Looking for a scary children's book...possibly illustrated by Edward Gorey...?

Question

I remember reading it when I was a child and really enjoying it, but for the life of me, I can't remember what it was called. It consisted of short stories that were on the scary side. One story I remember in particular involved a girl that wore a ribbon around her neck and in the end, when the ribbon was removed, her head fell off (or something like that). I seem to remember the art being like that of Edward Gorey (famous for his artwork at the beginning and ending credits of mystery theatre on PBS). Does anyone know what I'm talking about? Thanks in advance for any help!

Thanks Raina, I found, "A Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories"...which is the exact version I was looking for by Alvin Schwartz. I realize now why I thought it was Edward Gorey who illustrated it...there is a simliar creepy feel to the artist of the book. Thank you so much for your help!

Answer 1

I LOVED "Scary Stories" when I was a kid written by Alvin Schwartz, illustrated by Stephen Gammell. It's on Amazon.

Here is a list of Gorey books from Wikipedia
* The Unstrung Harp, 1953
* The Doubtful Guest, 1957
* The Object-Lesson, 1958
* The Fatal Lozenge, 1960
* The Curious Sofa: A Pornographic Tale by Ogdred Weary, 1961
* The Hapless Child, 1961
* The Willowdale Handcar: Or, the Return of the Black Doll, 1962
* The Beastly Baby, 1962
* The Gashlycrumb Tinies, 1963
* The Insect God, 1963
* The West Wing, 1963
* The Gilded Bat, 1967
* The Epiplectic Bicycle, 1969
* The Iron Tonic: Or, A Winter Afternoon in Lonely Valley, 1969
* The Awdrey-Gore Legacy, 1972
* The Glorious Nosebleed, 1975
* The Listing Attic, 1975
* The Prune People, 1983
* Gorey Stories, 1983
* The Stupid Joke, 1990
* The Haunted Tea-Cosy: A Dispirited and Distasteful Diversion for Christmas, 1997
* The Headless Bust: A Melancholy Meditation on the False Millennium, 1999
* The Other Statue, 2001

Answer 2

I might have another answer for you. There is a wonderful children's book (if they like horror stories) entitled Monster Festival. It is edited by Mark Protter (1965) and illustrated by Edward Gorey. Here is a web site for a completed eBay auction. If you scroll to the bottom, it shows you a picture of the cover and an illustration from a story by Poe. http://cgi.ebay.com/1965-Edward-GOREY-HC-w-dj-MONSTER-FESTIVAL-1st-ED_W0QQitemZ330046246446QQcmdZViewItem
This was one of the scariest books I read as young child, and it wasn't until the Internet era that I was able to find a copy again since it is now out of print. Unlike many of today's politically correct books, this one is genuinely frightening--even to me as an adult, with classic and modern tales unforgettably illustrated by Gorey. Even if this isn't the book you are talking about, it's also worth checking out just for interest's sake. You can usually find copies on eBay or bookfinder.com, if not your public library.

Answer 3

Ex Libris Reviews: 1 September 2001
... a book by Edward Gorey; rather, it's a book of ghost stories chosen and illustrated by Edward Gorey
On my source below.