The Book of Legends: Amazing, Scary and Entertaining Stories for Kids of all Ages

by John Keller

Overview

"The Book of Legends" follows a young boy named Spencer who is watching his two younger siblings, as they are all alone in the house. Not willing to go to bed, just yet the two young siblings ask Spencer to tell them stories, but he tells them legends, instead, taking them on an adventure with each one.
An exciting new author, John King Keller, shares four amazing, scary and entertaining legends in this book that kids of all ages will enjoy. These legends feature a haunted bridge, creepy floating lights, a strange kid with a hatchet, and an odd leprechaun. Each of these, possibly true, tales will thoroughly entertain you, but more importantly, you will walk away having learned important lessons about others and about yourself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780578270029
Publisher:	John Keller
Publication date:	10/13/2022
Pages:	132
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.38(d)

About the Author

John King Keller lives in Ellicott City, MD with his wife Elena, and twin 19-year-old boys and a 16-year-old daughter. When he is not coaching rugby, mountain bike riding or doing home improvement projects, he is writing more legends. Always an entertainer at heart, John has many more legends to tell. Look for Volume 2 of “The Book of Legends,” online or at a bookstore near you.

Editorial Reviews

2024-02-08
In Keller’s novel for children, an older brother continues a family tradition of storytelling.

Sixteen-year-old Spencer grew up listening to the tales told by his Grandpa Andy, Aunt Trixie, and Uncle Mojo. One night, when he’s tasked with looking after his younger siblings, Anna and Maxx, he asks them if they’d like to hear some of the same stories, which he calls “legends.” The youngsters don’t know what legendsare, but once Spencer explains the concept to them, they’re all in: “A legend is a story, usually passed down from one generation to the next, that is believed to be true but cannot be verified….Legends can be stories that teach us what it means to be good, what it means to be bad, what it means to be brave, or what it means to be different.” The tales that he tells them are varied, but each takes place in a familiar locale, and all have a level of creepiness that’s by turns baffling, comical, or downright sinister. Between legends, Spencer discusses the values that some of the characters represent, and Anna and Maxx pepper him with questions. Spencer comes across as someone who cares deeply for his younger siblings; for example, he makes sure they know that one of the defining characteristics of legends is that people always have the power to decide for themselves whether a particularly frightening legend is true or not. The first legend is missing a key component, however: an origin story for the main character. What happened to the woman with the crying baby whose ghost apparently animates “The Legend of Cry Baby Bridge”? Also, of the four tales Spencer tells, the boys in the final three are very similar to one another, with personalities and snarky dialogue that make them difficult to tell apart. Still, the final legend does have a thoughtful twist and involves a humorous conversation with a popular folkloric figure.

Intriguing bedtime stories with appealingly frightening undertones but uneven characterization.

Kirkus Reviews