By GLENN TOLLE
Monsters fascinated and empowered me; as a shy kid and I found comfort in their boldness. I also found lots of food for my imagination in the folklore and mythology surrounding these fearsome creatures. Like most monster kids, I wasn’t just content to read about monsters, I wanted BE one. The book I’m covering in this edition of FRIGHTS FOR TYKES, MONSTERS AND GHOULS: COSTUMES AND LORE by Frieda Gates and published by Walker & Co. in 1980, teaches budding monster kids the history behind their favourite creatures and shows how to become them with things that are easily obtained.
I discovered this book at a library sale that was being held a week before Halloween. I went home that night and read it cover to cover. I was so impressed with the level of information offered in its mere 47 pages and the innovative and easy to follow instructions it gave for becoming anything from your run-of-the-mill mummy, to ”a monster from the sea”. MONSTERS AND GHOULS and its companion volume EASY TO MAKE MONSTER MASKS AND DISGUISES (also written by Gates and published in 1979 by Harvey House), don’t contain glossy full colour pages or fold-out posters. They do, however, contain some great information on monsters and becoming one yourself. Most importantly you can feel the heart of a fellow monster kid beating in their bindings.
MONSTERS AND GHOULS: COSTUMES AND LORE can currently be purchased on AMAZON for $3.50, plus shipping, in “Acceptable” condition.
EASY TO MAKE MONSTER MASKS AND DISGUISES can currently be purchased on AMAZON for $4.50 with free shipping, in “Good” condition.
