The fall season is officially here, and even your kids may want to embrace all things spooky and thrilling! Goosebumps has another graphic novel out that is sure to send spine-tingling sensations down readers’ backs. There is also a new addition to the I Survived series, which is always popular with upper-elementary students.
Stay Out of the Basement (Goosebumps Graphic Novel #3)
By R.L. Stine and Maddi Gonzalez
Pub. Date: October 6, 2026
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Publisher for Review
Other Books By Author: Monster Blood
Goodreads says, " A thrilling Goosebumps horror classic about creepy basement experiments is now available as a page-turning graphic novel.
Do not enter . . . or else!
The basement is strictly off limits to Margaret and Casey Brewer. Their scientist dad is running a secret experiment with plants and doesn’t want them upsetting the delicate ecosystem he’s created. But Margaret and Casey decide a quick peek won’t hurt anyone. Their dad has been behaving very strangely and they have to know what’s going on down there. The truth they find is way stranger than fiction―these plants just might have minds of their own!
If you are familiar with the original Goosebumps tale, Stay Out of the Basement, you'll be thrilled to find that this is the graphic novel adaptation and the third in the Goosebumps Graphic Novel series. So many kids have some of the same fears, and the first that comes to mind is the basement. That is always an ominous place in so many childhood tales, and that's the case in Stay Out of the Basement by R.L. Stine and Maddi Gonzalez.
In the graphic novel, Margaret and Casey Brewer have always been curious about the experiments their botanist dad is doing in their basement. With their mom out of town, now is the perfect time to check it out, and what occurs will be sure to keep young readers flipping the pages. Plus, the colorful illustrations of the "plants" and of science gone wrong only adds to the horror and the fun. This is a fresh take on the classic that many of us enjoyed in 1992, and it is just so much fun for some longtime Goosebumps readers to see Stay Out of the Basement back in kids' hands. Plus, these books from the graphic novel series are perfect for placing in reluctant readers’ hands as Halloween and all things spooky approach.
I Survived the Night of the Lions (I Survived #26)
By Lauren Tarshis
Pub. Date: September 15, 2026
By Lauren Tarshis
Pub. Date: September 15, 2026
Publisher: Scholastic
Source: Publisher for review
Other Books By Author: I Survived Graphic Novels
Goodreads says, "Lauren Tarshis's 26th I Survived book transports readers deep into one of the most breathtaking - and dangerous - places on Botswana's Okavango Delta. This remote wilderness bursts with life, sheltering more lions, elephants, and dazzling (and deadly) creatures than almost anywhere else on the planet.Eleven-year-old Dylan is still reeling from the injury that shattered his all-star Little League dreams back home in Boston. His film-maker older sister offers him the trip of a to travel with her as she films a world-famous lion expert in the heart of southern Africa.Dylan's days in the wilds of Botswana are filled with awe and wonder - elephants splashing in lagoons, leopards growling under star-lit skies, herds of zebras racing through golden grasslands, glittering snakes basking on tree branches - until disaster strikes.A plane crash hurls Dylan into the unforgiving wilderness, where deadly creatures are on the prowl. Alone, injured, and terrified, Dylan must summon every ounce of strength and as he faces the deadliest predator of the African lion."
Dylan is disappointed by his season-ending Little League injury, so he heads with his sister on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to film wildlife in Africa. Things are beautiful in Botswana, and he is learning so much about the wildlife, but things take a disastrous turn when there is a plane crash that leaves him fending for himself in Botswana's Okavango Delta. Things are looking dire as this is one of the most dangerous places on Earth, crawling with many predators. It's not only a remote spot, but there are also lions, elephants, leopards, snakes, and more. Now he is stranded, injured, and faced with some difficult tasks ahead. I Survived the Night of the Lions will leave readers wondering if Dylan will truly survive this, and it will keep readers in a state of suspense.
Also,iIf you have a reluctant reader at home or a fan of the I Survived series, check out Lauren Tarshis's graphic novel series. Teachers will also appreciate the book club resources and activities. It's a treasure trove for educators as the site includes worksheets, trivia, a read-aloud section, comprehension questions, and even more engaging activities for each book in the series.
Do you have a fan of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series at home or the I Survived series? Let me know in the comments below.
