Maria Leach (1892–1977)

***This book was reviewed for Netgalley***

Leach’s The Thing at the Foot of the Bed is an amusing collection of ghost stories and urban legends perfect for telling around campfires and at sleepovers. Who doesn't love a good scary story? This is a reprint of a 1959 book, and the language is colloquial, and oft culture specific. The nuances of different dialects, folk speech, and subculture slang were particular interests of the author. This book was written with children in mind as the audience, and the writing reflects that. I love to read to my cubs, and the tone change can be quite a relief, fun and enjoyable.

There are several sections. The first has funny stories, like 'The Thing at the Foot of the Bed’, where a man is terrified of his own feet. Next up are scary stories, such as 'No Head', where a farmer meets a headless spirit. Part Three are real ghost stories and here you’ll find a variation of the urban legend of the ghostly hitchhiker. After that is a series of odd 'ghostly games’, followed by a few witchy stories. The last section contains some amusing and interesting do's and don’t’s about interacting with ghosts

This is a precursor to Schwartz’s popular Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, which recounts many of the same tales collected here. I loved the cover! I even recognised the story before I opened the book. It’s a scene from 'Wait Til Martin Comes’, one of my favourite stories as a child.

I read this to my cubs, who love scary stuff. Who doesn't, right? They enjoyed them all, especially the ones Jonas read with the surprise startle element like the story 'The Thing at the Foot of the Bed', which dissolved them into giggles afterwards.

🎻🎻🎻🎻 Recommended for younger kids who love scary stories, and for parents, scout leaders, and camp counselors who enjoy storytelling, especially around a blazing campfire.… (altro)

This book includes a fun variety of folktales and riddles from around the world. Maria Leach, the author, includes a variety of versions and background information to each of the riddles, tales, and stories included in the book The collection has a light, fun variety of stories. It is a quick and humorous read. The overall theme is to get the reader to think creatively.

I liked the book I can understand why children would enjoy it. It is a good way to introduce the idea of different, non-traditional folktales. It includes people making silly or dumb mistakes, something in which children can relate. It includes a fun story of catching a thief that steals a blanket, telling horses apart.

Some of the stories includ simple line drawings. It helps readers envision the silliness. Especially with "The Man with the Chair on His Head". This story includes illustrations of the man shooting at the frog, and with a deer walking upright with a stool on its head. The fun illustrations in this sense, help the stories come alive.… (altro)