The Skull Talks Back is a spooky collection of six ghostly folk tales retold by renowned author and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston. During the 1930s, Hurston studied the folk culture, stories, and songs of Black communities in the American South and the Caribbean. This folk culture is an important component of her most acclaimed novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, in which she captures not just the culture of her hometown of Eatonville, Florida, but also the everyday language of the people in the town.

The Skull Talks Back introduces young readers to this world through scary stories told in vernacular language that combines the supernatural with a humorous edge, and that usually ends up with a character running away in terror. From a rebellious talking mule to a skin-shedding witch, children learn how folk tales are told to remind the listener about the rules of society, and the difference between right and wrong. The evocative illustrations by Leonard Jenkins, cast in dark tones with renderings of skulls, witches, and black cats, add to the uncanny feeling. The Skull Talks Back is a fantastic entry into the world of Zora Neale Hurston, as well as a delightfully scary example of our diverse cultural heritage. ( )

1) No Awards

2) Grades 2-4

3) The Skull Talks Back is a collection of six tales that are easy to read for young children. They address several themes such as greed and doing the right thing. The separation of each story gives a children the feeling that they are reading a chapter book and is an essential skill for their literacy development.

4) One activity a teacher can do in a classroom is to have their students create their own scary stories and share it to the class. This type of activity allows children to use their imagination an teaches them public speaking skills when they share it to the class.