Hello ghouls, goblins, witches, and readers!
This is Cale, taking over Talking with Tundra and bringing you a ghostly guest post! You may know me from such Tundra books as Where Oliver Fits, If I Had a Gryphon, and The Day Santa Stopped Believing in Harold.
I’m here today to talk about my latest picture book Sir Simon: Super Scarer and fill you in on some haunted trivia!
For those of you in the dark and unaware of what this book is about, here is a fancy lil’ write-up to fill you in:
Meet Sir Simon, Super Scarer. He’s a professional ghost who has been transferred to his first house. And just in time! He was getting tired of haunting bus stops and forests and potatoes. And to top it off, this house is occupied by an old lady- they’re the easiest to haunt!
But things don’t go as planned when it turns out a KID comes with this old lady. Chester spots Simon immediately and peppers him with questions. Simon is exasperated. . . until he realizes he can trick Chester into doing his ghost chores. Spooky sounds, footsteps in the attic, creaks on the stairs- these things don’t happen on their own, you know!
After a long night of haunting, it seems that maybe Chester isn’t cut out to be a ghost, so Simon decides to help with Chester’s human chores. Turns out Simon isn’t cut out for human chores either.
But maybe they’re both cut out to be friends . . .
Now that you’re up to speed:
In many of my books, I love sneaking in little details that most readers miss on their first read. As a kid, I always loved finding little details in books, and now, as a pseudo-adult, I have just as much fun drawing in my own.
Since Sir Simon is a ghost story, I felt this would be the perfect opportunity to sneak in my love of classic scary movies in the form of hidden Easter eggs.
Within the pages of Sir Simon: Super Scarer there are over 50 little hidden Easter eggs referencing all kinds of classic scary movies! Friday the 13th, Halloween, The Exorcist, Beetlejuice, The Shining… If you can think of a classic, there’s a fairly good chance it’s somewhere in the book.
For any of you taken aback and thinking: “Cale! You monster! How dareth you put these frightening films in a children’s book?! Have thou gone mad!? To answer yee olde English question, rest assured that all these references are so slight that most kids, and adults alike, will never notice them, nor know what they are referencing.
In this post I am going to point out 10 such Easter eggs, and then leave the rest for you to hunt out yourselves.
Time to double-check your house is secured from zombie invasion, restock your anti-vampire garlic, and grab some popcorn, ’cause here we go!
#1 Sweater on Elm Street
You may notice Chester’s finely striped sweater bears a striking resemblance to a certain fella who likes to hang out on Elm street.
(Nightmare on Elm Street)
#2 We’re gonna need a bigger boat
Simon’s haunted many a things in his past! He once haunted a boat with a Quint-essential captain.
(Quint from Jaws)
#3 Only Simon floats down here.
In my opinion any clown costume is too scary, but when it’s Pennywise’s duds, no wonder Simon is not a fan.
(Pennywise from IT)
#4 TV Reception from another dimension
A relic of TV past! The TV fuzz may not be seen as much these days in entertainment viewing, but once upon a time it was common place to not only see it, but wonder if you’ll start hearing a voice speak through it.
(Poltergeist)
#5 Amityville, population Simon
I wanted to base the design of Simon’s house on something, and always loved the eerie, iconic windows of this haunted house.
(Amityville Horror)
#6 The Pumpkin King
Among various paintings and portraits, you may spot Halloween’s top haunter and his seamstress companion.
(The Nightmare before Christmas)
#7 Slimer-y Cross stitch
Who are you gonna call? Well if you want a rad cross stitch of everyone’s favourite hungry green ghost, you better call Simon.
(Slimer from Ghostbusters)
#8 Big wheeling, forever, and ever, and ever.
It’s a proven fact that there is no better vehicle to escape two terrifying identical twins than a Big Wheel.
(The Shining)
#9 Feed me, Simon
Grandma has all sorts of plants in her sewing room. This particular plant is always hungry…
(Audrey 2 from Little Shop of Horrors)
#10 Ghost Melody
What’s a ghost book without a Ghost reference!? Now while we don’t get to see Simon or Chester make beautiful pottery in this story, I’m sure in the film adaptation we’ll have our own Righteous Brothers scene.
(Ghost)
A bonus *Eleven*
Leggo my Eggo!
(Stranger Things)
Well that’s it for me, folks! I hope you enjoyed reading my guest post and seeing some of the spooky secrets hidden within Sir Simon: Super Scarer!
If you have a chance, please check out Sir Simon and be sure to let me know what you think! Don’t forget to give a little extra look at details.
Until next time! Have a ghoulishly great October!
BOO!
-Cale Atkinson
Twitter: @2dcale
Instagram: @2dcale
PS: We also have an 