Are there monsters in your house that you didn’t know were there until you started reading Horrors of the Household? How about the Staircase Slug?
The Staircase Slug climbs up it
Leaving slimy trails
Then laughs in glee as you slide down it
On your fingernails.
Oh, but that hasn’t happened to you–yet! Well, you may find a lot of things have changed in your abode when you start reading this book, like the Bogey in the Basement, the Closet Creep, the Toothbrush Twirler, and watch out for Window Warts, they’re very sharp! By the end you may be glad the Attic Fanatic throws you out the window! At least you’ll be out of your house!
Horrors of the Household is similar to the poetry of the great writer-illustrator Shel Silverstein, and its audience is the same upper elementary age group, and their parents, and their friends. It is a collaboration between the author, who wrote the rhymed verse epic novel Humphrey’s Long Journey Away From the Sea, and a boy who lives across the street, who is a graphic arts genius–as you will see for yourself. They both recommend that you read Horrors with the light on–but watch out for the Lampshade Lurker, or you may wind up on the ceiling.
In one sentence, Booklisp has summed up the effect this book can have on you, when they wrote, “Thith book almotht thscared uth to death!”
Check out its sequel: The Darker Possibilities
Meet the Author
Rocky Leplin
Author of six books of rhymed verse, including the epic novel Humphrey’s Long Journey Away from the Sea.
His next publication is called Never Kiss a Crocodile, Never Slap a Skunk, a field guide to ominous animals.
In 2020 he was a winner of the Writers Digest Writing Competition for his story The Incredible Man-Eating Marshmallow.
In 2022 his wacky how-not-to manual A Psycho’s Guide to Animal Companionship— Instructions for the abnormal pet companion was a Finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards.
In 2023 he was a winner of the Writers Digest Writing Competition for his poem The Apartment Building Bore.
In 2024 he was a Finalist in the Humor category of the Next Generation Short Story Awards for his story The Tumultuous Tire Revolution.
He has written three novels, the musical The Purpose of the Moon and over 500 songs, many of which can be heard on this website.
