One appropriate scary story could be 'The Haunted Doll'. It's about a doll that moves on its own at night. A girl named Emily found an old doll in the attic. Every night, she would hear strange noises coming from the doll's room. When she checked, the doll was in different positions each time. It was really creepy but not too extreme for a sleepover.
A great appropriate scary story for young readers is 'The Three Little Ghosts'. It's a twist on the classic 'Three Little Pigs' story. Instead of pigs, there are three little ghosts trying to build their haunted houses. A big, mean ghost tries to blow their houses down. It has a bit of scariness but also humor, which is perfect for young minds.
One is 'The Haunted Doll'. It's about a doll that seems to move on its own at night. But it's not too scary as it ends with the discovery that it was just the family cat knocking it over. Another is 'The Ghostly Footsteps'. In an old house, a child hears footsteps at night. Turns out it was just the old floorboards creaking in the wind. And 'The Strange Shadow'. A kid sees a strange shadow outside the window, but later realizes it was a tree branch moving in the moonlight.
The story of 'The Greedy Goblin'. There was a goblin who was always stealing things from the villagers. One day, he stole a magic ring that was cursed. Every time he tried to sell it or use it for bad things, something bad would happen to him. The moral is that greediness can lead to trouble.
A great example is 'Hansel and Gretel'. The idea of being lost in the forest and then finding the witch's house is scary. But it has moral lessons like not wandering off and being brave. Also, 'The Tell - Tale Heart' can be made kid - appropriate in a way. The narrator's madness and the hidden heart can be spooky, but it can be used to teach about right and wrong.
One is 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'. It has a spooky character, the Headless Horseman. But it also has elements like the small town setting and Ichabod Crane's comical attempts at courtship that make it suitable for kids. It's a story that can give a bit of a scare but also teach about superstition and old - fashioned beliefs.
One age appropriate scary story is 'The Tell - Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe. It's about a narrator who is haunted by an old man's 'vulture - like' eye and eventually kills him. Another is 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' which features Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. A third one could be 'The Monkey's Paw' where a family makes wishes on a magical paw with unexpected and often scary consequences.
The appropriateness of 'Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark' varies. For some, it's a thrilling but manageable read. For others, especially those prone to nightmares, it might not be suitable.
Well, you might want to put scary stories in when you aim to shock or surprise your readers, or when you need to heighten the drama. But it also depends on the age group you're targeting and the overall theme of your work.
One is 'The Haunted Doll'. There was a little girl who found an old doll in the attic. At night, she could hear strange giggles coming from the doll. But every time she looked, the doll was still in the same position. It turned out that the doll was once owned by a mean little girl in the past who put a curse on it.