Oddly Enough

Gr 5—8—The nine short stories in this collection (Harcourt, 1994) by Bruce Coville involve a box given to a boy by an angel, a boy who may be a unicorn, an unseen monster stalking some children, a vampire telling a tale of the blood-drinking tradition, men who are werewolves, an obsessively neat family brownie and a not so neat girl, a headless ghost with a message, the American flag and standing up for one's beliefs, and the company of elves. Read by Coville and members of the Full Cast Family, each tale is preceded by atmospheric music that sets the mood and is delivered with quiet intensity and just the right amount of suspense and trepidation. These stories, ranging from humorous, wondrous, and poignant, to frightening and downright creepy, are sure to be a hit with listeners.—Mary Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH