The very special and gently-spooky story The Mystery of the Grindlecat was published in 2003 in celebration of the 40th anniversary of The Haunted House at the internationally recognized Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indiana.  Since then, thousands of children have haunted happily with the snaggle-toothed Grindlecat!

Valiska Gregory's charmingly spooky story and Claire Ewart's boldly fun illustrations capture all the thrills and chills of a haunted happening, with plenty of giggles thrown in!

"Everybody knew the Grindlecat was the scariest creature in the whole haunted house - everybody except the Grindlecat.  But it was no secret that all the kids in the school wanted to see it, scary or not."  When John, Hannah, and Emily brave the thrills and chills to make their way to the very last room of the haunted house, they spy the Grindlecat.  "It's fur was scraggly, it's nose was black.  It's eyes were fierce, it's tooth was sharp!"  But something is familiar about that huge furry Grindlecat, so, what the children decide to do next is a real treat!

Activities

Make a list of words that give you thrills and chills.
  Some examples: scritch, scratch, howl, yowl

What pictures come into your head when you think of your words?

Write a poem or story using your spooky words.

Imagine you are visiting a haunted house.  What sounds do you hear?  What do you see?  What do you feel?

Think up your own character like the Grindlecat.  Draw or describe you character.  How does it look?  What sounds does it make?  Where does your character live?  What does it like to eat?

And don't forget to visit the Grindlecat at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis in the Haunted House in October!