Halloween is just around the corner and I have some fun books for your children to enjoy and help celebrate the season. There are picture books, early readers, a board book, an activity book, a graphic book and spooky fiction mysteries for your eight to twelve-year-old. The picture books are good for all ages unless otherwise indicated.
Fun family Halloween paper crafts for kids, perfect for ages 5 and up.
Halloween Paper Crafts (Family Crafts), by Kane Miller EDC Publishing, is full of fun paper-cutting activities for children aged five and older to create. All you need are glue, scissors, tape and crayons (in some cases, string and metal brads too). Some of these activities include making skeletons, spiral ghosts and Halloween masks.
This Book is Definitely Not Cursed, by Megan Woodward and vibrantly illustrated by Risa Rodil, is one of the most hilarious Halloween picture books I’ve read over the many years I’ve been reviewing! You might think this book is cursed because when you begin reading it, you may start tasting cabbage in everything, get the wiggles and giggles, and even start smelling other peopl e’s feet! Now, here is a book with colors that seem ultraviolet and begs to be read aloud.
Boo The Library Ghost, by Becky Paige, is about a little ghost, Boo, who loves to scare anyone visiting the library. This rhyming tale takes a turn for the better when a little girl named Poppy, discovers why Boo was so mean. When you find out the reason, you’ll fall in love with both Poppy and Boo in this darling picture book.
Itty Bitty Betty Blob by Constance Lombardo, a delightful Halloween picture book.
Itty Bitty Betty Blob, by Constance Lombardo and cleverly illustrated with shades of pink and black by Micah Player, is a picture book about little monsters practicing mean faces for picture day. By the way, these monsters are unique and hilarious! Itty Bitty Betty Blob is the cutest pink blob who doesn’t like being contrary. On the day of the pictures, Betty discovers something most unusual, which changes the entire trajectory of this delightful story!
Junior Monster Scouts, by Joe McGee and illustrated by Ethan Long, is a level two Ready-To-Read series with two new books: Troll Trouble and Hide-and-Seek Pup. The main characters are three children of classic monsters. Between the captivating stories and delightful illustrations, youngsters aged five through seven, will thoroughly enjoy reading them.
Greenhouse of Horror (Spirited), by Liv Livingston and illustrated by Glass House Graphics, is a graphic novel that suitable for ages six and up. In this story, Liv and her science class visit a greenhouse where strange things begins to happen, including the appearance of bizarre-looking plants and possibly even ghosts? This graphic novel is easy to read, with fewer words than most graphic novels.
Scare School Diaries, a spooky early reader book for ages 5-8.
Scare School Diaries: Welcome to Scare School, by Jarrett Lerner, is an early chapter book perfect for ages five through eight. Bash, a young ghost, is scared of many things, including going to scare school. The many antics and adventures he experiences will delight readers. This is the first book in a planned series.
Stumpkin, by Lucy Ruth Cummins, is an adorable board book with a simple yet powerful storyline. Stumpkin is a round, plump pumpkin. Because he doesn’t have a stem, people buy all of the other pumpkins on the shelf. However the clever illustrations towards the end, showcase how everyone has uniqueness and still can be part of life’s celebrations.
Godfather Death, by Sally Nichols and vibrantly illustrated by Julia Sarda, is a reimagined retelling of a Brothers Grimm tale. A poor fisherman searches for the perfect, honest godfather for his newborn son. He first encounters God but feels that He isn’t fair to all. Continuing his search, he meets the devil but doubts his honesty. Finally, he comes upon Death and chooses him for his perceived honesty. However, he soon discovers something about Death that changes everything.
Seven Ghosts (Everyone Can Be a Reader New Series), by Chris Priestley, is the perfect fiction book for ages eight to twelve, especially for reluctant readers. Jake and others are invited to tour an old mansion where they will learn about the seven ghosts that haunt the grounds. Each chapter is gripping and will motivate readers to keep reading until the end. Black and white sketches are found throughout.
The Witching Wind by Natalie Lloyd, a magical Halloween adventure for young readers.
The Witching Wind, by Natalie Lloyd, is a magical fiction book geared for kids aged eight to twelve, showcasing a wonderful friendship between two twelve-year-old girls. Roxie’s Granny is suffering from memory loss and has gone missing. Grayson’s older sister has suddenly vanished. Both friends realize it must be the Witching Wind, which steals what people love most. The prose, storyline, and stylistic writing make for a story that comes alive, making magic feel real!
