Spooktacular Stories for Small Children

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

It's that time of year again: time for jack-o-lanterns, candy corn, costumes, and caramel apples... and also curling up under a blanket to read a few Halloween books! :)

It's been several years now since I had someone to read picture books with. A couple of weeks ago I checked out a BIG stack of Halloween picture books from the library. I brought them home and read them all out loud to myself! The following books are the ones that I liked best from that stack, ones that I thought my own kiddos would've enjoyed when they were younger. I hope you will like them, too!

Fiction:

Boo, Bunny!,

written by Kathryn O. Galbraith

and illustrated by Jeff Mack, 2008

The dark Halloween night is a little too scary for one shy bunny -- until Bunny bumps into a friend.

Everything's better with a friend, and this cute story is no exception.  I especially liked Mack's artwork.

***

Pumpkin Trouble,

written and illustrated by Jan Thomas, 2011

This short, silly story about a duck, his friends, and some pumpkin trouble made me giggle!

***

Just Say BOO!,

written by Susan Hood

and illustrated by Jed Henry, 2012

What should you do when something scares you on Halloween? Just say BOO!

This book is perfect for the littlest of trick-or-treaters who may not be too sure about the spooky sights all around them this time of year. Hood's story and Henry's watercolor illustrations work together to gently help dispel young children's fears.

***

T. Rex Trick-Or-Treats,

written by Lois G. Grambling

and illustrated by Jack E. Davis, 2005

T. Rex wants to be scary for Halloween, but what kind of costume should he wear?

Gambling's words and Davis's illustrations together create a funny story that all ages can enjoy. I especially liked all of the facial expressions throughout the book.

***

The Best Halloween Hunt Ever,
written and illustrated by John Speirs, 2000

More of an activity book than a story book, The Best Halloween Hunt Ever offers detailed pictures on every page, with lists of items to look for and bats to count.

My 10-year-old Ben loves this kind of book -- and always has. It makes for a perfect (quiet!) indoor activity on a cold autumn day.

***

Shy Mama's Halloween,
written by Anne Broyles
and illustrated by Leane Morin, 2000 

When Anya's family moves from Russia to the United States, she and her siblings are eager to celebrate their first Halloween. Mama is shy and frightened by many things in her new country, especially this holiday of ghosts and goblins. Papa agrees to take the children trick-or-treating, but then falls sick. Will Anya and her siblings have to settle for watching all the Halloween fun outside their window?

I found this to be a beautifully written, special book. Dealing with various themes (including multicultural differences, emotions, and acceptance), this book would be a great one to read and then discuss in a classroom.

***

Alpha Oops!:
H Is for Halloween,
written by Alethea Kontis
and illustrated by Bob Kolar, 2010

It's time for the Halloween show, but A isn't ready yet. Maybe this time H can go first, and then... Z?

Who knew that a daffy, mixed-up alphabet could be laugh-out-loud funny? This one sure is. Alpha Oops!: H is for Halloween seems like a book that young kids will want to hear over and over again!

***

A Creepy Countdown,
written by Charlotte Huck
and illustrated by Jos. A. Smith, 1998

From one to ten and then down to one again, this rhyming, counting book is enchanting! My favorite thing about it is Smith's meticulous and spooky artwork on every page.

***

Behind the Mask,

written and illustrated by Yangsook Choi, 2006

Kimin decides to dress up as his grandfather, a Korean mask dancer who is no longer living, for Halloween. But Kimin doesn't know that the mask holds a secret, just for him.

I like how Choi combines Korean and American folk traditions in this tale and also how she shows Kimin's connection to his grandfather growing stronger.

***

The Fierce Yellow Pumpkin,
written by Margaret Wise Brown
and illustrated by Richard Egielski, 2003

A little pumpkin dreams of growing big and fierce and able to scare the field mice like the scarecrow scares birds. Does his wish come true?

I like the way that Brown uses repetition to tell this charming story. Egielski's vivid artwork pairs nicely with it.

***

Harriet's Halloween Candy,
written and illustrated by Nancy Carlson, 2002

It's hard to share, especially when you're asked to share your hard-earned Halloween candy. When Harriet runs out of places to hide her candy from her little brother, there's only one thing left to do (other than share it, that is)....

The amusing consequences to Harriet's actions were my favorite part of this book. (That and the fact that it reminded me of my own kids, trying to hide their chocolate trick-or-treat candy from their father!)

***

Wild Witches' Ball,
written by Jack Prelutsky
and illustrated by Kelly Asbury, 1976

A rhyming, counting book about the antics at the Wild Witches' Ball, this is an entertaining story with lively pictures.

***

Pumpkin Jack,
written and illustrated by Will Hubbell, 2000

When Tim carves his very first pumpkin, it turns out so well that he decides it needs a name --Jack. Tim keeps Jack for as long as he can, but when the pumpkin starts to rot, his mother insists he throw it out. Tim carries Jack to the garden where the pumpkin grows flat and moldy. Soon Tim forgets about Jack -- until the spring when he finds a surprise in the garden!

I love Hubbell's engaging story about the life cycle of a pumpkin, as well as his beautiful illustrations. This is a book I'd be happy to buy and add to my own collection!

***

The Three Bears' Halloween,
written by Kathy Duval
and illustrated by Paul Meisel, 2007

Mama Bear and Papa Bear take Baby Bear trick-or-treating and pay a visit to... you guessed it!... Goldilocks.

I enjoyed the role-reversal of the well-known fairy tale and this story's Halloween twist.

***

Halloween Howls: Holiday Poetry,
selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
and illustrated by Stacey Schuett, 2005

A dozen poems -- including some from Jane Yolen, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, and Lee Bennett Hopkins --  capture the spirit of Halloween in this collection for beginning readers.

This delightful, easy-to-read poetry made me grin like a jack-o-lantern! :)

***

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You:
Very Short Scary Tales to Read Together,
written by Mary Ann Hoberman
and illustrated by Michael Emberley, 2007

This book contains fourteen frighteningly fun stories written "in two voices",  to be read aloud with a friend.

As I mentioned earlier, I read all of these books aloud to myself. With this one, more than any other, I was wishing someone else was home to read it with me! I tried reading the different parts with different voices, but it just wasn't the same. Then, earlier this week, I asked Ben to do a reading of the book with me. He had a blast with it (he's a bit of a ham!) and we ended up recording part of it. I'll share that video with you next week....

***

Non-fiction:

How to Carve Freakishly Cool Pumpkins,
written by Sarah L. Schuette, 2011, 

This book shares photos and step-by-step instructions for eleven different jack-o-lanterns, ranging from cute to gross to scary!

I LOVE carving pumpkins and try to come up with a different look each year. I found a couple of ideas in this book that I'm planning to use this year -- and in the future.

***

Kids' Pumpkin Projects:
Planting & Harvest Fun,
written by Deanna F. Cook
and illustrated by Kate Flanagan, 1998

Do you love pumpkins? This book contains "more than 50 indoor/outdoor pumpkin activities for year-round fun!" It includes recipes, games, arts and crafts, gardening tips for growing your own pumpkins, and much more.

I love everything pumpkin. I am definitely planning to try some of the recipes from this book soon. And, after reading through this, I am seriously considering growing my own pumpkins next year. I know my kiddos would get a kick out of that, too!

***

The Halloween Book of Facts & Fun,
written by Wendie Old
and illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye, 2007

Halloween riddles, facts about the history of Halloween, party ideas, and safety tips are just a few of the items packed into this book.

I found this book interesting and informative. I even learned a few things! I chuckled through the riddles (many of them puns, which I love) and have had fun sharing them with Ben. (He mostly just groans -- but then he runs off to tell them to his brother and his friends!)

***

How to Haunt a House,
written by Dan Witkowski
and illustrated by Jack Lindstrom, 1994

"Everything you need to know to make your home, garage, or school frightfully fun for Halloween -- or any evening of the year!" This book includes tips for lighting, makeup, costumes, sound effects, illusions, decorations, and more.

I really had fun looking through this book. It gave me lots of great ideas I can use to "spookify" our house! 

***

Horrorgami:
Spooky Paper Folding for Children,
written and illustrated by Steve and Megumi Biddle, 1996

Easy-to-follow instructions and photographs explain how to make over 20 different Halloween shapes using origami, including a rat, a spider, and the Phantom of the Opera.

My daughter Emmalie is an origami expert. I think next time she is home from college, I'm going to check out this book again so that she can make several of the shapes for me! (Note: it's not necessary to be an origami expert in order to make these -- the instructions look clear and simple to follow. I just know that she would have fun trying them!)

***

For even more Halloween books geared toward young children, check out my posts from previous years: Not-So-Spooky Stories and Bootiful Books for Young Kids.

Have you read any of the books above? If so, what did you think? Do you have favorite Halloween stories that aren't listed here? I'd love to hear about them!

Stories for Library Lovers

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

If you have read many of my previous posts, it should come as no surprise that I LOVE libraries. Libraries are among my very favorite places to spend time in! I visit our local library at least once a week. I love the (relative) quiet, the smell of the books, the access to computers, printers, and other technology, the bright colors of the children's section (actually, our whole library is brightly colored!), and, of course, the rows and rows of books in every room.

While wandering around the children's section recently, I discovered a group of engaging books about libraries. Some of the books are silly and fictional. Others share true stories of real libraries, in this country and around the world. Do you love libraries, too?  If so, this post is for you. (And if not, the following books just might spark your interest!)

Picture books:

Wild About Books,

written by Judy Sierra

and illustrated by Marc Brown, 2004

Librarian Molly McGrew accidentally drives the bookmobile to the zoo. Before long, all of the animals are reading -- and even writing their own books!

This is a cute story, told in rhyme. I especially liked the haiku poems that the bugs in the insect zoo write, along with the stinging reviews from the scorpion! The fun illustrations complement the humorous story well.

***

The Librarian of Basra:
A True Story from Iraq,
written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter, 2005

Alia Muhammad Baker is a librarian in Basra, Iraq. In 2003, war came to Basra. Alia asked the governor for permission to move the books (which were "more precious to her than mountains of gold") from the library to a safer place. He refused, but Alia moved them anyway. Just a few days later, a fire burned the library to the ground....

I don't know much about libraries in other countries and hadn't heard of this story before reading the book. I found it interesting. Winter presents the facts in a way that is easy to understand. She also shares Alia's perspective, her thoughts and hopes for the books she loves. Winter's colorful illustrations help to tell Alia's story and depict the war without being too frightening for children. 

***

Biblioburro:
A True Story from Columbia,
written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter, 2010

This book is based on the true story of Luis Soriana, an avid reader who lives in northern Colombia. One day he decided to share his large collection of books with the people in isolated villages high up in the hills where books are scarce. He built special crates for the books that could be carried by his two burros, creating his very own Biblioburro -- or Burro Library.

Through her vibrant pictures and poetic narrative, Winter provides readers with a small slice of life in Colombia. I found the book a delight to read!

***

Miss Moore Thought Otherwise:
How Anne Carroll Moore Created Libraries for Children,
written by Jan Pinborough
and illustrated by Debby Atwell, 2013

When Annie Carroll Moore was young, "many people thought a girl should stay indoors and do quiet things such as sewing and embroidery. But Annie thought otherwise." This is the tale of a woman who "thought otherwise" about many different things and wasn't afraid to fight for what she felt was right. Soon after libraries began hiring women as librarians, Miss Moore went to school to become one. Unlike many others in her field, she believed that libraries should be for children, too, not just for adults. She helped to create children's sections in all 36 branches of the New York Public Library and later went on to design (and then run) the Central Children's Room at Fifth Avenue and Forty-Second Street. Her work influenced other libraries around the country and around the world to create inviting spaces for children.

I was unaware of the history of children's libraries before reading this book. I learned a lot! I like how Pinborough brings this history to life with intriguing details and alluring text. Atwell's folk-art style pictures pair nicely with the story. This was my favorite of the picture books in this post.

***

"L" is for Library,
written by Sonya Terry
and illustrated by Nicole Wong, 2006

From "Dewey Decimal System" to "nonfiction" to "thesaurus", this book offers a different library-related word for each letter of the alphabet.

While I'm not a fan of the rhymes of the text (some seem a bit forced to me), I found that Wong's detailed, charming illustrations outweigh those parts, making this a book worth sharing with you.

***

Librarian on the Roof!:
A True Story,
written by M. G. King
and illustrated by Stephen Gilpin, 2010

This book is based on the true story of RoseAleta Laurell, a dedicated librarian who camped out on the roof of the Dr. Eugene Clark Library (the oldest library in Texas) for a week, in order to raise awareness and funds for its children's section. Town officials did not approve of her stunt, and Laurell endured some wet, scary weather up on the roof, but in just seven days, the town raised almost $40,000 for the library -- twice Laurell's original goal!

King's entertaining writing combined with Gilpin's amusing cartoon-like illustrations make this a fun book for children and adults alike.

***

Middle grade fiction:

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library,
written by Chris Grabenstein, 2013

Imagine a modern day Willy Wonka creating a library instead of a chocolate factory. It would be the best library ever, right? It would be Mr. Lemoncello's library. For the past 12 years, Alexandria, Ohio has been without a public library. Now the man behind Mr. Lemoncello's Imagination Factory (a company with the best board games, puzzles, and video games) is opening a library in the town. He picks twelve 12-year-olds (who write the best essays on "Why I'm Excited About the New Public Library") for a special library lock-in. There are games and prizes, plus the biggest competition of them all -- whoever can figure out how to escape from the library without using the front door or the fire exits (using only what's in the library to find their way out) will win the best prize of all, becoming a paid spokesperson for the Imagination Factory.

I loved this book and count it as one of my favorite middle grade novels of all time! It hooked me from the very beginning and kept me interested to the very end. It made me laugh out loud in several spots. I had fun figuring out the various clues to the games and I appreciated all the references to other books that appear throughout the story. While reading it, I knew that my son Ben would love it, too. I gave it to him when I finished, and, sure enough, he couldn't put it down. Between the two of us, we give this book four big thumbs up!

***

Have you read any of the books mentioned above? If so, what did you think of them? What are your favorite books about libraries?