Rowley Jefferson's awesome friendly spooky stories by Jeff Kinney

Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories joins the ranks of Jeff Kinney's Awesome Friendly series which follows the phenomenally successful Diary of a wimpy kid series. 

As with all of Jeff Kinney's books, this book will walk off the shelves to be enjoyed by primary aged children, particularly boys. Characters include Rowan, Gabe, Jasper, Anders, Gunther, Rafe and Robbie (mostly boys) and the situations are typical childhood scenarios and feature daredevilry. This time the action occurs in the intersection of daily school and homelife and the spooky realm of ghosts, vampires and zombies.

The narrator is removed - a storyteller. The stories follow the comfortable story formula . . . "There was once . . . and usually there is a twist to think about at the end. These stories deliver life messages in a humorous manner. Messages include being true to oneself, not taking pranks too far, making mistakes, making the right choices, not asking too many questions, accepting difference and being happy within one's own skin. The messages are only arrived at after the hilarious consequences of wrong choices are experienced; certainly though, Kinney is not "preachy." The reader receives the message naturally.

Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories is in large print with fun cartoon images - at least one/page, simple vocabulary presented on lined paper with the font suggesting that a young boy is writing in his journal. Although there is naughtiness, there is a sense of right and wrong, making these books acceptable to adults; the fun is harmless. 

Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories is particulary accessible to reluctant readers as it features short stories. A child can read any story in any sequence. The stories are comically spooky and often end with a twist. 

A perfect read for hooking in reluctant readers from aged 7 through the primary years.

Themes: Spooks, Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, School.

Wendy Jeffrey