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Haunting Halloween Tales

Spooktacular Books for Your Ghosts and Goblins

     Goblins, witches, black cats and mummies. Do you love a fright? Or would you prefer puppy dogs, princesses, superheroes and clowns? Halloween has something for everyone: dressing up, going trick-or- treating, and collecting candy. As kids get older, they love reading scary stories and being thrilled with creepy tales. But young children may be sensitive to these bone-chillin’ yarns and need something gentler. Here is a range of stories for your ghosts and goblins!

Sweet Stories for Little Kids

     I’m Not Scared, by Todd Parr (Little, Brown; 32 pp.; $9.99; ages 2–6) Using his distinctive style of bright, bold figures and simple, reassuring words, Parr has created a wonderful book that reassures young children that we all can be scared of some things. The left side of every spread shows something we may be afraid of: “Sometimes I’m scared of the dark.” Look on the right side and you’ll see a way to make the situation better: “ I’m not scared if I have a night-light.” Parr’s book is simple and yet it speaks to the heart of an important issue. Young children need to work through how to deal with their fears, and not just push them aside. Parents love Parr’s work for giving them ways to talk about important issues in simple, reassuring ways. Some might say that this is heavy-handed on the message, but for a child struggling with fears, it could be just the right thing.

    Pumpkin Trouble, by Jan Thomas (HarperCollins; 32 pages; $9.99; ages 2–6) “This will be great!” Duck exclaims, as he comes across the perfect pumpkin to carve. He can’t wait to carve his own jack-o’-lantern and show his friends Pig and Mouse. But just as Duck is trying to get the last of the slimy insides out of the pumpkin, he falls in head first and can’t get out. Oh, no! And when Pig and Mouse see their friend walking around inside a pumpkin, they shout, “PUMPKIN MONSTER!” Preschoolers will laugh and laugh at this silly book, as Pig and Mouse run away from the “monster” and Duck runs too, wondering who this monster is. In her classic style, Thomas captures humor and fun with her energetic, bold illustrations and simple text. Perfect for little kids having fun carving their first pumpkins.

Some Creepy Fun

     Little Goblins Ten, by Pamela Jane, illustrated by Jane Manning (HarperCollins; 32 pp.; $16.99; ages 3– 8 With a spooky twist on the classic nursery rhyme “Over in the Meadow,” Jane has created a perfect read-aloud for Halloween. Starting with “a mommy monster and her little monster one,” Jane keeps the wonderful rhythm and rhyme key to a good nursery rhyme, full of rich vocabulary and alliteration. You’ll have fun counting the 10 little goblins hiding, growling and cavorting in their forest home. Jane Manning’s illustrations are deliciously creepy, and yet fun enough not to be really scary. “‘Trick or treat?’ asked the mommy; / Treat!’ cried the one. / So they skipped off together / For some Halloween fun!”

     When A Monster Is Born, by Sean Taylor, illustrated Nick Sharratt (Square Fish; 32 pagespp.; $6.99; ages 4–8;). When a monster is born, this book tells young readers, “there are two possibilities—either it’s a FARAWAY-IN-THE-FORESTS monster, or it’s an UNDER-YOUR-BED monster” And so starts this very funny monster tale, with each page posing new alternatives. “If it’s a FARAWAY-IN-THE-FORESTS monster, that’s that. But if it’s an UNDER-YOUR-BED monster, there are two possibilities.” Young kids will soon figure out the pattern, as the book follows what happens if the monster is under your bed, comes to school, eats the principal and wanders through the town. The artwork is full of bright neon colors featuring furry, round monsters on black backgrounds, giving it a modern look that emphasizes the humor of the story. Taylor’s predictable pattern will engage kids as they chant with you, “That’s that.”

     In The Haunted House, by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Susan Meddaugh (Sandpiper; 32 pp.; $5.95; ages 4–8;). For kids who love the thrill of the scare, In The Haunted House is a great story that revels in the delicious spine-tingling feel of a good fright. With creepy rhymes that are perfect for reading aloud, Bunting follows two pairs of feet through a haunted house. “Who’s in the closet, dark as a tomb / Rattling his bones in the gloom-gloomy-gloom?” As the feet run from room to room, they discover frightful surprises at each turn. The suspense is deliciously creepy, but never too scary. Meddaugh’s illustrations also create a perfect balance for young readers, lending a silly note to some of the hair-raising creatures. The twist comes at the end, as readers discover which pair of feet (big or small) was really scared. This Halloween book will surely prompt giggles and gasps

     Mary Ann Scheuer is a librarian, teacher and mom of three children. She is the librarian at Emerson Elementary School in Berkeley. She is passionate about helping children and families find books that make them excited about reading. Find more great ideas for reading on her blog, Great Kid Books, http://greatkidbooks.blogspot.com.
 

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