The challenge was finding poems that belonged together while giving readers something different with each turn of the page. Poe, Dickinson, Shakespeare, and the other featured writers each bring their own kind of uneasiness. Some poems tell a story. Others leave you with a strange mental image or a weird feeling that follows you down a gloomy hallway.

For an anthology aimed at ages 8–12, that variety mattered. I wanted the collection to feel inviting, with enough mystery to keep curious young readers moving through unfamiliar language without boring adult readers along the way.