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Halloween is coming and the following books are perfect for kids ages eight and up except for the first three books.  The first two are good for ages five through seven.  The next book is geared for ages seven through nine

Attack of the Fifty-Foot Fly Guy, by Tedd Arnold, is another fun and funny story of this very popular series about Fly Guy that new readers adore.  When Fly Guy eats a snack from a trash can, he soon discovers this particular trash can held some different food.  The radioactive food inside makes him suddenly grow 50 feet! Hopefully, the scientists can get him small again before he is attacked by the military!  The bright colors of this series fill every page and the humor will fill every early reader’s smile.

Beneath the Bed and Other Scary Stories,by Max Brallier, and vividly illustrated by Letizia Rubegni, contains five easy-to-read stories geared for the new reader.  The stories, although simply written, have a bit of a jolt to them.  They have just the right consistency and element of surprise for youngsters to really enjoy and desire for them to be read again and again.  The smudgy charcoal background goes perfectly with the vibrant color that fills every page.

Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball, by Laura Ellen Anderson, is the first book in a fun series.  Amelia is a vampire.  However, she is not your typical vampire and her life in Nocturnia isn’t typical of a normal town. Her mom and dad are the Count and Countess of Nocturnia and everyone living there await with great anticipation her parents’ annual ball.  Amelia doesn’t desire to go to the ball, but her parents insist.  This is where she meets the king’s son who turns out to be spoiled and self-absorbed.  When he steals her pet pumpkin, the book takes a turn into a very entertaining adventure as she attempts to get it back.  There are clever magical characters, words and events that will be fun to read for any seven to nine-year-old.  The second book, Amelia Fang and the Unicorns of Glitteropolis, is just as good as the first.  There is a sprinkling of illuminating black and white illustrations found throughout.

Bunnicula: 40th Anniversary Special Edition, by Deborah and James Howe, with wonderful illustrations made with pen and ink sprinkled throughout, has to be one of the best and funniest Halloween stories! Harold is the Monroe household dog and Chester the cat is also a pet.  But when a new pet arrives, the suspicions – and humor – begins.  Could this rabbit possibly be a vampire?  Why does it have unusual habits and especially long fangs?  If you or your eight-year-old and older have not read this classic, what are you waiting for!  This is a must read for the season!

Jaclyn Hyde, by AnnBeth Bondor-Stone, is a hilarious take on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  Jaclyn prides herself on striving for perfection.  But when she happens on a potion that promises perfection, she takes it and the result is both hilarious and destructive.  Her alter ego is Jackie, and this Jackie isn’t nice or honest in her dealings with others.  Jackie steals and lies in order to win or achieve the highest degree.  There is a lot of heart in this story along with funny situations that her friends are surprised to see her dealing with.  The book is about being the best you can be without feeling the stress, surrounding yourself with family and friends and not raising the bar so high that you can’t reach it.  This would be a great read-out-loud for family and school.

The Beast (A Darkdeep Novel), by Allie Connie and Brendan Reichs, is the first book in a planned fantasy series that is action-packed and suspenseful.  The kids living in Timbers know that Still Cove is a place never to visit.  The belief is that there is a terrifying beast living there.  Everything is about to change when Nico is bullied off a cliff and into the rushing waters of Still Cove.  Three friends witnessed this horrible event and rush to his rescue only to discover some strange goings-on beyond the water.  If your child likes shivers and mystery, this fast-paced tale will totally envelop them.  I believe this kind of adventure will grab the reluctant reader and not let go.

How to Win the Science Fair When You’re Dead, by Paul North, is another hilarious book in this popular cartoonist’s series.  If you haven’t read How to Sell Your Family to the Aliens, you are missing out.  Happy Conklin has a truly nutty family and the book continues with another other-worldly adventure.  When Happy accidentally sold his family to the aliens he accidentally opened a black hole right in the middle of class while working on his science fair project.  What he discovers, and the adventures that take place, will keep you reading until the very end!

Tunnel of Bones, by Victoria Schwartz, is the second book in this series but it stands alone.  However, chances are that after you read this book, you’ll want to get your hands on book one: City of Ghosts.  Cassidy and her ghost friend, Jacob, are ghost hunters and this book finds them in Paris, France where they are in search of ghosts in the most haunted places.  The storyline is so exciting that you’ll be turning the pages as fast as you can to find out what happens.  This page turner is perfect for a dark Halloween sleepover with just the right amount of spookiness – but not too much!  And the book is exceptionally well written!

Charlie and Frog: The Boney Hand, by Karen Kane, is a terrific mystery that just happens to take place at a deaf school. This information is just a sidebar which makes this story even better. The author writes about the mystery that takes place with these two good friends who love to solve mysteries.  So, when a piece of important school artifact goes missing these two detectives are on the case.  But beware, something unexpected is about to happen and they are totally taken off guard.  This book is a delightful, yet ominous mystery.