The first volume in the new Goosebumps Graphix series, adapted from the Goosebumps books by R. L. Stine, offers three of Stine's stories, each one illustrated in black and white. Hernandez uses sketchy but expressive art to convey the spooky atmosphere of The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, in which Grady investigates what is haunting the swamp where his parents have relocated the family. The gotcha ending of the tale is particularly well done. Greg Ruth's detailed pencil artwork ably depicts the old farm in The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight. And Scott Morse brings his unique, scratchy art style to The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena, in which a scientist and his two kids bring a strange creature back from the Arctic. The lightweight horror stories of the Goosebumps series lend themselves well to visual adaptation, and the well-known, independent comics creators showcased in this collection have an opportunity to introduce their talents to a new, young audience. The original stories have been popular for years, and this graphic-novel format is sure to attract its own following.

Three early Goosebumps titles--The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight, and The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena--are revived as graphic novellas, their economic plots enhanced by the illustrations' textured backgrounds and irregular paneling. The undemanding stories still lack character development, but their twist endings and well-executed graphic revival may attract new readers.

Gr 5 Up-These selections from the "Goosebumps" series have been abridged and put in a graphic-novel format, and the fast pace and horror elements make them perfect for this format. The black-and-white illustrations for each one are very different but fit each story well. In "The Werewolf of Fever Swamp," the artwork bristles much like the hackles on a werewolf's neck. The smooth, realistic style of "The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight" makes the scarecrow chilling and haunting. The bolder, cartoon style of "The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena" perfectly fits this more humorous tale. This is a great option for younger readers interested in graphic novels, and the nostalgia is there for the older set.-Melissa T. Jenvey, New York Public Library Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Three Stine books, The Werewolf of Fever Swamp (Scholastic, 1993), The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight (1994), and The Abominable Snowman of Pasadena (1995), have been adapted for this first volume of the Goosebumps graphic novel series. Werewolf features the new boy in town who befriends a dog and explores the neighboring swamp with dangerous consequences. In Scarecrow, grandchildren visiting their grandparents' farm discover that the farmhand, Stanley, has been able to create life in scarecrows. Snowman brings sunny California youth to Alaska with their photographer father in search of the elusive snowman. When they find him, they decide to bring him home to Pasadena where he escapes and tromps through town. Each story has a different artist. Gabriel Hernandez and Greg Ruth both use realistic black-and-white artwork to tell their tales. In Werewolf, Hernandez uses shadows to build the suspense, which in most cases, works spectacularly. Ruth uses realism in Scarecrow to add a layer of beauty to the surreal nature of the story of scarecrows haunting a family. Scott Morse approaches Abominable Snowman differently. His black-and-white artwork is more cartoony and unrealistic than the other two artists. His style adds to the fun and humor that are highlighted in Stine's writing. Overall the book is a great addition to the Goosebumps realm. Older children and young teens who like Stine will eat it up.-Kristin Fletcher-Spear.