A Dark, Dark Tale: questions to ask and activities to try
Once upon a time there was a dark, dark moor... A Dark, Dark Tale follows a black cat through a spooky house to a gentle surprise.
What age is it for? A Dark, Dark Tale is best for ages 3–6. Good for: A spooky story with a gentle surprise.
Read it slowly and quietly, building suspense, then enjoy the surprise. Spooky-but-safe stories help children practise feeling a bit scared.
What it helps with
- Feeling a little bit scared safely
- Building suspense
- Repetition for early readers
- Spotting the cat
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Where did the cat go?”
- “What did it find in the house?”
- “How did you feel as we read?”
- “What was in the box?”
- “Was it scary?”
- “What makes a story spooky?”
5-minute activities to try together
Spot the cat
Find the black cat on every page.
Dark, dark story
Make up your own dark, dark story about your home with a funny ending.
Free printables: A Dark, Dark Tale worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
Free. We’ll only email you if you tick the box.
If your child liked this, try
Funnybones (Janet and Allan Ahlberg)
- Best for
- A funny-not-scary classic about skeletons
- Age
- 3-7
Orion and the Dark (Emma Yarlett)
- Best for
- Being scared of the dark, and making friends with it
- Age
- 3-7
Owl Babies (Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson)
- Best for
- Missing a parent, and trusting they'll come back
- Age
- 2-5
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.