Carl Reiner Is Scaring The Kids

(CBS)  Though young readers might not know it, Carl Reiner has been making people laugh for almost 60 years. But on Friday's The Early Show, he did not go for laughs, but screams.

The legendary comedian, writer and director has written his first children's book and it's called, "Tell Me A Scary Story...But Not Too Scary!" It's actually quite the nail-biter.

As part of the Early Reader's Club, Reiner read to children (ages 4 to 7) on Friday.

Reiner says the book was inspired by his grandson, who made the request that became the title of the book. The story he told his grandson was a little different, but probably just as effective. With James Bennett's illustrations, the tall tale is designed to be a shared reading experience. Parents and children can read along together as they listen to spooky sound effects and Grammy Award nominee Carl Reiner's hilarious reading of "Tell Me a Scary Story…" on the accompanying bonus CD.

Reiner tells co-anchor Hannah Storm, "You get to participate with the child you're reading with because you say, 'Okay, do you want me to turn the page? Is it too scary?' It's up to them. We give them the power to let us read or not."

At the same time, the book allows kids to be brave. Reiner notes, "You know, it's funny. When kids are a little frightened about anything, everybody in the world has fears, but when you realize you can conquer those fears and you're invulnerable, you'll be there and the fears will disappear. I think this book helps with that, a little bit."

Reiner is a 12-time Emmy Award-winning writer, producer, director, and comedian who co-starred in the legendary television program "Your Show of Shows" and created and co-starred in "The Dick Van Dyke Show." He also made comedy history as the co-creator of "The 2,000 Year Old Man" and has directed many hit feature films, including "Oh, God!," "The Jerk," and "All of Me."

2003 is a banner year for Reiner. In July, his Alan Brady 50th Anniversary Show, a computer animated special he wrote, airs on Nick at Nite's TV Land. Then in the fall TV season, CBS intends to air the brand-new "Dick Van Dyke Reunion Show," written by Reiner.

Reiner says, "The characters just fell out of me because I just know them so well. We all have a lot going on. Mary Tyler Moore had another engagement and I will start filming 'Ocean's Twelve' next spring, which is due to be released Christmas 2004.

His recent autobiography for St. Martin's Press is "My Anecdotal Life."

Reiner lives with his wife in Beverly Hills, Calif.