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The Stumps of Flattop Hill

Category: Adult Fantasy Folktale, Rhyming
Publisher: One Peace Books

By Ken Lamug

They dared Florence to enter the haunted house on top of the hill. She is frightened, but Florence musters the courage to go inside. As she makes her way up to the top she finds many ghastly things along the way. Will she make it back out or be turned into a stump forever?

The Stumps of Flattop Hill is a macabre tale of a little girl who enters the town’s legendary haunted house in the face of fear. A dark tale for children in the tradition of the Brother’s Grimm, it calls to mind the provocative illustration style of Edward Gorey. Scary and entertaining, this book challenges the idea of what children’s books can be.

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Review from Vulpes Libris:

cropped-barlow_aesopWhen my kids were small I used to read to them a lot, usually in an effort (doomed) to get the little blighters to go to sleep. I’d let them choose a pile of picture books from the box and the deal was that once the books were all read, they would settle down for the night. It rarely worked out that way, but what I did achieve from all that reading aloud, if not some peace, was a keen appreciation for what kind of stories my kids really enjoyed.

“This is a book my kids would have dragged out of the box time after time, the one held together by sellotape and a shared love of things that go bump in the night. If there’s a small person in your life who likes delightfully creepy tales, give both of you a treat and buy them this.”

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Review from Rick Rowe, Author of Game On, Black Skulls, Voices, and Whispers

rowe-home-portait-140x200The Stumps of Flattop Hill by Kenneth Kit Lamug is a creative spin on a scary haunted house tale that will cause readers to groan and grin as the hairs on the back of their neck stand on end. When I was young, I loved to listen to scary stories around the campfire. But Lamug’s book is so much more than just a scary rhythmic tale. His creative artwork, color, shading, and fonts set the mood for every page upon which language and pacing shape Florence’s adventure inside the house on Flattop Hill into a scary treat. If your kids are in the mood for a scary story, or you need a story to tell them on Halloween, this is the book for you.
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Review from Ona Praderas, Children’s Book Author & Illustrator

onita-300x300This week I present you a book for older children created by Kenneth Kit Lamug. It’s a dark tale, great for campfire reads. I love the simple monotone illustration style. The fact that it’s written in rhymes pushes kid’s imagination even further. The story tells a tale of a little girl named Florence, that enters a haunted house out of curiosity. The story talks about strength and facing fears. I believe it’s important to teach children that the world can be a scary place, but that this shouldn’t limit them to explore and embrace whatever comes.
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Review from Nicki Kirk (Book Reviewer)

A fairytale like no other, The Stumps of Flattop Hill is a lusciously penned cautionary tale, with mild horror elements, about a little girl Florence, who more strongly believed the children daring her by exploiting a perceived personal flaw, than believing them about any of the real dangers laying in wait in the House on Flattop Hill.

A fun read for seasoned readers; to be read out loud, an absolute must and with as much dramatic expression as you can muster…In the world of Children’s literature, Kenneth Kit Lamug both illustrator and author, is more than good enough to hold his head high, and stand alongside the rest of the best. I will be on the lookout for more of his work in future.
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