Tiddly and Winks: Don’t Be Scared

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. — Kirkus Emerging 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