Haunted House
The Haunted House inimitably sets the atmosphere for the poems that follow, hinting at unspeakable horrors roaming the forbidding old mansion, where no child would want to be trapped within. Who could survive the myriad ghoulish presences that dominate the house, each reigning in its own area of the deserted property? Next up, The Will O' the Wisp warns of a pure, clean light burning in the darkest heart of the cold, desolate forest, a seeming beacon of hope for young ones hopelessly lost along the wooded path. But the will o' the wisp is a fraudulent caretaker, a sinister apparition that will lead you to your demise should you follow its beguiling flame. In The Bogeyman, the titular creature lurks betwixt gigantic gnarled trees and a sheer cliff face in the black abyss, waiting to pounce on lost children and rend their fragile bodies where no one can hear and respond to their piteous cries. You must avoid the bogeyman at all costs, "for oh!... what he'll do... when he gets you!" Arnold Lobel's drawing of the bogeyman skulking in the shadowy depths of his ravine is a spine-tingler, a disturbing depiction of the monster in its habitat. The Vampire tells of a being who seeks night after night to satiate the bloodlust that drives its murderous activities, sneaking in open windows to find victims and sap them of every ounce of blood their bodies hold. Oh, how the twisted curse of eternity gnaws at the heart of both monster and human, piercing each with their own unrelenting anguish.
The Dragon of Death reveals a fantasy beast straight out of Tolkien, a Smaug-like seven-headed reptilian fire breather living so far within the bowels of the earth that few humans have ventured deep enough to be killed by it. The dragon ferociously guards its stash of gold, effortlessly reducing would-be thieves to piles of charred cinders. Woe to him who disregards his own life for the sake of riches, and challenges this dragon to a battle of wills. The Troll cautions readers of another lowly, evil fiend like the bogeyman. The troll waits in his underground hole for tasty children playing nearby to suffer a misstep, and plunge down onto his readied plate where no little one has a prayer of escaping alive. Fear the troll in his subterranean abode and stay far from him, for his appetites are death to the young and innocent. Arnold Lobel's drawing that accompanies The Troll is decidedly discomfiting, with the hungry, unhappy creature gazing up at a couple of kids near his hole in the ground, hoping one of them will fall in. We witness the flight of a madcap hag as ghastly as any of lore in The Witch, which is mostly a description of the demonic harpy as she soars through the dark skies, her wicked intentions and occultic ability to fulfill them too awful for the narrator to elucidate. The Ogre is another cautionary piece warning the defenseless young to refrain from wandering about where they may become victims of an odious monster. No child with the misfortune to enter the ogre's underworld den has ever exited alive, and the tiny bones of countless victims line the walls of its catacombs as too-late warning to those feckless youngsters who step within.
A particularly scary scene is set by The Werewolf, of a vicious man-eating creature prowling the streets at night for humans who lack the wisdom to be tucked away safe in bed. Even people indoors quake with fear at the prospect of the werewolf hunting on the streets by night, so close to where they lie sheltered in bed. Arnold Lobel's illustration flawlessly captures the feeling. Earlier we read about a witch, and now is the time for The Wizard, an electrifying ode to the fearful power of the wizard in his tower stretching high above the skyline, where he resides in reclusive villainy ready to inflict his spells of torment and doom on hapless humans. Adding to the theme of monsters out to hunt children, The Ghoul paints a vivid picture in word and image of the treacherous ghoul waiting on the jungle gym for kids to be dismissed from school. The ghoul snatches the first child who gets too close, spiriting him or her away to his lair to make a meal of them (which the poem graphically depicts the preparation of), then makes his way to another school, perhaps the reader's, to wait for his next gourmet meal. What are children to do when so many supernatural predators have their number? Nightmares finishes with its twelfth poem, The Dance of the Thirteen Skeletons, a harmless tale of a snowy graveyard in the bleakest stretch of winter. The graveyard comes alive against the frigid air when skeletons rise up to perform a jubilant dance, until the bewitching hour is through and return they must to their loamy tombs until the clock once more chimes midnight. The skeletons do no wrong but to frighten the living should they happen into the cemetery at the wrong hour, and why should the dead be condemned to inactivity forevermore? A spirited dance social seems a relatively attractive way to pass the afterlife.
Jack Prelutsky and Arnold Lobel give tremendous performances in this poetic anthology, their respective contributions each essential to the book's success. Will O' the Wisp is one of my favorites of the collection, a wan precaution against the siren songs that can easily bring us down if we succumb to their superficial loveliness. The Vampire is another special favorite, a glimpse at the soulless nightmare of eternal life as an undead personage, craving the warmth and companionship of living humans but only being able to hurt the people we desire to be close to. The Troll evokes similar emotional response: Even a detested, reviled creature has to eat, but who will tolerate such a beast when his meal of choice is children? The troll lives underground and alone, with no hope of life ever improving. I love The Werewolf purely for its ill-boding, threatening vibes. This is Arnold Lobel at his artistic best, and it's ominously wondrous. The dozen poems that comprise Nightmares are the sort of stories that stick with young readers for decades, providing unforgettably lurid images to match their fears so that years later when they see a copy of the book, they say, "Oh! I remember that! It was so scary when I was little!" For the creators of a book like this, that's the most validating response possible. I adore the work of Jack Prelutsky and Arnold Lobel as a team or on their own, and it pleases me to look forward to immersing myself in their stories again in the future. I give Nightmares two and a half stars easily, and heartily recommend it to kids who think they can handle some serious scares. I loved this book, and I'm positive they will, too.
October 15, 2020
This is superb for what it is, though it doesn’t claim to be much: “poems to trouble your sleep.” That’s correct: it does what it says on the tin. They are poems; they are frightening poems; they are fun to read; they are dark and troubling. There are not many of them, a dozen, mostly a single page: it’s a little book. If you want something scary at the young adult level, I’d say that the Scary Stories collections are a little more engaging than this, a bit more memorable, with even better illustrations. But if you’ve already devoured those, these are a nice dessert.
One warning: these are perhaps even a little more unsettling than the Scary Story books and definitely not for small children. There are quite graphic depictions of kidnapping, violence, and cannibalism, at least “graphic” for the under-13 crowd.
One warning: these are perhaps even a little more unsettling than the Scary Story books and definitely not for small children. There are quite graphic depictions of kidnapping, violence, and cannibalism, at least “graphic” for the under-13 crowd.
November 3, 2018
This was interesting. Some of the poems and drawings were good.
April 1, 2022
These poems could actually trouble your sleep! They are scary!
However, Arnold Lobel's illustrations could win an award.
However, Arnold Lobel's illustrations could win an award.
July 25, 2013
I first read this nearly 3 years ago. I found it while searching my library's website for books to read for the summer reading program. I love reading poetry, I love Halloween and just creepy things in general. I thought this would at least a good read, but I ended up loving it.
I had never read or heard of Jack Prelutsky before, but after reading this, I instantly became a fan. I'm sure the book is probably considered to be for children, as his other books of poetry are, but I believe adults would enjoy this collection of poetry as well. The poems and illustrations are both well-written and quite creepy. It's a perfect read for Halloween and those who love all things creepy.
I had never read or heard of Jack Prelutsky before, but after reading this, I instantly became a fan. I'm sure the book is probably considered to be for children, as his other books of poetry are, but I believe adults would enjoy this collection of poetry as well. The poems and illustrations are both well-written and quite creepy. It's a perfect read for Halloween and those who love all things creepy.
August 21, 2016
I forgot how much I love Jack Prelutsky! I don't think I've read any of his books for years, but I picked this up on a whim and loved it. It would have been perfect Halloween reading. I don't really read a lot of poetry, but I definitely want to read more Jack Prelutsky.
November 17, 2012
Excellent rhyming poems. Adults will appreciate these and will give kids something to figure out. They have an old feel to them without being terribly complicated.
February 10, 2015
new words: revenants, sombrous, smirched, roundelay
March 9, 2020
This book is full of fun read aloud poems that I would share with middle elementary to upper elementary on one condition: they are emotionally/mentally ready for scary stories.
This book contains frightful poems to chill your bones. It's like an encyclopedia of monsters, but told in poetry. Most of the poems warn you of the monsters and should you not heed the warning, you'll certainly meet a grim demise.
These poems are rather frightening and I can envision them giving nightmares to younger readers. That being said, as a young reader I loved the dark and macabre and at 3rd grade, I would have loved this book. I also know 3rd graders that would be terrified by these poems. They are definitely fun to read aloud as the poetry rolls off the tongue, and there are many examples of different types of poetry for the students to examine. Just be careful who you read it to.
This book contains frightful poems to chill your bones. It's like an encyclopedia of monsters, but told in poetry. Most of the poems warn you of the monsters and should you not heed the warning, you'll certainly meet a grim demise.
These poems are rather frightening and I can envision them giving nightmares to younger readers. That being said, as a young reader I loved the dark and macabre and at 3rd grade, I would have loved this book. I also know 3rd graders that would be terrified by these poems. They are definitely fun to read aloud as the poetry rolls off the tongue, and there are many examples of different types of poetry for the students to examine. Just be careful who you read it to.
October 25, 2019
I always got the feeling that The Will O The Wisp references the ballet Giselle. The Mummy used to scare me to oblivion when I was a child. These are a great collection of short stories to tell in the spooky dark of the night by candle light.
I love it that this book is full of Halloween classics: The Will O The Wisp, The Headless Horseman, The Mummy, The Spectre on the Moor, The Towring Giant, The Zombie, The Kraken, The Darkling Elves, The sorceress, The invisible Beast, The Abominable Snowman, The Banchee, The Poltergeist, The Wizard, The Werewolf, The Ghoul, The Dance of the Thirteen Skeletons, The Dragon of Death, The Bogeyman, The Witch, The Vampire, The Troll, The Ogre, and The Haunted House.
I love it that this book is full of Halloween classics: The Will O The Wisp, The Headless Horseman, The Mummy, The Spectre on the Moor, The Towring Giant, The Zombie, The Kraken, The Darkling Elves, The sorceress, The invisible Beast, The Abominable Snowman, The Banchee, The Poltergeist, The Wizard, The Werewolf, The Ghoul, The Dance of the Thirteen Skeletons, The Dragon of Death, The Bogeyman, The Witch, The Vampire, The Troll, The Ogre, and The Haunted House.
July 29, 2022
Jack Prelutsky is such a phenomenal children’s poet; I find it hard to believe that he has been banned. This book and its sequel the Headless Horseman Rides Again have both been banned. Why? Because they are scary. And because a while ago a 7-year-old in Ohio had an upset stomach after reading these scary tales (I wish I were making that up). I loved this book. It is along the lines of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, but in poetry form. It does not need to be banned, and I hope all Jack Prelutsky poetry books stay in children’s departments for years to come.
February 21, 2023
Some fun poetry that would be perfect to read around Halloween. Not scary for adults, but sure to be just the right amount of chilling for younger readers. While I think I preferred The Headless Horseman Rides Tonight: More Poems to Trouble Your Sleep, I still enjoyed myself. And of course, I loved Arnold Lobel's illustrations!
October 17, 2018
I loved this collection !! The poems are good for the spooky season and the art work is amazing.
To see more of my thoughts check out my blog.
https://bookworminkk.wordpress.com/20...
To see more of my thoughts check out my blog.
https://bookworminkk.wordpress.com/20...
October 29, 2022
I read this book for horror month and Jack Prelutsky was my favorite poet as a kid. I was surprised I never knew he wrote scary poems, too. :) They were pretty creepy and graphic for kids poems, but they will love them. It was hard to pick a favorite, but I think my favorite was The Troll.
November 8, 2017
such lovely creepy poems which delighted both mom and kids.
October 4, 2019
I am not really into poetry but I really loved this book. My only problem was that it is so short. Wish there were more poems in the collection.
February 6, 2020
Gruesome poetry for children. Really nice illustrations. Liked that it didn't hold back for a child audience.
July 13, 2020
It was a delight to see Lobel getting to illustrate an entirely different world than the one he usually occupied.
The poems, sadly, also exist.
The poems, sadly, also exist.
February 26, 2021
When life is dragging you down, grab a book from your childhood and you’ll instantly feel better. This one even smells the way I remember 😫
December 11, 2021
Great poems are put there, trendy for the 1900's .. my appreciation for the marvellous illustrations
January 31, 2022
Increíble!!! 💜💜💜💜
November 4, 2023
This was a pretty good read for most ages. Some of the poems really do live up to the name of the book.
April 24, 2013
Review – Nightmares: Poems to Trouble Your Sleep
This book needs to come with a disclaimer that it actually lives up to it's sub-title. This compilation of poems really does trouble your sleep. At least it did mine. Nevertheless, whatever creatures of nightmares troubled Jack Prelutsky's sleep, I am glad the author wrote it down.
Prelutsky is extremely talented in his use of alliteration and rhyme. His poems are full of these literary devices. While I feel like some poets insert so many literary devices that is comes off as being pretentious (and even a greater sin – using them unsuccessfully or overusing them so much so that it turns the reader off and makes them stop reading), Prelutsky uses alliteration and rhyme, among other devices, to enrich his writing. The poems wouldn't be as unnerving and eerie if they didn't contain these. Prelutsky's macabre theme and his writing style in Nightmares is reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe's works. When one reads lines such as “Filmy visions, ever flocking, / dart through chambers, crudely mocking, / rudely rapping, tapping, knocking / on the crumbling doors” one can't help but think of Poe's The Raven. Besides being a absolutely chilling personal read, the poems are a must for any poetry unit (and it doesn't have to be just around Halloween time!) The poems are also filled with great vocabulary to learn!
Prelutsky is such a skilled poet that his words evoke images of that which he writes about, and so I think the compilation could have done without the illustrations, especially because some of them just seem so childish that they take away from the mood established by the poet's words. Otherwise, Nightmares is a an amazing compilation. If you are in the mood for well-written poetry that will bring to life the creatures of your darkest nightmares, then read Nightmares. If you're braver yet, read it alone at night, and don't be surprised to find yourself wondering if that creaking floorboard is more than just your imagination!
This book needs to come with a disclaimer that it actually lives up to it's sub-title. This compilation of poems really does trouble your sleep. At least it did mine. Nevertheless, whatever creatures of nightmares troubled Jack Prelutsky's sleep, I am glad the author wrote it down.
Prelutsky is extremely talented in his use of alliteration and rhyme. His poems are full of these literary devices. While I feel like some poets insert so many literary devices that is comes off as being pretentious (and even a greater sin – using them unsuccessfully or overusing them so much so that it turns the reader off and makes them stop reading), Prelutsky uses alliteration and rhyme, among other devices, to enrich his writing. The poems wouldn't be as unnerving and eerie if they didn't contain these. Prelutsky's macabre theme and his writing style in Nightmares is reminiscent of Edgar Allen Poe's works. When one reads lines such as “Filmy visions, ever flocking, / dart through chambers, crudely mocking, / rudely rapping, tapping, knocking / on the crumbling doors” one can't help but think of Poe's The Raven. Besides being a absolutely chilling personal read, the poems are a must for any poetry unit (and it doesn't have to be just around Halloween time!) The poems are also filled with great vocabulary to learn!
Prelutsky is such a skilled poet that his words evoke images of that which he writes about, and so I think the compilation could have done without the illustrations, especially because some of them just seem so childish that they take away from the mood established by the poet's words. Otherwise, Nightmares is a an amazing compilation. If you are in the mood for well-written poetry that will bring to life the creatures of your darkest nightmares, then read Nightmares. If you're braver yet, read it alone at night, and don't be surprised to find yourself wondering if that creaking floorboard is more than just your imagination!
Read
November 16, 2012Interest Level: 3rd-5th
Lexile Level: N/A
Genre: Poetry
Main characters: N/A
Point of View: First person
Setting: N/A
Nightmares is a collection of twelve poems about ghosts, ghouls, boogie men, vampires and many other spooky creatures. The illustrations are in black and white, and they make the poems come to life. These creepy poems use detailed sensory words to give children nightmarish images. The rhyme scheme of these poems are written so that there are four lines in each stanza. For some of the poems, the first line rhymes with the third line and the second line rhymes with the fourth line. In other poems the first and second lines rhyme and then the third and fourth lines rhyme. Every once in a while Prelutsky throws in words that most third to fifth graders would not know. This could help to increase their vocabulary because they are reading poems that they enjoy, and while they are engaged they are learning new words. Some of these poems may be too intense for the students, so when using them in a classroom the teacher would need to carefully choose which poems to use.
In my future classroom, I would provide a collection of Jack Prelutsky's books and have this one as an option. The students could choose whichever Jack Prelutsky book they wanted and look at the style of his poems. They would copy that style of writing in order to complete their own poem after carefully studying the patterns that appeared in the poem that they chose.
Lexile Level: N/A
Genre: Poetry
Main characters: N/A
Point of View: First person
Setting: N/A
Nightmares is a collection of twelve poems about ghosts, ghouls, boogie men, vampires and many other spooky creatures. The illustrations are in black and white, and they make the poems come to life. These creepy poems use detailed sensory words to give children nightmarish images. The rhyme scheme of these poems are written so that there are four lines in each stanza. For some of the poems, the first line rhymes with the third line and the second line rhymes with the fourth line. In other poems the first and second lines rhyme and then the third and fourth lines rhyme. Every once in a while Prelutsky throws in words that most third to fifth graders would not know. This could help to increase their vocabulary because they are reading poems that they enjoy, and while they are engaged they are learning new words. Some of these poems may be too intense for the students, so when using them in a classroom the teacher would need to carefully choose which poems to use.
In my future classroom, I would provide a collection of Jack Prelutsky's books and have this one as an option. The students could choose whichever Jack Prelutsky book they wanted and look at the style of his poems. They would copy that style of writing in order to complete their own poem after carefully studying the patterns that appeared in the poem that they chose.
October 31, 2018
I purchased this book back in the mid-1990s to read to my students during October. Prelutsky is an interesting poet and I enjoy the poems just fine. Unfortunately, I have found that the poems do not go over well with my fourth graders. The language is difficult for them. In recent years I have abandoned even attempting these.
****
Planned to read this to my students this Halloween. Unlike previous attempts, this went down pretty well today. Students were into it. I should have practiced a little more as I stumbled in my oral reading on a few lines.
Twelve poems that do a good job capturing the scary of the holiday. Perfect read for our #classroombookaday. We pulled the shades, turned out the lights, and had great fun reading about ogres, ghouls, vampires, and the like.
Glad I decided to give this another attempt with students.
****
Planned to read this to my students this Halloween. Unlike previous attempts, this went down pretty well today. Students were into it. I should have practiced a little more as I stumbled in my oral reading on a few lines.
Twelve poems that do a good job capturing the scary of the holiday. Perfect read for our #classroombookaday. We pulled the shades, turned out the lights, and had great fun reading about ogres, ghouls, vampires, and the like.
Glad I decided to give this another attempt with students.
September 7, 2014
This collection of liightly horrific poems is a clear mimic of the genre pioneered by Edward Gorey, but it isn't quite successful. Prelutsky covers all of the typical horror creatures - from ghosts to ogres - but the poems don't really stand out. His rhymes and themes aren't as carefully wrought as Gorey's (whose immennse effort results in effortless-sounding poems), so they often sound a bit stiff and stilted. Rarely do his characters have much to distinguish them from their counterparts either, so there isn't any "wow" moment as there usually is with Gorey's plethora of troubled children. With a little more time and practice, though, I can see that Prelutsky is on the right path, and in time he may produce a better collection.
February 21, 2008
Prelutsky fans might find this one a surprise. This book really does offer up some fairly disturbing images for the young. However, I loved this book as a kid. I recently remembered the existence of this book and did a huge amount of searching to re-identify it. The pictures and words are every bit as scary as I'd remembered. The poems here don't pull any punches. I'm sort of surprised a book from my childhood was even this graphic. I'm not trying to scare anyone away from this book, but impressionable children might really find their sleep troubled.
May 12, 2009
Collection of 12 poems illuminating the creatures that lurk in the dark. Certainly a darker side of Prelutsky. Black and white sketch illustrations help convey nightmare/haunted mood of the collection. 'The Ghoul' encourages readers to stay in school - especially when they learn that this truant officer patiently waits to break them to pieces, feasting them 'with delight and ease, for every parts a treat.'
October 18, 2011
These poems are a little sophisticated, with some tough vocabulary, but read aloud in just the right creepy tone, some of them will send shivers up and down the spine.
The poem I find creepiest? "The Ghoul." Seriously. He's just waiting outside, sitting on the monkey bars, waiting for school to let out.
So he can drag you away by your hair and EAT YOU.
The poem I find creepiest? "The Ghoul." Seriously. He's just waiting outside, sitting on the monkey bars, waiting for school to let out.
So he can drag you away by your hair and EAT YOU.
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