Roscoe

November 3, 2025

I We received the picture above from someone calling himself,“Roscoe.”

Presumably, this message is intended as a rebuke for us; a corrective emotional experience, showing us a child totally and ineluctably contented with his book about a blue fish who pouts. No need on the part of this child for stories of suspense, spirits, or ghosts. No need on the part of this child to read our childrens’ book,Bedtime Stories That Will Terrify Children and Keep Them Awake All Night Long.

Of all the unmitigated gall.

We shall make our reply to this with dignity; by suggesting in the form of an experiment of the imagination. Let any child … not necessarilyRoscoebut any reasonable child … imagine a universe in which there are but two things; a blue fish book, and a Ghost Ship book (vide infra), and the child had to choose.

Which would the child pick?

The question need not even be dignified by a written answer.

We shall pay no further mind to thisRoscoecharacter, either.

Well, let us make one further comment. There may be some children, or even Grownups, who might feel uncomfortable feelings about theBedtime Storiesbook; fears even, that the book could cause … upset stomachs, nocturnal agitations, whatever. To such children or Grownups we say the following:

We did not put the night scares into children!

We did not put the bad dreams into children!

We did not put the ghost or monster beliefs into children!

The children just come that way.

Our book, with the Ghost Ship picture on the cover, will set a mature example for the children; that we Grownups do not fear the ghosts and monsters of this life; that we shall face them together with the children; and thereby we shall all grow up mature and well together.