Choosing scary tales for Halloween is a delicate business. I’d promised the children I’d read a spooky story for our Halloween Story Time and that they could dress up if they liked but after that announcement three parents descended upon me with worried expressions.

“Emily will cry if there are ghosts.”

OK, duly noted.

“Paul is terrified of clowns. Please no clown stories.”

OK, but you should have told me that before because clowns turn up in all sorts of stories.

The last objection tested my well-honed ability to maintain a straight face regardless of what I’m told in the library. “Faith had nightmares for weeks after she watched that movie about the boy going to the underworld to find his grandfather.”

Faith is three. If that moth...

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