Not Too Spooky: Halloween Books for Young Children
Ashley Day-Bohn, M.Ed.
Wordpress.com
Looking for seasonal books to tap into your kids' excitement over Halloween? Here are some of my favorite selections which are fun and entertaining, but also have educational value for your little ones. Order from Amazon now and they can still arrive in time for the holiday! For information on books for older children, read my last article, "Why Every Kid Shouldn't Read Harry Potter: Tips for Matching Reading Level, Interest, and Maturity".
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
by Linda Williams
This book makes for a great read-aloud. There is a degree of mystery and suspense which will captivate children's imaginations. The repetitive pattern of the text encourages children to participate in the storytelling and predict what will come next. Kids can engage multiple senses by acting out the sights and sounds such as clomping boots or clapping gloves.
Bat Loves the Night
Nicola Davies
Written by an actual zoologist, this book contains many real facts about bats. Children who love animals will be interested to learn how bats fly, find food, and take care of their babies. Seeing things from the bat's point-of-view makes the animal seem much less scary and much more amazing. The author does a great job of describing advanced concepts like echo-location in kid-friendly language.
The Runaway Pumpkin
By Kevin Lewis
This lively tale with have your children laughing as the Baxter family's Halloween is totally disrupted by a giant pumpkin rolling downhill. The author's use of rhythm and alliteration really bring this story to life; and may have you tongue tied. Kids will experience how fun language can be, as the words literally bounce and roll across the page. There's also discussion of all the delicious foods that can be made from pumpkin!
Ten Timid Ghosts
By Jennifer O'Connell
This entertaining book will help children practice counting backwards from ten. It has a similar structure to the classic, "Five Little Monkeys." With each page turn, the witch finds a different way to chase another ghost out of the house. Kids love the intricate illustrations and funny tricks throughout the story. The rhyming text and predictable pattern will make young children want to read this book over and over.
Pumpkin Jack
By Will Hubbell
Kids will learn lessons about letting go and about the circle of life in this unconventional story. It starts with a boy carving a jack-o-lantern for Halloween, but later he must put it out in the garden as it begins to rot. The boys observes how the pumpkin changes as it decomposes. Finally, new plants begin to grow where his pumpkin once sat.