Customer Reviews
Wanting to scare children is worse than peculiar . . . 
2007-02-25
Tailypo is not a favorite childhood memory in our household. A school superintendent told this 'ghost' story to elementary students year after year after year, and the "value" forever eluded this mother. Why must children be unwilling victims anywhere? Stranger yet, it was published earlier by Seabury which I believe is an Episcopal press.
On the other hand Joanna Galdone's 'telling' & Paul Galdone's expressive illustrations are well-done; drawings have shown off his skills to many children through the years.
If you must get scary try "Little Orphant Annie" by James Whitcomb Riley, a stand-out of mcHaiku's childhood . . . and I would search for a copy of Paul Galdone's "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" (isbn *0899190359); you can insinuate plenty of scariness into your voice (if you must).
Terrified my brother 
2007-02-17
This book was read to my brother and me 20 years ago, and although it did creep me out, what I remember most about it was my brother's reaction to it. He was 5 or 6 years old, and this book gave him horrible nightmares for weeks. He was convinced that Tailypo would come in the middle of the night and rip him open (to the best of my recollection, the Tailypo does this to a man in order to retrieve its tail, which had been cut off and eaten). My mom tried everything to help him through it, even inventing "Tailypo spray" to repel any possible invading Tailypos.
I recently looked this book up to see if it's still around, and I was astonished to see so many other reviews depicting such similar experiences. I suppose I shouldn't be, though. It was far too terrifying for a children's book. Had it been presented as a frightening story for an older audience, I'd have given it 5 stars, but as a children's book? I wish I could rate it in negative numbers.
Scariest picture book ever! 
2006-12-07
I honestly can't remember much about this book, but over 20 years later I still recall that it scared the dickens out of me! Even now, I'm not sure I have the nerve to try again. There are very few things that have left an impression of being truly scary on me, but this one I will always remember.
Truly the scariest thing I ever read or saw 
2006-08-11
When I was in 3rd grade my teacher read us this book for Halloween--it was the scariest thing I ever heard! I had trouble sleeping and thought that the little creature was in my room at night...and I don't scare easy! To this day I couldn't remember what the book was called but I could still remember what the images looked like and it still creeped me out! So I set out to find this book again--I still haven't reread it yet, but just from reading everyone else's reviews I must say that it's apparent that I wasn't the only one scared by this when I was little. Be careful if you are going to read this to a child. It will stick with them for the rest of their lives!
Scare the dicken out of ya 2006-06-20
I am torn between giving this book 1 star or 5. I remember checking this book out of the library when I was about 8-9. I did not sleep well for months and I can still recite some of the lines even though I have never read it since! I will not read this to my kids but as a work of literature it certainly makes an impression. Fabulous haunting text and scary pictures that will stay with you. Even though it is a simple story, it is a classic scare. Take this on your next campout and the kids will not worry about the bears!
INDELIBLE. 2007-11-18
My mom read me this book when I was...5? I'm 30 years old now and I don't like to say the name of this book out loud. I'm not scared easily, but I think I have PTSD from this! You teachers and librarians who think this book with "no blood, no gore" is innocent fun are deluded. It's a good story, and it's horribly scary. Don't read to small kids!
An amusing bedtime story.. 
2007-04-01
This was one of the first books I ever checked out of the library in elementary school and years later, it's story is still the same haunting, yet amusing, story. I would recommend this book to anyone who has young children and wants to campfire storytell or anything of that sort. The story has mild violence, all of which is up to the readers imagination. I can attest to losing sleep because of this book, coupled with an overactive 7 year olds imagination.
Tailypo haunts me....still 2007-03-20
our evil harpie of an elementary school librarian scarred generations of children with this book. we've found some comfort in reading these customer reviews and to discover: we are not alone. the story, the art, it burns into your very soul. i will never ever ever EVER eat a Tailypo's tail!!!!!!!
p.s. how many of you traumatized adults are from BOONE, IOWA, PAGE SCHOOL ELEMENTARY '78-80?
entertained my children over 20 years ago. 2007-03-12
I used to read this book to my 3 children over 20 years ago. They loved it! In fact, 2 years ago, my daughter found a copy of the book and gave it to me for Christmas so I could read it to my future grandchildren.
Excellent Children's Book! 2007-03-09
This was one of our favorite books when I was growing up with my brother and sister in the late 70s. We used to make our mother check it out almost every single time we went to the public library. It might be a bit scary to kids who frighten easily, but at least to us it was the fun kind of scary. My fiance's son (now 9) agrees. It's very well written, suspensful and intrigueing, and definitely a campfire type of tale.
J. Lyon Layden
The Other Side of Yore
