Goosebumps: The Thing That Ate The Kids' Market

Eight-year-old Tom Buzbee usually spends his $3 weekly allowance on the same thing, and it's not candy or pizza. He devours Goosebumps. The Englewood (Colo.) third-grader has collected most of the 49 kiddie thrillers in the paperback series that R.L. Stine has churned out for Scholastic Inc. since 1992. And Tom doesn't stop with the surprise endings. Thanks to some help from his parents, the trademark ghouls now grace his sheets and pillowcases, backpack, a flashlight, and T-shirts. "I have more stuff than anybody," he says. He also reviews books on his own Web site and watches the Goosebumps TV show every week.

Granted, Tom is something of a fanatic. But multiply him by 20 million "tweens," ages 8 to 12, and you'll begin to understand the scope of the Goosebumps franchise. Despite complaints from some parents that they are too gory, the books regularly top best-seller lists. The television show is rated No.1 in children's fare. The green-and-white Goosebumps logo is splashed on everything from sunglasses to software. A feature-length film is under discussion.