Creepy Araminta
by Anne Fine, illustrated by Emily Jones
Interest age: 7 to 11
Reading age: 7+
Published by Barrington Stoke, 2026
About this book
Jess is thrilled when she finds a lovely painting in a charity shop which is the perfect size to cover a muddy mark on her bedroom wall. It is a portrait of a smiling girl called Araminta, who has tumbling red-gold hair and is surrounded by delicate, violet flowers. Amazingly, the shopkeeper gives it to her for free, as a customer has just returned it, claiming it gave her the creeps.
That night, Jess has a scary nightmare that she is being chased by fearsome beasts, while Araminta looks on, laughing. The dream returns night after night, leaving her feeling frightened and exhausted. Her best friend Tina offers to sleep over to reassure her, but when Tina experiences the same nightmare, the girls are convinced that they are being haunted by creepy Araminta.
This super-readable, spooky tale features short chapters, uncluttered pages and a dyslexia-friendly font, ensuring the story is accessible to all. Wonderfully detailed black-and-white illustrations bring the text to life, helping readers to visualise the characters and setting. A chilling tale, perfect for Halloween. Read it if you dare!
About the author
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