R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series, Vol. 3

Gr 4–8—Reminiscent of Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark, this five-episode collection of spine-tingling fun is sure to give tweens a few spooks. "Fear Never Knocks" involves a mysterious tape recorder that holds all the fears of a psychiatrist's patients. In "Best Friend Forever," a young boy, desperate for a pet that he can't kill, acquires a zombie as his new friend. The story of the "Black Mask "follows three tweens as they sneak into an old house to discover a mask that gives them the ability to see into the future. In "My Sister the Witch," a young boy suspects his sister has been dabbling in witchcraft when she returns from boarding school. A boy is so consumed with ice cream that an ice cream truck begins to haunt him in "Catching Cold." Bonus features include a behind the scenes look at "Black Mask" and the original TV promos of all episodes. Some of the content has the potential to cause nightmares in younger children, but overall this is a first purchase for libraries with a strong "Goosebumps" fan base.—Amanda Schiavulli, Finger Lakes Library System, NY