Tiddly and Winks: Don’t Be Scared

R.L. Stine has more than 350 million English language books in print, plus international editions in 32 languages, making him one of the most popular children’s authors in history. Besides Goosebumps, R.L. Stine has written other series, including Fear Street, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room, and Dangerous Girls. R.L. Stine lives in New York with his wife, Jane, and his Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Minnie. Visit him online at rlstine.com.Marc Brown has had various jobs and careers: truck driver, farmer, college professor, and finally renowned author and illustrator of children's books, including the beloved Arthur series. His work has received numerous awards and honors and been widely exhibited in the U.S. and abroad, including in one-man shows. He is also the creative producer of the three-time Emmy Award-winning PBS show Arthur. He has three children and lives with his wife, Laurene.

Stine and Brown’s book is fueled by personality dynamics more interesting than what’s typically found in early-reader fare. An entertaining and accessible start to a spooky-funny early-reader series. — KirkusEmerging readers will enjoy every aspect of this fun transitional book centered on fear, penned by children’s horror legend Stine, and illustrated by “Arthur” creator Brown. Simple sentences and repetition encourage reading confidence. Developmentally, readers will build resilience through controlled fright as they watch Tiddly sneak up on Winks, experience satisfaction along with Winks as he shines in the end, and ultimately consider how they themselves might react with a friend in Tiddly’s or Winks’s situation. A delightful and unique addition to the “My First I Can Read” series. — School Library Journal