Common Sense Media Review
By Darienne Stewart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Resourceful Hank faces fears in fun Halloween story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Hank sometimes enjoys scary movies, but zombies are too much for him. In THERE'S A ZOMBIE IN MY BATHTUB, after Hank's friends encourage him to watch a zombie movie the night before Halloween, terrified Hank is unable to sort reality from fantasy. Bully Nick McKelty feeds his fear by telling him he's surrounded by zombies preparing to invade on Halloween night. Hank does his best to prepare for fighting zombies and protecting his vulnerable Papa Pete and family.
Is It Any Good?
Any child can readily relate to likable hero Hank, and Scott Garrett's appealing illustrations -- including several of Hank's hand-drawn lists -- bring this story to life. Hank's dad, who's often impatient with his son, gets a softer treatment here and helps his frustrated daughter with Halloween prime-time costume problems. Like Hank, author Henry Winkler struggled through school without realizing he had dyslexia, and his experience helps make Hank's predicaments -- and his family's response -- so believable.
Nick "the Tick" consistently remains a stock bully character, depicted as a gross overeater whose fright is played up for laughs that seem unfair after the empathetic treatment of Hank's similar fears.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about scary movies and stories. What frightens you? Do you worry about your friends teasing you for being scared? How much scary stuff can your child handle?
What other stories have you read about kids struggling with school? How does this one compare?
The tables are turned when Nick is terrified by something Hank no longer fears. Do you think this is justice served?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Illustrator : Scott Garrett
- Genre : Family Life
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Grosset & Dunlap
- Publication date : August 11, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 8
- Number of pages : 128
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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