Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 10, 1995 TAG: 9510100053
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: HALE SHEIKERZ
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
These are words that describe R.L. Stine's Goosebump series, a collection of horror stories for children.
Goosebumps is one of the most popular and best-selling children's series, said Janice Litschert, librarian at Prices Fork Elementary School in Blacksburg.
``[Students] like the suspense, the fear," said Linda Mitchell, book fair chairman at Indian Valley Elementary School in Floyd County. She doesn't really know why students like the scary stories, she said, but boys who typically don't like to read are interested in reading books by Stine.
The 36th book in the Goosebump series comes out this month. The popularity of the books has caused Publisher's Weekly to create a new best-sellers list just for children's series because Stine's books would fill up the young-adult best-seller list completely, said Lisa Zolly, assistant manger of general books at Volume II Bookstores.
"I like the way they surprise you when something jumps out at the characters," said Michael Pauley, a fourth-grader at Prices Fork. "There is lots of suspense at the end of the chapters - it makes you want to know what happens next."
In addition to the Goosebump series, popular among 9- to 12-year-olds, Stine also writes the Fear Street series, intended for 11- to 14-year-olds.
The latest in the Goosebump series are interactive, choose-your-own stories, which let readers control the action by choosing from more than 20 different scary endings.
Amanda Matusevich and Anne Thorsen, third-graders at Prices Fork, said, "We like to try to solve the problems and mysteries in the books. We like to share the stories and read them together."
Litschert said other favorite series include the Baby-Sitters Club, the Boxcar Children mystery series and the Magic School Bus books. The American Girl series, historically based fiction from the 1600 to the present, are popular among girls.
These books and more can be found on sale at the book fairs at Prices Fork and Indian Valley. The book fair at Prices Fork will be from 8:45 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Wednesday and 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
Indian Valley will have its book fair Oct. 18-20 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Books will be provided by Scholastic Book Fairs Inc. at both fairs.
In addition, children's classics such "Island of the Blue Dolphin" by Scott O'Dell, a Newbery Medal winner, and "The Indian in the Cupboard" by Lynn Reid Banks, which was recently made into a movie, will be available.
Easy-to-read and illustrated books for younger children will be for sale. Other categories include fantasy, sports, adventure, biography, holiday books, historical fiction, science and poetry.
Proceeds from the fall book fair will go toward purchase of computer equipment.
\ AWARDS & HONORS
Math, science and electricity are some of Clay Rogers' interests. The Christiansburg High School junior recently returned from Purdue University in Indiana where he competed in the National 4-H Engineering Science and Leadership Event. Rogers received first place in the electric energy category.
Rogers, who won in local, district and state competitions, was the only teen from Southwest Virginia to attend the nationals. He and three other teens from Virginia teamed up to compete in the engineering bowl and took top honors in that category.
In addition to his academic interests, Rogers has been a camp counselor, juggling teacher and a member of the Teen Leaders of Tomorrow group.
\ The Montgomery County public schools' gifted program sponsors "Parenting Children with Exceptional Learning Ability" Wednesday, Oct. 18. Susan Winerbrenner is the guest speaker. The program will be at Kipps Elementary School in Blacksburg from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Topics include general parenting, unique development issues for highly capable kids, dealing with these kids' energy and thirst for knowledge, implications for siblings and advocating for children at school.
Winerbrenner is a consultant who helps school districts translate educational research into classroom practice.
\ REMINDERS
The Gilbert Linkous Elementary School PTA meets Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. in the school's multipurpose room. Guest speaker Joyce Smoot from the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library will discuss the current construction project at the Blacksburg branch library.
There also will be a silent auction for a school spirit basket filled with merchandise.
\ Parent organizations within the Pulaski County school system will sponsor a forum for School Board candidates Monday, Oct. 16, 7-9 p.m. at Pulaski Middle School. The program is open to the public.
Each candidate will give a five-minute opening statement about his platform followed by a question-and-answer period. Questions will be randomly drawn and presented to the candidates by a moderator.
\ On a dark and stormy night, the underpaid creatures who work at The Roanoke Times decided to hold a contest to let school kids fill up their paper for a day. The rules are few:
Stories should have a Halloween theme.
They should contain no profanity (this is a family newspaper).
Keep stores short, about 500 words.
We will pick elementary, middle, and high school winners. We plan to print the top story in Current on Halloween.
Art can accompany your story. Please include your name, grade, school, phone number and address on your submission.
Stories should be in our claws by midnight, Tuesday, Oct. 24 to give us time to judge them.
Stories submitted by Friday the 13th will get special consideration.
Please send stories to Hale Sheikerz, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, Va. 24060, or send them via e-mail to currentbev.net.
by CNB