The last thing the young man ever saw was a hideous skull grinning at him, just inches from his face, and long bony fingers closing around his throat. . . .

What is real and what is imaginary? Do monsters and wizards lurk in the shadows, along with ghosts and invisible men? Can women turn into snakes? Can skeletons take revenge? For generations, storytellers have given substance to our worst fears. In Ask the Bones, master storytellers Arielle North Olson and Howard Schwartz retell twenty-two of the world's eeriest folktales.

If you read these stories at night, keep your flashlight handy. You never know what may be prowling around outside your door. . . .