When was the first goosebumps book made

In the world of children’s horror fiction, American author R. L. Stine created a series of stories that follow young children who always seem to find their way into scary situations. Beginning in 1992, Scholastic began releasing these soon-to-be trendy tales of young characters. By 1997, the publishing house put out 62 Goosebumps books and sold over 350 million copies in 32 languages.

Several books in the series made it to bestseller lists, including the New York Times bestseller list for children’s books. As the years went on and the fanbase grew, the Goosebumps franchise expanded into a multimedia cultural phenomenon.

In 1992, the Goosebumps book series was born with the first installment, Welcome to Dead House. The primary characters in each book are middle-class children isolated from typical social cliques. Some books feature boarding schools or campsites, while others deal with suburban neighborhoods and foreign villages. Usually the main characters are the newbies in town, or they've been sent away by their relatives. While plot structure is consistent throughout the series, each book has its own twist and tale.

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The inspiration for the Goosebumps theme and characters came from various books and movies. Take Slappy the Dummy, for example—Slappy was a character originally featured in The Adventures of Pinocchio. Some of the author’s ideas for the series also came from real life scenarios. In the case of The Haunted Mask, Stine’s son wore a Halloween mask that he had trouble removing. In addition to everyday situations, Stine often used his own fears from childhood to further develop Goosebumps; no wonder the installments focus on kids triumphing over dangerously eerie situations through wit.

Protocol Entertainment partnered with Scholastic Productions to create the first Goosebumps television series in 1995. FOX Network offered Scholastic Productions a TV deal after CEO Margaret Loesch noticed how much her son adored the book titled Say Cheese and Die.

The show was produced in Canada and premiered on FOX on October 27, 1995. The series ran until 1998 while featuring plot lines based on the novels. Among the stories that made it to the silver screen were The Haunted Mask and Cuckoo Clock of Doom.

Goosebumps aired in over 100 different countries, and it was rated the number one children's program for three years in the US.

Tim Burton attempted to helm the first Goosebumps film in the late 90s, but production never began thanks to problems with several scripts. Screenwriters and production folks unsuccessfully debated which storylines, characters, and fearful elements to blend into a single film.

In 2008, Columbia Pictures acquired the rights to produce a Goosebumps film alongside Deborah Forte, who developed the TV series. Neal H. Moritz was also brought onto the project.

The screenwriters for the 2008 production were Larry Karaszewski and Scott Alexander. To remedy the issues of multiple storylines and short books, Karaszewski and Alexander created a fake biographical piece on Stine in which his monsters come to life.

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In 2012, it was announced that a new version of the screenplay written by Darren Lemke would be put into production. By September 2013, fans learned that Jack Black would play R. L. Stine, “whose scary characters literally leap off the page, forcing him to hide from his own creepy creations." Rob Letterman directed the film, who had previously worked with Black on Shark Tale.

By February 2014, Dylan Minnette was selected to play the role of Zach Cooper while Odeya Rush would play Stine’s fictional daughter, Hannah. In the film released in October 2015, the characters are forced to come together once Stine's creation escape from their storybook universe.

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In addition to the novels, TV series, and film adaptions, four video games have also been released as part of the Goosebumps franchise. Two of the games were made for PC by DreamWorks Interactive. Escape from HorrorLand, an interactive sequel to Stine's One Day at HorrorLand, was released in 1996. Attack of the Mutant became a video game adaption of Stine's 25th book in the series.

Scholastic released another game named Goosebumps HorrorLand in 2008. Goosebumps: The Game entered the market as a prequel to the movie starring Jack Black. The Goosebumps franchise is one that has offered a variety of media to the public in addition to more traditional merchandise. During the 90s and early 2000s, it was common to see fans wearing t-shirts, buying board games and puzzles, and playing with Goosebumps dolls. The creatures from this creepy universe will forever be a classic part of the fictional horror world.

Whether you're new to the Goosebumps books or want to relive your childhood, it's always best to start at the beginning. Delve into the terrifying world of R. L. Stine with Welcome to Dead House.

See where it all began with the first ever Goosebumps book. R. L. Stine's child-friendly masterpieces of terror started here. The story revolves around 11-year-old Josh and twelve-year-old Amanda, who have just moved into the oldest and weirdest house on the block—a house that the two siblings think might even be haunted!

When you were a kid, the Goosebumps books were a critical part of any trip to the Scholastic book fair, whether you adored the books or got goosebumps by just looking at the iconic covers. If you’re looking for a nostalgic trip down memory lane, or to pass on this iconic ’90s trend, this is the perfect list for you. Keep reading to find all of the Goosebumps books in order.

What is Goosebumps All About?

The first Goosebumps book was released in 1992 and the series quickly became a global hit. It is a children’s horror series written by R.L. Stine that has become symbolic for most childhoods.

The books see children placed in terrifying situations in which they have to overcome a frightening monster. Most of the original Goosebumps books can be read as standalones as they have self-contained plots. However, the exception to this is when a book has a direct sequel.

The original series had 62 books, but Stine has continued writing many Goosebumps spin-offs, including a new series: Goosebumps SlappyWorld.

Two new installments are expected in the Goosebumps SlappyWorld series in 2022. Slappy in Dreamland, the sixteenth book in the series, is expected be published on March 1, and the seventeenth book in the series, Haunting with the Stars, is expected to be published June 28.

Collectively, Stine has sold more than 400 million books and his books have been translated into 35 languages. Stine’s favorite Goosebumps book is The Haunted Mask, and all of the books that feature Slappy, the evil dummy.

Is There a Goosebumps TV Series?

Yes, the Goosebumps TV show premiered in 1995 and has four seasons. It was a live-action adaptation and featured stars such as R.L. Stine himself, Caterina Scorsone, and Hayden Christensen. You can now watch all of the seasons on Netflix.

Also, a movie adaptation was made in 2015. It stars Jack Black as R.L. Stine and Dylan Minnette as his teenage neighbor. It features 40 monsters and, of course, Slappy from the Goosebumps books.

Goosebumps Books In Order

If you’re a fan of the Goosebumps books written by R.L. Stine, then this is the perfect checklist for you. The series has expanded rapidly during the last 30 years to encompass so much more than just the original 62 books. Here is a list of all the Goosebumps books in order from the first book to the new anticipated releases.

Haunting with the Stars (Expected: June 28, 2022)
Night of the Squawker (Expected: April 4, 2023)

The Original Goosebumps Books in Order

Give Yourself Goosebumps Series

Give Yourself Goosebumps: Special Edition Books

1. Into the Jaws of Doom (1998)
2. Return to Terror Tower (1998)
3. Trapped in the Circus of Fear (1998)
4. One Night in Payne House (1998)
5. The Curse of the Cave Creatures (1999)
6. Revenge of the Body Squeezers (1999)
7. Trick Or…Trapped! (1999)
8. Weekend at Poison Lake (1999)

Goosebumps 2000 Series

1. Cry of the Cat (1997)
2. Bride of the Living Dummy (1998)
3. Creature Teacher (1998)
4. Invasion of the Body Squeezers, Part 1 (1998)
5. Invasion of the Body Squeezers, Part 2 (1998)
6. I Am Your Evil Twin (1998)
7. Revenge R Us (1998)
8. Fright Camp (1998)
9. Are You Terrified Yet? (1998)
10. Headless Halloween (1998)
11. Attack of the Graveyard Ghouls (1998)
12. Brain Juice (1998)
13. Return to Horrorland (1999)
14. Jekyll and Heidi (1999)
15. Scream School (1999)
16. The Mummy Walks (1999)
17. The Werewolf in the Living Room (1999)
18. The Horror of the Black Ring (1999)
19. Return to Ghost Camp (1999)
20. Be Afraid – Be Very Afraid! (1999)
21. The Haunted Car (1999)
22. Full Moon Fever (1999)
23. Slappy’s Nightmare (1999)
24. Earth Geeks Must Go! (1999)
25. Ghost in the Mirror (2000)

Goosebumps Graphix Books

Goosebumps HorrorLand (First Arc) Books

Goosebumps HorrorLand (Second Arc) Books

Goosebumps Most Wanted Series

Goosebumps Most Wanted Special Edition Books

Goosebumps Special Edition Collections

1. Tales to Give You Goosebumps (1994)
2. More Tales to Give You Goosebumps (1995)
3. Even More Tales to Give You Goosebumps (1996)
4. Still More Tales to Give You Goosebumps (1996)
5. More & More & More Tales to Give You Goosebumps (1997)
6. Triple Header Book 1: Three Shocking Tales of Terror (1997)
7. Triple Header Book 2: Three Shocking Tales of Terror (1998)

Goosebumps SlappyWorld Series

Goosebumps Special Books

1. Scaredy Caps Special (1995)

Goosebumps The Movie Books

1. Goosebumps Movie Novel (2015)
2. Goosebumps The Movie 2 (2018)

Goosebumps: Hall Of Horrors Books

Goosebumps Presents

If you’re looking to reread the Goosebumps series, or pass on a tradition from your childhood, here are the summaries to the first 15 original Goosebumps books in order.

1. Welcome to Dead House

Amanda and Josh think the old house they have just moved into is weird, spooky, and possibly haunted. And the town of Dark Falls is pretty strange, too.

But their parents don’t believe them. You’ll get used to it, they say. Go out and make some new friends.

So Amanda and Josh do. But these creepy new friends are not exactly what their parents had in mind. Because they want to be friends…forever.

2. Stay Out of the Basement

Dr. Brewer is doing a little plant-testing in his basement. There is nothing to worry about and it’s harmless, he says. But Margaret and Casey Brewer are worried about their father.

Especially when they…meet…some of the plants he is growing down there. Then they notice that their father is developing plant like tendencies. In fact, he is becoming distinctly weedy-and seedy.

Is it just part of Dr. Brewer’s “harmless” experiment? Or does Dad have more than just a green thumb…?

3. Monster Blood

Evan visits an eerie old toy store and buys a dusty can of Monster Blood. But then he notices something weird about the slimy green ooze. It keeps growing, and growing, and growing.

And all that growing has given the Monster Blood a monstrous appetite. 

4. Say Cheese and Die!

Greg thinks there is something wrong with the old camera he found. The photos keep turning out…different.

When Greg takes a picture of his father’s brand-new car, it’s wrecked in the photo. And then his dad crashes the car.

It’s like the camera can tell the future – or worse. Maybe it makes the future!

5. The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb

Gabe just got lost in a pyramid. One minute, his crazy cousin Sari was right ahead of him in the pyramid tunnel. The next minute, she’d disappeared.

But Gabe isn’t alone. Someone else is in the pyramid, too.

Someone. Or some thing.

Gabe doesn’t believe in the curse of the mummy’s tomb. But that doesn’t mean that the curse isn’t real. Does it?

6. Let’s Get Invisible!

On Max’s birthday, he finds a kind of magic mirror in the attic. It can make make him become invisible. So Max and his friends start playing “now you see me, now you don’t.”

Until Max realizes that he’s losing control. He’s staying invisible a little too long and having a harder and harder time coming back. Getting invisible is turning into a very dangerous game.

The next time Max gets invisible, will it be…forever?

7. Night of the Living Dummy

When twins Lindy and Kris find a ventriloquist’s dummy in a Dumpster, Lindy decides to “rescue” it, and she names it Slappy.

But Kris is green with envy. It’s not fair. Why does Lindy get to have all the fun and all the attention?

Kris decides to get a dummy of her own. She’ll show Lindy. Then weird, nasty, evil things begin to happen.

It can’t be the dummy causing all the trouble, Can it?

8. The Girl Who Cried Monster

Lucy likes to tell monster stories. She’s told so many that her friends and family are sick of it. Then one day, Lucy discovers a real, live monster: The librarian in charge of the summer reading program.

But too bad Lucy’s told so many monster tall tales. Too bad no on believes a word she says. And too bad the monster knows who she is…and is coming after her next.

9. Welcome to Camp Nightmare

Billy thinks that life at camp is a bit creepy, but when other campers start to disappear and his parents do not answer his letters, Camp Nightmoon becomes Camp Nightmare.

10. The Ghost Next Door

Hannah Fairchild is startled to wake up from a horrific nightmare to find that the empty house next door has suddenly been sold, as if overnight, and the son of the family somehow has the ability to survive a series of near-fatal accidents. The more she investigates, Hannah discovers to her shock that the new neighbours might be ghosts.

Final Thoughts on Goosebumps Books in Order

As mentioned, reading the Goosebumps books in order is a shared memory of so many people’s childhood. Did you recognize many of the titles on this list? Let us know your thoughts on the Goosebumps books in order in the comments below.

Looking for more books in order?

Check out this list of Stephen King Books in Order.