18+ — These stories contain dark themes drawn from real criminal cases. Not for children.

Once Upon a Crime...

True Cases. Children's Book Voice.

The worst people in history,
narrated the way your mother read to you.

Dahmer.  Gacy.  Bundy.  The Zodiac.  Lizzie Borden.
Jack the Ripper.  The BTK.  And many more.

The Craftsman of Plainfield - Ed Gein, illustrated children's book style

The Craftsman of Plainfield

A Tale of a Very Creative Farmer

Ed Gein Plainfield, Wisconsin, 1954-1957

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Jeffrey's Dinner Parties - Jeffrey Dahmer, illustrated children's book style

Jeffrey's Dinner Parties

A Story About a Boy Who Wanted Friends to Stay

Jeffrey Dahmer Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1978-1991

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The Whitechapel Shadow - Jack the Ripper, illustrated children's book style

The Whitechapel Shadow

A Foggy Tale from Old London Town

Jack the Ripper Whitechapel, London, 1888

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Pogo's Last Party - John Wayne Gacy, illustrated children's book style

Pogo's Last Party

The Tale of a Very Busy Clown

John Wayne Gacy Norwood Park, Illinois, 1972-1978

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The Hotel with Many Doors - H.H. Holmes, illustrated children's book style

The Hotel with Many Doors

A Story About a Very Ambitious Builder

H.H. Holmes Chicago, Illinois, 1891-1894

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The Compliant Citizen - Dennis Rader (BTK), illustrated children's book style

The Compliant Citizen

A Story About a Man Who Followed Every Rule But One

Dennis Rader (BTK) Wichita, Kansas, 1974-1991

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The Dog Told Me To - David Berkowitz (Son of Sam), illustrated children's book style

The Dog Told Me To

A New York Story About Bad Neighbors and Worse Excuses

David Berkowitz (Son of Sam) New York City, 1976-1977

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The Night Visitor - Richard Ramirez, illustrated children's book style

The Night Visitor

A Bedtime Story About Locking Your Windows

Richard Ramirez Los Angeles, California, 1984-1985

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The Quiet Painter - Gary Ridgway (Green River Killer), illustrated children's book style

The Quiet Painter

A Story About a Man Who Blended In

Gary Ridgway (Green River Killer) Seattle, Washington, 1982-1998

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The Handsome Helper - Ted Bundy, illustrated children's book style

The Handsome Helper

A Lesson About Strangers with Nice Smiles

Ted Bundy Multiple States, 1974-1978

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The Butcher's Lessons - Andrei Chikatilo, illustrated children's book style

The Butcher's Lessons

A Soviet Tale of Red Tape and Red Forests

Andrei Chikatilo Rostov Oblast, Soviet Union, 1978-1990

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The Puzzle Man - The Zodiac Killer, illustrated children's book style

The Puzzle Man

A Story About Someone Who Loved Codes and Attention

The Zodiac Killer Northern California, 1968-1969

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The Very Big Boy - Edmund Kemper, illustrated children's book style

The Very Big Boy

A Tall Tale About a Very Tall Problem

Edmund Kemper Santa Cruz, California, 1964-1973

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Nannie's Recipe for Happiness - Nannie Doss, illustrated children's book style

Nannie's Recipe for Happiness

A Story About a Woman Who Tried Marriage Many Times

Nannie Doss Multiple States, United States, 1920s-1954

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The Grandfather - Albert Fish, illustrated children's book style

The Grandfather

A Very Old Story About a Very Bad Man

Albert Fish New York City, 1924-1932

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Lizzie's Bad Day - Lizzie Borden, illustrated children's book style

Lizzie's Bad Day

A New England Nursery Rhyme, Expanded

Lizzie Borden Fall River, Massachusetts, 1892

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The Handyman Cometh - Albert DeSalvo (Boston Strangler), illustrated children's book style

The Handyman Cometh

A Boston Story About Letting Strangers In

Albert DeSalvo (Boston Strangler) Boston, Massachusetts, 1962-1964

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The Candy Man - Dean Corll, illustrated children's book style

The Candy Man

A Sweet Story That Turns Very Sour

Dean Corll Houston, Texas, 1970-1973

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Carl's Honest Opinion - Carl Panzram, illustrated children's book style

Carl's Honest Opinion

The Story of a Man Who Hated Everything

Carl Panzram Multiple Countries, 1920-1929

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The Night Caller - Richard Chase (Vampire of Sacramento), illustrated children's book style

The Night Caller

A Story About Voices in the Dark

Richard Chase (Vampire of Sacramento) Sacramento, California, 1977-1978

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The Helpful Hitchhiker - Ivan Milat, illustrated children's book style

The Helpful Hitchhiker

A Cautionary Tale About Taking Rides in New South Wales

Ivan Milat Belanglo State Forest, Australia, 1989-1993

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The Man Who Walked Between Countries - Pedro Lopez, illustrated children's book style

The Man Who Walked Between Countries

A Story About Someone You Really Should Not Have Met

Pedro Lopez Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, 1969-1980

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Dennis Didn't Want to Be Alone - Dennis Nilsen, illustrated children's book style

Dennis Didn't Want to Be Alone

A Story About a Civil Servant with a Plumbing Problem

Dennis Nilsen London, England, 1978-1983

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Grandma's Boarding House - Dorothea Puente, illustrated children's book style

Grandma's Boarding House

A Story About Generous Hospitality and Deep Gardens

Dorothea Puente Sacramento, California, 1982-1988

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The Man with No Pattern - Israel Keyes, illustrated children's book style

The Man with No Pattern

A Story About Someone Who Really Did His Research

Israel Keyes Multiple States, United States, 2001-2012

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The Axeman's Jazz Night - The Axeman of New Orleans, illustrated children's book style

The Axeman's Jazz Night

A Most Peculiar Concert Announcement from 1919

The Axeman of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana, 1918-1919

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The Widow of County Durham - Mary Ann Cotton, illustrated children's book style

The Widow of County Durham

A Victorian Tale About Unfortunate Luck in One Household

Mary Ann Cotton County Durham, England, 1852-1872

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The Countess's Beauty Secrets - Elizabeth Bathory, illustrated children's book style

The Countess's Beauty Secrets

A Castle Story with a Very Strict Skincare Routine

Elizabeth Bathory Cachtice Castle, Kingdom of Hungary, 1590-1610

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Belle's Farm for Lonely Hearts - Belle Gunness, illustrated children's book style

Belle's Farm for Lonely Hearts

A Story About a Norwegian Widow with Excellent Business Sense

Belle Gunness La Porte, Indiana, 1884-1908

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Aileen's Highway - Aileen Wuornos, illustrated children's book style

Aileen's Highway

The Woman Who Thumbed Her Way to Trouble

Aileen Wuornos Florida, 1989-1990

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