about the book
On the eve of Halloween, the members of the Fright Club—a vampire, witch, ghost, mummy, and other members, convene for Operation Kiddie Scare. As they are coming up with the best plan for scaring the pants off the neighborhood kids, they hear a knock on their clubhouse door.
A cute, harmless-looking bunny is outside and asks to become a member of the club. Scram! says the vampire. This club is for monsters only!
Vladimir the vampire quickly realizes the members of the club are horrible at scaring. He hears another knock. The bunny is back again, staging a protest with squirrel, turtle, and butterfly, claiming clubhouse discrimination.
Vladimir relents and lets the cute and cuddly creatures inside. The members of the club soon acknowledge that these creatures have scary tactics of their own. The cuddly creatures may have something to offer the Fright Club after all.
about the author
In the summer of 1991, after he had graduated high school, Ethan Long almost joined the army. He had another option too, he could attend the University of Connecticut on a javelin scholarship. (He was the favorite going into his high school state championship.) Fortunately, something inside of him told him not to take either of those options. Instead, he left Connecticut with a friend and moved to Florida to attend Ringling School of Art and Design. “It was the best decision I ever made,” he says.
Today, Ethan Long is a well-known and internationally recognized children’s book author and illustrator. He has written a lot of books—over 40 titles—and if you include all of the books he’s illustrated, the number goes up to over 80. He also illustrates stories for the magazine, Ranger Rick Jr.
With that many titles under his belt, Ethan’s life experiences were bound to make it in some of his books. His book, My Dad, My Hero, was a tribute to his father with whom he had a tumultuous relationship. His book, Tag You’re It! (Lion & Tiger & Bear), was based on his memories of playing with his brother and sister when he was a kid.
Ethan works from home on a desk saved from his childhood. The desk still has writing on it from when he was a kid. He was an avid illustrator in his youth, and if you’d like to see some of his work from that time, look here.
Ethan lives in Orlando with his wife and three kids. He says he hates garlic ice cream (is there such a thing?), but loves to cook—especially Vietnamese chicken and eggs, enchiladas, and pizza.
Sources:
Author website
Author biography: Amazon
Author interview: College Park Community Paper
Author interview: Michelle Greazel
Book trailer: Fright Club
Also by Ethan Long:
Give Me Back My Book! Chronicle Books. August 2017.
Big Cat (I Like to Read). Holiday House. 2016.
Tag! You’re It! (Lion & Tiger & Bear). Abrams Books for Young Readers. 2016.
Pug (I Like to Read). Holiday House. 2016.
It’s Raining Cats and Frogs. Blue Apple Books. 2015.
Ms. Spell. Holiday House. 2015.
Me and My Big Mouse. Two Lions. 2014.
The Wing Wing Brothers Geometry Palooza! (Wing Wing Brothers). Holiday House. 2014.
Chamelia and the New Kid in Class. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. 2013.
The Wing Wing Brothers Carnival de Math (Wing Wing Brothers). Holiday House. 2013.
Pig Has a Plan (I Like to Read). Holiday House. 2012.
The Wing Wing Brothers Math Spectacular (Wing Wing Brothers). Holiday House. 2012.
The Croaky Pokey. Holiday House. 2011.
My Dad, My Hero. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky. 2011.
Chamelia. Little, Brown and Company. 2011.
read more!
Ms. Spell by Ethan Long
Are you good at spelling? Well Ms. Spell thinks you are! She’ll teach you how to master those tough words with her magic spelling wand. POOF! Soon you’ll be teaching others the differences between their, there, and they’re.
Not Very Scary by Carol Brendler
Melly the green monster is heading to her cousin’s house for a Halloween party. She soon recognizes that other, rather scary, creatures are following her. As she counts one coal-black cat all the way up to eight spindly spiders and more, Melly is not so sure she’s going to make it to the party.
Scared of Halloween (Me and My Dragon) by David Biedryzycki
A boy is trying to figure out a Halloween costume for himself and his pet dragon. Dragon has other ideas though—he runs and hides when he sees a ghoul, ghost, or mummy! How can the boy show Dragon that they are only kids in costumes, and nothing real? And how will he ever talk Dragon into wearing a costume of his own so they can go trick-or-treating together?