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Off the Shelf: Halloween reads from the Childrens’ Room

At the time of printing this article, it should be just one week away from Halloween. I loved the night as a child. I loved all the preparation that went into finding or making the perfect costume for trick or treating each year. As a young mother I think I had even more fun dressing my children for their school parties and a night of scouring the neighborhood looking for the house that gave out full size candy bars. I remember reading at least one spooky, or not so spooky, story before bed each night the week before Halloween night. Here are some favorite picks for spooky, sometimes kooky, Halloween reads

“Room on the Broom” by Julia Donaldson tells the tale of a kind witch who repays some helpful animals with a ride on her broom. Just how many animals will fit? You will have to read the book to answer that question.

A great board book for the little ones is “Llama, Llama Trick or Treat” by Anna Dewdney. The simple and rhyming text helps introduce babies and toddlers to Halloween as Lllama Llama finds a great costume and the best pumpkin before heading out to trick or treat with mama.

Tim carves a pumpkin for the first time in the story “Pumpkin Jack” by Will Hubbell. Not wanting to let Jack go after Halloween, Tim puts him in the garden to see what happens to a jack-o-lantern after the festivities are done.

One of my personal favorites is “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything” by Linda Williams. If you read it with feeling, this story is just spooky enough to make the kids jump. But by the end of the book the little old lady uses all the things that have come out to scare her, and your listeners will be laughing too much to be scared.

The poor witch in “The Big Pumpkin” by Erica Silverman is dreaming of pumpkin pie. Her only problem is getting the huge pumpkin she’s grown picked from the vine and into her home. You will be surprised to see who comes to help.

For the readers who might like a longer tale try “Mercy Watson Princess in Pink” by Kate DiCamillo or “Horrible Harry at Halloween” by Suzi Kline. For those junior readers who like a really good creepy story you could try, “Closed for the Season” by Mary Downing Hahn, or “The Graveyard Book” by Neil Gaiman.

Last but by no means least I suggest the “Asylum” series by Madeline Roux for the teen reader. The author collected authentic photos of old asylums to incorporate in one of the creepiest stories I have ever read.

Just a reminder that most of our children’s programming is virtual at this time and can be accessed on Facebook or YouTube. Please check out the Library Events page at www.newulmlibrary.org for more information about what’s happening each month and how to register. We are still providing Take It & Make It craft kits and coloring pages in the Children’s room.

I wish you all a Happy Halloween!

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