Book Notes (164 books) (Published by Scholastic):
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Goosebumps is a series of children's horror fiction novels written by American author R. L. Stine and first
published by Scholastic Publishing in 1992.
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As of 2008, the series has sold over 350 million books worldwide.
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The books appeared in many bestseller lists, such as the New York Times Best Seller list for children, USA
Today bestseller list and Publishers Weekly bestseller list.
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Following the release of the first novel in the series, the books quickly became popular, selling a million
copies a month soon after they first appeared and four million copies a month by the mid-1990s.
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Individual books in the series appeared on USA Today's bestseller list for over 115 weeks, while 47 books
in the series appeared on Publishers Weekly list of bestselling children's books of all-time in 2001.
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The book series was a bestseller in many countries, including the United States, Canada, the United
Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan and Australia and has been translated into 35
languages, including Japanese, Italian, French, Chinese, Thai, Czech, Spanish, German, Korean, Polish, Po
rtuguese, Russian, and Hebrew.
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In 1996, the Goosebumps series accounted for almost 15% of Scholastic's annual revenue.
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By 1997, the Goosebumps fan club had established 75,000 members and as of 2008, the series has sold
over 350 million copies.
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The Goosebumps series maintains an 82% brand awareness among kids 7–12, and as of 2008, it is listed
as the number two bestselling children's book series of all time and as Scholastic's bestselling children's
book series of all time. The book series sells millions of copies annually.
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The series has spawned a television series and numerous merchandise, including T-shirts, board games,
puzzles, hats, fake skulls, dolls, bike helmets, fake blood and boxer shorts.
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At one point, the Goosebumps series was listed as the bestselling book series of all time.
Television Series Notes (74 episodes and 4 seasons) (Produced by Scholastic Media):
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In the 1990s, Goosebumps was adapted for television. Produced in Canada by Protocol Entertainment in
association with Scholastic Productions, the TV anthology series ran for four seasons from 1995 to
1998, beginning on October 27, 1995.
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It was one of the two popular television horror anthology children's series in the 1990s (the other being
Nickelodeon's Are You Afraid of the Dark?).
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Goosebumps originally began airing on YTV (in English) and Canal Famille (in French) in Canada and on
Fox Kids in the United States starting in 1995 and ending in 1998, with reruns on Fox Family lasting until
2000. Every October from 2007-09, Cartoon Network aired the episodes. On September 6 2011, The
Hub started airing re-runs of the series.
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The TV series was very popular; it aired in over 100 countries and it was the number one rated TV show
for four years for the Fox Kids Network in the United States
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Beginning in 2004, 20th Century Fox began releasing the series on DVD in individual volumes, initially
containing one episode per disc but later changed to two episodes per disc. Later releases included
either two discs or multiple episodes on one disc.
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In 2011, The Hub channel released a new series called "The Haunting Hour". Stine wrote every episode;
due to popularity it has been announced that 3 more series will come.
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On 26 November 2012, Revelation Films has started to release season sets of the series in the United
Kingdom (DVD region 2).
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Awards:
 1996: Nominated for Saturn Award – Best Single Genre Television Presentation
 1997: Nominated for Blimp Award (Kid’s Choice Awards) – Favorite Television
Show
 1997: Won WGA Award (TV) (Writers Guild of America, USA) – Children’s Script
 1997: Nominated for Young Artist Award - Best Performance in a Drama Series –
Guest Starring Young Actress, Tabitha Lupien
 1997: Nominated for YoungStar Award – Best Performance by a Young Actor in
a Saturday Morning TV Program
 1998: Nominated for DGA Award (Directors Guild of America, USA) Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs, Ron Oliver
 1999: Nominated for DGA Award (Directors Guild of America, USA) –
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs, Ron Oliver
Goosebumps Franchise – Marketing campaigns and Cross promotional efforts; associated
partnerships & collaborations :
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07/08/1996 Periodical: Pepsi-Cola, Frito-Lay and Taco Bell will join with Hershey this fall for a $30
million promotional extravaganza themed around Scholastic's Goose-bumps mystery-book series for
kids. The Halloween effort, which features a "Thrillogy" of collectible mini-books, will be followed by a
Pizza Hut tie-in early next year.
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07/08/1996 Periodical: Fox will link to the event with a "Halloween Fright Week" watch-and-win
sweepstakes promoted on 55 million Frito-Lay snack bags. Prizes include trips to Universal Studios
Hollywood. Another 50 trips will be awarded by radio stations in top markets. Fox will support with
network, cable and print ads in magazines such as TV Guide and Rolling Stone.
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07/08/1996 Periodical: Frito-Lay will flag the program on Doritos, Ruffles and Cheetos brands, packing
mini-books inside bags and variety packs, supported by TV tags on a $3 million ad campaign. Hershey
will feature Goosebumps graphics on boxed displays for 34 different product SKUs. Taco Bell will
distribute 6 million toy premiums in the guise of Goosebumps characters in kids meals, supported with
ads and POP.
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08/26/1996 Periodical: Included in the effort of launching book series into television shows are Hershey
Chocolate USA, and PepsiCo's Frito-Lay, Pepsi-Cola Co. and Taco Bell units. Three exclusive minibooks by
Mr. Stine will be distributed inside more than 30 million Frito-Lay products; the books are also available
via mail-in offers from Pepsi and Hershey products. Taco Bell will offer a special kids meal.
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10/28/1996 Periodical: R.L. Stine's Goosebumps is getting a sporty new look as Scholastic Productions
and Parachute Press begin licensing lifestyle products based on the franchise. Scholastic has inked
licensees Great Scott, Seneca Sports and Toy Biz to create the first products under its new Goosebumps
Sports sub-brand. A full line of ``extreme sports'' products will hit this spring; a limited quantity will
arrive at Christmas.
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10/28/1996 Periodical: Reveals that Scholastic Productions and Parachute Press are licensing lifestyle
products based on R.L. Stine's Goosebumps. Licensees include Great Scott, Seneca Sports and Toy Biz;
First products under its new Goosebumps Sports sub-brand
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The spring '97 rollout will be supported with co-op advertising, tie-in partners and retail
promotions, similar to the Halloween-theme Goosebumps promos that Pepsi-Cola Co.
and Target Stores are currently running.
Great Scott will market bike accessories, and outdoor sports and winter sports
equipment. Seneca Sports will market in-line skating gear. Toy Biz will sell products such
as kites and flying discs.
``We wanted to focus first on sports that were edgy and contemporary and speak to the
interests of our target audience'' of grade-schoolers and young teens, said Leslye
Schaefer, Scholastic senior VP-marketing and consumer products.
She said the line will expand to other sports, like basketball, baseball, football and
hockey. Scholastic has considered co-branding with pro sports leagues but is shying
away because of concerns over diluting the Goosebumps brand.
The extension into sports and the positioning of Goosebumps as a lifestyle brand aren't
a stretch, she said, because kids view it as an entertainment property.
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06/09/1997 Periodical: Informs that Parachute Properties has scared up support from Taco Bell and
General Mills to promote the `Goosebumps' franchise. Sales of the `Goosebumps' books by R.L. Stine;
Popularity of the `Goosebumps' television show; General Mills' plans for a `Goosebumps' sweepstakes;
Theme park attractions to be based on `Goosebumps.'
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Returning after taking part in PepsiCo's multidivisional ``Goosebumps'' program last fall,
Taco Bell plans a ``Goosebumps''-theme back-to-school promotion in late summer that
will offer four interactive toy premiums. The fast-feeder will support with a multimilliondollar ad push and point-of-purchase displays. TBWA Chiat/Day, Venice, Calif., is Taco
Bell's agency.
General Mills' snack division is plotting a multibrand sweepstakes promo that will tout
and offer as prizes the latest ``Goosebumps'' videos from Fox and audio book products
from Disney Records, plus the second DreamWorks CD-ROM. Saatchi & Saatchi
Advertising's Kid Connection, New York, is handling.
An undisclosed cereal marketer is planning a similar sweepstakes effort, but also will
offer an electronic toy and a $5 rebate for the Fox videos.
Conversely, Fox and DreamWorks will promote the promo partners at retail with POP
and support other licensees by including merchandise catalogs within their packaging.
Disney Records is also supporting its products via a summertime cross-promo with
Kampgrounds of America, in which KOA locations will host a ``Goosebumps'' night each
week. Product will be sold at KOA's gift shops.
09/30/2008 Magazine: Majesco and Scholastic Interactive Ink Distribution Deal - Titles under the
agreement include Goosebumps HorrorLand for Wii, PlayStation2 computer entertainment system and
Nintendo DS and Ultimate I SPY for Wii, scheduled for release in October.
Rob Letterman Notes (Director for Goosebumps Movie):
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American film director started with animation and has now moved into live-action.
Co-directed and co-wrote DreamWorks Animation's 2004 Academy Award-nominated hit comedy
Shark Tale, starring Will Smith, Renée Zellweger, Angelina Jolie and Jack Black. His writing efforts on
the film also netted him an Annie nomination.
Director for Gulliver’s Travels, Monsters vs. Aliens, Shark Tale, Los gringos.
RL Stine Notes (Author of Goosebumps, children’s horror-fiction series):
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R. L. Stine was born in 1943 in Columbus, Ohio, the son of businessman Lewis Stine and Anne
Feinstein Stine. He earned a B.A. from Ohio State University in 1965 and did postgraduate work at
New York University from 1966 until 1967. He married publisher Jane Waldhorn. He also writes
under the names Robert Lawrence Stine, Eric Affabee, Jovial Bob Stine, and Zachary Blue.
Stine taught social studies at a junior high school in Ohio from 1965 through 1966. He was a
magazine writer in New York City from 1966 until 1968, an assistant editor for Junior Scholastic
magazine from 1968 through 1971, the editor of Search magazine from 1972 until 1975, the editor
of Bananas magazine from 1975 until 1984, and the editor of Maniac magazine from 1984 through
1985. In 1986, he became head writer for Eureeka’s Castle, a series that aired on the Nickelodeon
television network.
After losing his job with Junior Scholastic in the 1980’s, Stine wrote his first horror novel, Blind Date,
the story of a teenage boy who experiences memory loss and the mystery girl who wants to go on a
date with him. Stine is a prolific writer of books for children and young adults, and one year turned
out twenty-four horror novels. He claims to get the ideas for his books from everyone he meets. He
also insists that his books are purely entertainment and have no literary value.
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His books have been highly popular and critical successes, particularly the Fear Street, Goosebumps,
and Nightmare Room series. Stine is well regarded for his ability to twist the mundane into horror,
as he did in The Baby-Sitter and The Stepsister. The novels in his Fear Street series center on the
same Fear Street setting, where the protagonist of each novel lives. All the books feature a murder.
Stine is the recipient of several Children’s Choice and American Library Association awards and a
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohioanna Library Association. He also received three
Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice Awards. With more than three hundred million copies of his books in print,
Guinness World Records (2000) lists Goosebumps as the best-selling children’s series.
Something to consider is RL Stine’s key to success is his ability to take on the voice of a nine-yearold.
"The shows are scarier than the books," says Stine, "partly because they have such good monsters."
Stine took a while to find his calling. After writing joke books and editing a juvenile humor magazine,
he turned to horror at a colleague's suggestion. The genre was a perfect fit for the former fearful
child, who writes the titles first, then spins off the plot. He never gets writer's block, and he's fast.
When visiting an elementary school, one young second grader declared Stine his favorite author and
asserted that he was the proud owner of 38 Stine books, which his mother read to him. Yet another
young Stine reader, a 14-year-old, explained his addiction to Stine's books as having started when he
was a fifth grader. He declared Stine to be the Stephen King of the teen set.
Scholastic Media Notes:
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In 2009, Scholastic Media, licensor of Goosebumps, introduced an aggressive marketing and media
campaign in support of the brand during the Halloween season.
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The Get Goosebumps! Campaign featured a multi-city mall tour, airings of the original TV series on
Cartoon Network, two new national promotional partnerships, promotions on iTunes, a live webcast
with author R.L. Stine during “Shriek Week”, new DVD and book releases and more.
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Scholastic Media re-launched the property to a new generation of kids. With the release of
Goosebumps HorrorLand, the new Scholastic 12 book series written by R. L. Stine, television
episodes airing on Cartoon Network, unprecedented online traffic to the official site
www.scholastic.com/goosebumps and the Enter HorrorLand website (www.enterhorrorland.com),
Scholastic Media planned an extensive licensing and merchandising campaign. With the foundation
already in place for the consumer products program, Scholastic Media will enter Licensing Show
looking to extend the campaign’s reach into additional merchandising and consumer promotion
categories that will elevate brand awareness.
Ratings/Image Perception Notes:
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Received a 7.7 out of 10 on IMDB from users. A recurring trend in comments suggests that the
television series develops feelings of nostalgia and memories.
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Via The Hub Ratings Highlights for Feb. 25-March 3, 2013: The Hub Network, the fastest growing
children’s cable network, has a historic week with the best telecast in network history and the best
Saturday in network history in Persons 2+, Households, and key Adult demos beating Nicktoons,
TeenNick, and Disney XD. Additionally, The Hub continues to be the most co-viewed network with
more Kids 2–11 watching with an Adult 18–49 than any children’s cable network.
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Via The Hub “Goosebumps” (Saturday, 5:30 p.m.) earned year-to-year time period delivery gains
among Kids 2–11 (+119%), Kids 6–11 (+56%), Adults 18–49 (+92%), Women 18–49 (+300%), Adults
25–54 (+121%), Women 25–54 (+68%), Persons 2+ (+30%), and Households (+12%).
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His books contain no offensive language or disturbing marital problems, and his protagonists never
die. Nevertheless, they have been subjected to censorship challenges in many places throughout
North America. The petition of the Nova Scotian mothers to the school board, for example, claimed
that books such as his encouraged children “to read books that may develop unhealthy and harmful
thoughts and behavior.” They also suggested that horror books “erode away moral values like selfrespect and respect for other people and property.” They accused Stine of hooking “younger
children on his more subtle Goosebumps series so they’ll move on to the more graphic and perverse
themes in the Fear Street series when they are teenagers.” They also argued that the school district
had a policy of zero tolerance in the schools, and that the horror books violated this policy.
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When Goosebumps was first broadcast, an episode of Goosebumps would begin with a warning
"Goosebumps is rated GB-7, because it may be too spooky for children under seven." However,
when the V-chip and the U.S. television ratings system took effect in 1996, the GB-7 rating was
discontinued and given the TV-Y7 rating for scenes and plot elements considered too scary and/or
gross for children under seven. On Cartoon Network, the show was rated TV-PG for scary/disturbing
content. The show is now rerated back to TV-Y7 for fantasy violence (FV) on The Hub.\
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Goosebumps was originally broadcast in the UK as a part of BBC's children's program lineup on CBBC
from 1996 to 2000. Because of the UK's stringent censorship (particularly over content that is
considered too "gross" or scary to be shown to young or sensitive viewers), many of the early
Goosebumps episodes were either banned (such as the Night of the Living Dummy II, Night of the
Living Dummy III, Bride of the Living Dummy, and The Haunted Mask) or aired with heavy cuts made,
particularly to the twist endings. In addition, The Werewolf of Fever Swamp is the only Goosebumps
episode to receive a 12 rating by the BBFC. The episodes, despite being edited for content, also aired
at 6:00pm. Unlike CBBC, the cable channel Jetix (in the UK and Ireland) has aired Goosebumps
episodes with little to no edits (although the A Shocker on Shock Street episode was edited to
remove Marty getting electrocuted into submission when it's revealed that Erin and Marty are robot
children programmed to test out the Shock Street park).
Miscellaneous Notes:
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There are three Goosebumps video games, two of which have been created for the PC by DreamWorks
Interactive.
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Goosebumps was also adapted into a stage play by Rupert Holmes and a Disney World attraction.
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The complete series is now on iTunes. Average consumer rating is 4.5 stars.
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The first season was added to Netflix (United States).
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Goosebumps has over 187,000 likes on Facebook.
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Recent news that put out more public awareness in the last 5 years for Goosebumps (television series)
dealt with Ryan Gosling’s appearance in the season finale of Goosebumps (Season 1) as it became
available on Netflix.