Classics:
* The Wicked Witch of the West from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz": Her green skin, cackling laughter, and desire to melt Dorothy with water make her a classic scary character.
* Captain Hook from "Peter Pan": His fear of crocodiles and his desire to capture Peter Pan can be frightening.
* The Wolf from "Little Red Riding Hood": The wolf's deception and the threat he poses to Little Red Riding Hood are classic scary elements.
Modern Literature:
* The Grinch from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas": The Grinch's grumpy nature and plan to steal Christmas can be unsettling for younger kids.
* The Night Fury from "How to Train Your Dragon": This dragon's fierce appearance and ability to shoot fire might scare some kids.
* The BFG from "The BFG": While the BFG himself is kind, the giants in his world are often portrayed as scary and can be frightening for some children.
Other Notable Characters:
* The Headless Horseman from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow": His spooky appearance and ability to ride without a head can be quite terrifying.
* The Jabberwocky from "Jabberwocky": The poem's fantastical creature is described as scary and might be too much for some kids.
Important Note: What scares a child is very individual. It's always best to judge the situation based on the child's age, maturity, and previous exposure to scary stories.