Funnybones

On a dark dark hill there is a dark dark town, and down in a dark dark cellar live a big skeleton, a little skeleton and a dog skeleton. One night they decide to go out and frighten somebody, and what follows is far more silly than scary. The repeated lines invite small listeners to chant along, while the pictures, with pale bones against inky backgrounds, give them plenty to pore over on every page.

Janet and Allan Ahlberg made something rare here: a spooky story that makes children giggle rather than hide under the covers. It has been read aloud for generations, and it suits a Halloween evening as well as any ordinary bedtime. A lovely choice for young children who like a little shiver, and for grown-ups who enjoy doing the voices.