Spooky Novels
Monsters and Myths
Halloween History and Traditions
Spooky Science
Spooky Screen and Pop Culture
100

In this Neil Gaiman novella, a girl unlocks a secret door in her home and discovers a world where her "Other Mother" has buttons for eyes.

What is Coraline?
100

According to classic folklore, this creature transforms from a human during a full moon and can only be defeated by silver weapons.

What is a werewolf? 

100

Celebrated in Mexico from October 31 to November 2, this colorful holiday honors deceased family members with altars called ofrendas.

What is the Day of the Dead? (Dia de los Muertos)

100

Nocturnal bats navigate and hunt insects in total darkness using this process of emitting high-pitched sound waves and listening for the echo.

What is echolocation?

100

 In The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jack Skellington holds the title of Pumpkin King in this holiday town.

What is Halloween Town?

200

R.L. Stine created this iconic book series featuring famous titles like Night of the Living Dummy and The Haunted Mask.

What is Goosebumps? 

200

Ancient Egyptians preserved bodies through this process by removing organs, drying the body in natron salt, and wrapping it in linen strips.

What is mummification? 

200

Before pumpkins became widely available in North America, people in Ireland and Scotland carved jack-o'-lanterns out of this root vegetable.

What are Turnips? 

200

Deep-sea anglerfish and fireflies use this chemical reaction to produce their own glowing light inside their bodies.


What is bioluminescence?

200

In the Ghostbusters movies, the team wears these particle-accelerating backpacks to catch ghosts.

What are proton packs? 

300

Written by Mary Shelley, this classic gothic novel features a young scientist who brings a creature to life.

What is Frankenstein? 

300

 In Greek mythology, looking directly at this snake-haired Gorgon would instantly turn a person into solid stone.

Who is Medusa?

300

Modern Halloween originated from this ancient Celtic festival that marked the end of the harvest season and the arrival of winter.

What is Samhain (pronounced Sow-in)


300

While adult humans have 206 bones, human babies are born with roughly this higher number of bones before many fuse together.

What is 270-300?

300

In Stranger Things, the dark alternate dimension lurking beneath the town of Hawkins, Indiana is known by this name.


what is the Upside Down? 

400

In Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, this Transylvanian nobleman travels to England to spread the undead curse and drink human blood.

Who is Count Dracula?

400

Originating in Scandinavian and Norse legend, this gigantic tentacled sea monster was believed to create massive whirlpools and drag entire ships beneath the waves.

What is a Kraken? 

400

In medieval Britain and Ireland, people practiced "souling" by going door-to-door asking for small baked goods called soul cakes in exchange for prayers, making it an early predecessor to this modern Halloween tradition.

What is trick-or-treating?

400

The thick fog used in Halloween stage displays is often created using dry ice, which is the solid form of this chemical gas.


What is Carbon Dioxide? (CO2)

400

Say his name three times in a row, and this chaotic "bio-exorcist" ghost in a black-and-white striped suit will immediately appear.


Who is BeetleJuice? 

500

In this classic 1886 novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, a respected London doctor creates a serum that transforms him into his sinister alter ego.

What is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? 

500

In Irish folklore, hearing the chilling, high-pitched wail or scream of this female spirit is believed to be a warning that death is near.

What is a banshee? 

500

 During the Middle Ages, these animals were feared because people believed they were "familiars" or companion spirits that helped witches carry out dark magic.

What are black cats? 

500

Unlike insects, arachnids like spiders have eight legs and completely lack these two body features.

What are Wings and Anntenae

500

In this 2006 spooky animated film, three kids discover that their creepy neighbor Mr. Nebbercracker's home is actually a living, breathing monster that devours anything on its lawn.


What is Monster House?