Hello -
I am looking for a hardcover book of illustrated children's horror
stories. It is at least 15 years old, more likely 20.  It was
hardcover, with large color plates.  I recall only three of the
stories, one with a basilisk hatching from an egg, one with a monster
in a basement, and one with an animated doll.  I have been looking for
it on and off for a decade and can't seem to make any progress.

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Request for Question Clarification by juggler-ga on 13 Dec 2004 16:39 PST

Could it have been "Baleful Beasts and Eerie Creatures" (1976)?

A newsgroup post mentions a Basilisk story:

"Wow, I remember Baleful Beasts...! That was a pretty cool book to find while
still in primary school. If it's the same one, I particularly liked the
Basilisk story "
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.horror/msg/517cfb039868b898

Picture of the cover here:
http://www.ioffer.com/i/1976-Baleful-Beasts-Eerie-Creatures-Andre-Norton-1-3538751

Additional description here:
http://www.logan.com/loganberry/solved-b.html


Is "Baleful Beasts" your book?

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Clarification of Question by snarvid-ga on 15 Dec 2004 13:21 PST

I believe it is.  Unfortunately, all the editions are going for $200
+... but that  isn't your fault.  Thanks.

Okay, then we'll make "Baleful Beast and Eerie Creatures" (1976) the
official answer here.

As you noticed, the book seems to command a high price among used book
dealers.  There is a copy for slightly less ($179) at Alibris:
http://www.alibris.com/search/detail.cfm?BID=8276789283&pwork=553996

------------
search strategy:
A Google Groups search for "Basilisk story " brought up the newsgroup
message that I mentioned above:
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.horror/msg/517cfb039868b898

Additionally, the story that you mentioned about an animated doll
seems to be confirmed in a reader review on Amazon.com:

"Good scary book for kids in the 3rd or 4th grade., February 27, 1998
...A book of short stories containing everything a young child fears.
A little girl's doll comes to life and does terrible things, a boy is
kidnapped by a monster, and slowly becomes the monster himself."
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0528802119/

Thank you. And best of luck on locating a reasonably priced copy!