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I'm looking for a very specific telling of In A Dark Dark Woods I read in the early 1980s. I remember it had a purple/dark blue color and was part of a children's book set. I'm sure it is out of print by now...

The illustrations were VERY dark and scary. (gave me nightmares) Nothing like children's books of today.

A particular creepy detail was there was a "dark dark bottle" that housed "an evil spirit" that was black and shaddowy with red eyes. It pushed the cork from the bottle and escaped into the dark dark room/hall/stairs/house/woods/etc...

If anyone could help me locate this very particular version of this story, I would really appreciate it!

Thank you :)

Maybe In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz?

Holly wrote: "Maybe In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz?"

Hi Holly. Not the one I'm looking for, but I DO need to check this collection out. I do love Alvin Schwatz's spooky stories!! Thanks for putting it on my radar :)

Alissa, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

Lobstergirl wrote: "Alissa, are you still looking for this or did you find it?"

Still looking. Thinking it may be a lost cause. You can delete this post as it's been here a while.

Alissa, we're happy to keep your request active in the Unsolved folder. Some requests are much older than yours. Just bump this thread (by posting a comment) every 30+days or few months so new members will see it.

If you're no longer interested in the book, just let us know. We save requests as they can help other members looking for similar books.

Searching "a dark dark bottle" a book called "The Morals of Monster Stories: Essays on Children's Picture Book Messages" edited by Leslie Ormandy came up.

On page 237 it mentions the book A Ghost Story by Bill Martin Jr.. It was published in 1970.

It was part of the Instant Reader series by the same author.
Not sure if it's your book! You can see several pictures of the inside pages in this Etsy listing:

Mai wrote: "Searching "a dark dark bottle" a book called "The Morals of Monster Stories: Essays on Children's Picture Book Messages" edited by Leslie Ormandy came up.
..."

Oh my gosh! This was it!!! Or, at least, I'm 99% certain. The artwork feels familiar. Thank you!!!

Although I do distinctly recall the creepy creature in the bottle being an "Evil Spirit" and not a "Ghosty Ghost". Perhaps a lesser-known Mandela Effect at work here -- lol.

Kris wrote: "Alissa, we're happy to keep your request active in the Unsolved folder. Some requests are much older than yours. Just bump this thread (by posting a comment) every 30+days or few months so new memb..."

Thank you. Another group member might have found it (Although I recall one specific detail differently than what's there, the rest of the pieces fit...so I'm thinking there must have been a reprint/rewording). I moved it to Possibly Solved... just in case.

2/5/2020: UPDATE!

SOLVED!!!

I managed to track down a first edition with the super creepy wording I remember so distinctly from when I was little. This is the book I've been looking for!! Just in time for Halloween... in another 9 or so months. Thank you :)

I'm glad you found a copy! Happy Halloween! :-)

Great. Glad you found your book, Alissa. Is it Mai's suggestion - The Morals of Monster Stories: Essays on Children's Picture Book Messages by Leslie Ormandy?

My suggestion was actually A Ghost Story by Bill Martin Jr. (the Leslie Ormandy book mentions it, that's how I found it!).

Mai wrote: "My suggestion was actually A Ghost Story by Bill Martin Jr. (the Leslie Ormandy book mentions it, that's how I found it!)."

Mia's suggestion led me to the right book (it was a reference in the book she suggested). Thanks again, Mai :)

Great. Thanks for the update, Mai & Alissa.

Kris wrote: "Great. Thanks for the update, Mai & Alissa."

Thank YOU all!! I've been trying to track this down for for decades!!