Celebrate Halloween

As European immigrants came to America, they brought their varied Halloween customs with them. Because of the rigid Protestant belief systems that characterized early New England, celebration of Halloween in colonial times was extremely limited there. It was much more common in Maryland and the southern colonies. As the beliefs and customs of different European ethnic groups, as well as the American Indians, meshed, a distinctly American version of Halloween began to emerge. The first celebrations included “play parties”--public events held to celebrate the harvest, where neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other's fortunes, dance, and sing. Colonial Halloween festivities also featured the telling of ghost stories and mischief-making of all kinds. By the middle of the nineteenth century, annual autumn festivities were common, but Halloween was not yet celebrated everywhere in the country.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, America was flooded with new immigrants. These new immigrants, especially the millions of Irish fleeing Ireland's potato famine of 1846, helped to popularize the celebration of Halloween nationally. Taking from Irish and English traditions, Americans began to dress up in costumes and go house to house asking for food or money, a practice that eventually became today's “trick-or-treat” tradition.

At the turn of the century, Halloween parties for both children and adults became the most common way to celebrate the day. Parties centered on games, foods of the season, and festive costumes. Parents were encouraged by newspapers and community leaders to take anything "frightening" or "grotesque" out of Halloween celebrations. Because of their efforts, Halloween lost most of its superstitious and religious overtones by the beginning of the twentieth century.

By the 1920s and 1930s, Halloween had become a secular, but community-centered holiday, with parades and town parties as the featured entertainment. By the 1950s Halloween had evolved into a holiday directed mainly at the young. Due to the high numbers of young children during the fifties baby boom, parties moved from town civic centers into the classroom or home, where they could be more easily accommodated. Between 1920 and 1950, the centuries-old practice of trick-or-treating was also revived. Trick-or-treating was a relatively inexpensive way for an entire community to share the Halloween celebration. In theory, families could also prevent tricks being played on them by providing the neighborhood children with small treats. A new American tradition was born, and it has continued to grow. Today, Americans spend an estimated $6.9 billion annually on Halloween, making it the country's second largest commercial holiday.

Taken from the History Channel (http://www.history.com/content/halloween/real-story-of-halloween/halloween-comes-to-america)

Reviews

Alpha Oops! H Is for Halloween
Alethea Kontis
Illustrated by Bob Kolar
   Alphabet books always begin with the letter A…but not this one. “Ack! I’m not ready,” says A. “H has top billing, make her go first,” and even though that is not the way the alphabet goes, H agrees. After all, Halloween starts with the letter H and this show is all about Halloween. One after another in delightful disarray, the letters of the alphabet parade on stage to show off their Halloween costumes. Poor B tries his best to get in the spotlight; but his buccaneer costume is just like P’s pirate costume, the black bird sitting on his head is really a raven and Bigfoot looks a lot like the Yeti. But finally, (drum roll, please), B brings the show to a scary end. On the very last page, there is a hint of what the next Alpha Oops! will feature: C, candy cane in hand and Santa hat on head, has an idea! Easy to understand text with some unexpected vocabulary - lycanthrope, kraken, buccaneer, queasy – that is nicely and seamlessly defined in the text or by the illustrations. A delightfully out-of-order alphabet book filled with humorous digital illustrations that will have kids looking twice to see everything that is going on both on stage and off. An excellent addition to a library’s holiday collection. 2010, Candlewick Press, Ages 3 to 6, $15.99. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3966-2

Ant and Honey Bee: A Pair of Friends at Halloween
Megan McDonald
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
   While this is a Halloween story, it can be enjoyed by readers at any time of the year. Ant and Bee are great friends who have been living together for years. Readers know this because they talk about wearing pilgrim costumes for the last two Halloweens. Ant is antsy and wants something different this year. She searches the house looking for ideas—her plan is for them to trick-or-treat as a pair. Finally she comes up with a great idea—they will be a washer and a dryer. It is a lot of work making the costumes, but they are really pleased with the outcome. Unfortunately, when they head out they get mistaken for a pair of dice, computers, ice cubes, but never a washer and dryer. Then it rains and their costumes are ruined. They head for Cricket’s house and when he asks what they are the duo comes up with the perfect answer. The banter between the two friends is delightful. The illustrations by Karas are amusing and the inside cover and jacket feature a honey comb background in shades of yellow. It is a delightful set of characters who undoubtedly will appear in more chapter books. 2010 (orig. 2005), Candlewick, Ages 3 to 6, $14.99.
Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4662-2

The Berenstain Bears and the Haunted House
Jan and Mike Berenstain
   Brother and Sister Bear must search the haunted house on top of Spook Hill for their lost kitten Gracie. This lift-the-flap adventure follows the siblings as they search the haunted house. Each full-page spread shows a different room with two flaps to check behind. On their search for Gracie, Brother and Sister Bear find a bat, lots of cobwebs, old pictures, suits of armor, an owl, and other small animal creatures who have made homes out of hidden spots in the house. When Brother and Sister Bear search the library they spot a copy of “Frankenbear” and behind a bust of Edgar Allen Bear hides a raven reading The Raven. Finally, the siblings check a living room and find Gracie. But they also spot someone new: Missus Grizzus. She welcomes them to her home and offers them pumpkin pie. Brother and Sister Bear decide that even though she lives in a haunted house Missus Grizzus is very nice. This addition to the “Berenstain Bears” series would work well for little listeners or early readers who want a not-so-scary Halloween story. 2010, HarperFestival/HarperCollins, Ages 2 to 6, $6.99. Reviewer: Emily Griffin (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-057426-0

Boo!
Joe Fenton
   What would be a scary costume for a ghost? Follow the young ghost as it tries on different disguises and outfits to frighten his family. The little ghost paints himself green like Frankenstein and he disguises himself as Dracula. Yet, his family is unfazed. After several attempts, the small ghost literally stumbles onto an idea that scares everyone in his family. The story may seem simple and there are very few words. The illustrations carry most of the story line. Children will need to look carefully at the pictures to understand the plot. There is little foreshadowing at the beginning of the story to understand why the young ghost is trying to scary his family. His ultimate goal appears to be entering the Scariest Spook competition. The hint of the contest is very subtle and appears in the middle of the story in a newspaper headline. However, the word “competition” in the headline is barely detectable. When the ghost finds his scary costume idea, the reader will need to follow his discovery in the fine details; the sequence of events in the layout was not as clearly delineated as the preparation for the scary costume on the following page. Some children may benefit with a conversation about the story and illustrations in order to understand the plot. 2010, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, Ages 3 to 6, $12.99. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-7936-4

The Boo Crew
Kara McMahon
Illustrated by Carlo Lo Raso
   The Boo Crew is not afraid of anything. Consisting of Pablo and Uniqua, characters from the Nick Jr. TV series “The Backyardigans,” the Boo Crew’s job is to catch spooky creatures. Pablo, a blue duck, and Uniqua, a pink spotted cow, proclaim that they are not afraid of ghosts, or vampires, or goblins. Today’s mission is to catch the scariest creature of all—the boogeyman. The Boo Crew drives the Boo Crew Van to the haunted theater to find the boogeyman. With the help of their “cool gadgets” Pablo and Uniqua search the theater. But they find nothing scary, until they hear the boogeyman—but he is laughing! He wants to be found. Uniqua and Pablo realize the boogeyman wants to play with them. They apologize for wanting to catch him and the three share a snack. This Boo Crew tale is a “Ready-to-Read” Level One reader. Beginning readers, especially those who are fans of the show, will enjoy this simple, not-scary Halloween adventure. 2010, Simon Spotlight/Nick Jr/Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 6, $3.99. Reviewer: Emily Griffin (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-9751-1

Broom, Zoom!
Caron Lee Cohen
Illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier
   There is just one broom; however, Little Witch and Little Monster both wish to use it. Little Witch wants the broom to take a cruise in the night sky; however, Little Monster needs the broom. They banter back and forth, until Little Monster shows Little Witch his reason for needing the broom right away. There is flour spilled on the floor and he needs to clean up the mess. Gaining a better understanding of Little Monster’s need for the broom, Little Witch pitches in and helps him as he uses the broom to sweep the spill. Then, Little Witch shares her reason (a moonlight ride) for wanting the broom. Little Monster appears a bit hesitant when Little Witch offers to take him for a ride on the broom. Yet, the two take off to fly in the full moon sky. The words are few and the simple illustrations are supportive in conveying how two characters work out their problem which ends with successful results for both of them. 2010, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, Ages 2 to 6, $12.99. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-9113-7

The Case of the Haunted House
Robin Koontz
   According to Dame Bellington, nothing is scarier than a haunted house with strange sounds, blinking lights, and dancing light spots. That’s why she calls clever detectives Furlock and Muttson to find out who is haunting her house. They arrive in the Furlock-Mobile, as they do in all of the books from the “Furlock and Muttson Mysteries” series. Muttson utilizes a Sound Level Meter, a Zap Checker, and a Cold Spot Detector as he and Furlock go about the business of gathering clues. While Muttson proceeds in a logical manner, Furlock draws his own conclusions that involve a moaning pumpkin and a blinking light. Then, they encounter bouncing light circles. Furlock and Dame Bellinton become scared and abandon Muttson in the attic. A trap door holds the answer to the final mystery, and this witty, fanciful tale has plenty of energetic action. Readers will enjoy the delightfully funny illustrations, including one in which Dame Bellington, a crocodile, dances and one in which she and Furlock huddle in fright as they are scared (inadvertently) by Muttson. Readers will pick up on the hilarious repetitive end structure of the books in this series, in which Furlock mumbles a statement about moving on to the next case while munching on goodies and the two jump into the Furlock-Mobile and speed away--probably to another case. The amusing text and illustrations work well together to give early readers a successful, enjoyable experience. 2010, Magic Wagon/ABDO, $15.95. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9781602705609
ISBN: 1602705607

Clifford’s First Halloween
Norman Bridwell
   Stepping back in time, young readers get to know Clifford as a little puppy before he became the towering “big red dog.” It is Clifford’s first Halloween experience and his mistress is looking for the perfect costume. It turns out to be pretty simple, but really works. Together they go trick-or-treating and the neighbors are generous with both Clifford and his mistress. The fun is not over because our protagonist is hosting a Halloween party. It includes goodies like candy apples, which present quite a challenge for poor little Clifford. Later the kids all go into a haunted house that was created from bed sheets and chairs and listen to mother tell a spooky story using shadow play. Clifford gets into the act and manages to give everyone a bit of a scare. It all ends with cupcakes and smiles. Kids who are just learning about the holiday will enjoy Clifford’s experiences and because it ends on such a happy note, they will realize that Halloween is a holiday for costumes, play, parties and more. 2010 (orig. 1995), Cartweheel/Scholastic, Ages 6 mo to 2, $6.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-21774-3

Flat Stanley and the Haunted House
Jeff Brown and Lori Haskins Houran
Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan
   Even though Stanley Lambchop is different from other children, he is generally happy to be four feet tall, a half inch thick and one foot wide. Stanley is very excited because he and his little brother, Arthur are headed to his school’s Halloween party. Arthur is dressed as a monster and Stanley is a blueberry pancake. Arthur and Mrs. Lambchop get into the family car while Mr. Lambchop ties Stanley onto a rack on the roof of the car. After going through the haunted house, the boys discover Martin, their neighbor, crying outside the gym. A much bigger boy has taken Martin’s giant candy corn prize. Cleverly, Stanley comes up with a plan to frighten the older boy so that they can retrieve the candy for Martin. He quickly sheds his costume and climbs inside Arthur’s monster costume and they are transformed into a two-headed monster. Arthur demands that the bully return the candy corn. Of course the bully does not believe that Stanley’s head is real until he blinks and talks. The bully then runs screaming out the door of the gym. The multi-colored, cartoon-like illustrations are a good match for the story. Readers should be especially satisfied when they see the bully’s face transformed from a scowl to fright. Youngsters just learning to read independently will enjoy this title from the “I Can Read” series. Purchase the hardcover edition, as it is certain to be in demand. 2010, HarperCollins, Ages 5 to 8, $16.99 and $3.99. Reviewer: Sylvia Firth (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-143004-6
ISBN: 978-0-06-143005-3

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall
Mary Downing Hahn
   Edgar award winner Hahn has crafted yet another chilling ghost story for the middle grade reader. (Her earlier titles include treasures such as Closed for the Season and All the Lovely Bad Ones). When Florence Crutchfield arrives at her uncle’s home after an unhappy period of time spent at Miss Medleycoate’s Home for Orphan Girls, she finds she has entered a house steeped in unhappiness, illness, and grief. A malevolent spirit hovers there; that of Florence’s cousin Sophia, who died in an accident of which no one speaks. Sophia’s brother James lies ill, apparently in danger of slipping away. But while trying to remember her manners and not slurp her soup, Florence finds herself falling under the spell of the relentless Sophia, experiencing and then absorbing elements of her vanity and her careless cruelty. Slowly, Florence finds an ally in James, and begins to find out about his terrible secret and the shadow that Sophia’s death casts on the family. The novel is peopled with assorted charming secondary characters, including the servant girl Nellie and Florence’s kindly uncle. The emotionally fraught relationship between the grieving aunt and the heartless ghost develops slowly and surely. The setting is an evocation of classic Gothic literature. In delightful asides, we see Florence immersing herself in Dickens and Austen, Thackeray and the Brontës. The literary references serve as cultural wallpaper for today’s young readers, while the spotlight remains on Florence’s story. The result is a well-balanced orchestration of creepiness and character. Even in the ending, as it slides to its inevitable resolution, Hahn finds a way to assert a surprising and chilling twist. 2010, Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Ages 9 to 12, $17.00. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-547-38560-0

Halloween Faces
Nancy Davis
   If you have kids, you may be faced with the question “What should I be this Halloween?” Turning the pages in this board book lets kids see what a skeleton mask and costume might look like or perhaps a cat, a vampire or a witch. What will it be? Another activity related to Halloween is the creation of a jack-o’-lantern. Should it have a smiling face, a scary look or a spooky one? The text asks which one will you carve? Turning to what appears to be the last page presents a set of doors. When each of the full page flaps is opened, there are all the kids with the masks shown earlier having a great time at a Halloween party. They all seem to have matching pumpkin trick-or-treat bags filled with candy and other goodies. The artwork seems to be cut paper collage which works quite well in this simple holiday offering. 2010, Cartwheel/Scholastic, Ages 1 to 3, $6.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-16586-0

The Halloween Kid
Rhode Montijo
   Whenever the fun of trick or treat is threatened on Halloween, there is only one person to call on to save the night: the Halloween Kid. Swooping to the rescue on his trusty stick horse, the Halloween Kid saves the night from any foe, whether it is Toilet Paper Mummies, Pumpkin-Suckin’ Vampires or adults who give out healthy treats instead of candy. But then came one night when the Halloween Kid was nowhere to be found when the Goodie Goblins rode into town. Who will save the day if the Halloween Kid does not show up? Montijo has written a delightfully charming book accompanied by equally delightful illustrations. Every holiday should have a hero like the Halloween Kid. The villains of the tale are typical ghouls and monsters associated with Halloween and the Halloween Kid, naturally, is a masked cowboy riding to a stick horse that manages to help save the day in the end. The illustrations are predominately orange and black and display a charm that will appeal to children and adults alike. 2010, Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 7, $12.99. Reviewer: Danielle Williams (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 948-1-4169-3575-9

Happy Halloween, Kai-lan!
Eric Shaw
Adapted by Natalie Shaw
Illustrations by Kellee Riley    It is Halloween, and Chinese-American preschooler Kai-lan is excited about going trick-or-treating with her YeYe (grandfather) and animal friends Rintoo, Hoho, and Tolee. As readers lift the flaps on each page, they see each character’s costume, from Kai-lan’s dinosaur outfit, to Rintoo’s dragon costume, to Tolee’s panda suit. Everyone seems ready for a fun night—until Rintoo trips over a rock and hurts his ankle! To help their friend, Kai-lan and her friends put wheels on Rintoo’s bed and roll him to each house, collecting tang (candy). But as they head for a Halloween party, one of the wheels breaks! Can Kai-lan and her friends find another way to help Rintoo and give him a happy Halloween? Adapted from the animated cartoon Ni hao Kai-lan, which teaches its audience basic Mandarin Chinese words and phrases, this picture book also teaches readers Chinese by punctuating its text with common expressions such as ni hao (hello/how are you), xie xie (thank you), and zai jian (goodbye). To help readers practice their new vocabulary, the book provides a written list of each word’s English translation, Chinese characters, and phonetic pronunciation. While helpful, the written pronunciation does not always mirror the actual pronunciation (especially since the Chinese can pronounce the same words and phrases in different ways depending on dialect and social situation), so readers will find it helpful to see the episode the book was based on (Ni Hao, Halloween from Season 1, Episode 12 of Ni Hao, Kai-lan) to hear the words. 2010, Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon/Simon & Schuster, Ages 3 to 6, $6.99. Reviewer: Michael Jung, PhD (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0178-5

Happy Halloween, Mittens
Lola M. Schaefer
Illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung
   Nick has perhaps more help than he needs as he makes Halloween decorations. His kitty, Mittens’ attempt at hanging up a cobweb ends with him covered in cobweb. Nick’s spooky cookies look nice, but Mitten just makes a mess and ends up covered in cookie dough. He runs away from Nick’s scolding, leaving cookie dough tracks behind him. But he gets to lick the dough off his coat. Then he goes to help Nick, who is hanging up a ghost to blow in the wind. But the ghost is not spooky and Nick cannot figure out how to make it scary. Mittens to the rescue! Like any cat watching something sway back and forth, Mitten attacks the ghostly shape. Rip! Mitten’s claws shred the bottom half of the ghost into strips. Now the ghost is spooky. Part of the “I Can Read” series, this is a cute story of a little boy and his kitten, which will surely be read time and again. It has nice repetition of words and nice flow to it. Part of the “I Can Read/My First Reading” series. 2010, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 5, $3.99. Reviewer: Sarah Maury Swan (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-170222-8
ISBN: 978-0-06-170221-1

Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve
Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrated by Sal Murdocca
   There is no denying the popularity of the “Magic Tree House” books and number thirty is no exception. The second in her “Merlin Mission” series, Jack and Annie are transported to Camelot and with the aid of Teddy, their Merlin appointed guide and helper must solve a riddle and rescue the inhabitants of the castle. In searching for the “girl who spins wool into thread, the boys who play chess before bed and the hound who waits to be fed” the three discover that the castle inhabitants have been made invisible by an evil spell cast by the Raven King. The kids are changed into ravens, after casting a spell of their own with a magic hazel twig, and fly to the dark lair of the Raven King to steal back The Diamond of Destiny. The diamond was once in the sword pulled from the stone, and according to Merlin the future of Camelot depends on its safe return to the castle. There is plenty of suspense and humor to move the plot along and readers will be rooting for Annie and Jack. To help break up the text for young readers, black and white drawings depict the time period as well as invoke shivers with the suitably scary Raven King. Libraries should buy multiples of these because eager readers will be lining up to read Jack and Annie’s latest adventure. 2003, Random House, Ages 6 to 9, $4.99. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-375-82521-7
ISBN: 978-0-375-92521-4
ISBN: 978-0-375-86090-4

Haunted House
Adapted by Karen Barss
   Susan Meddaugh created quite a character when Martha the dog ate some alphabet soup and started talking. Now she has a TV series and this book is adapted from one of the teleplays. Martha’s owner owns a flower shop and asks Martha if she would deliver a basket of flowers. The address is an old unoccupied house that has been recently purchased. Through a series of mishaps Martha ends up frightening the new residents and they in turn frighten her. Once back at the shop Martha learns that the basket was delivered to the wrong address. Martha is not too keen on returning to the house but Helen and T.D offer to go along. Once again a series of mishaps befalls Helen and she ends up scaring the new residents and being a bit frightened herself. T.D. and Martha finally “rescue” Helen and it looks like they retrieve the basket of flowers. It is a silly story but may have appeal to fans of Martha and especially the TV show. The back pages contain stickers and word puzzle activities. This “Green Light Reader” is a level 2 book targeted to those reading with help. 2010, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Ages 4 to 7, $3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-547-21073-5
ISBN: 978-0-547-39353-7

How To Be A Zombie
Serena Valentino
   Navigating the treacherous waters of being a zombie or a human friend of the undead can be difficult and is fraught with unique problems. Fortunately, the legions of the newly turned and their supporters no longer need brave this challenge alone. This handbook goes through the basics from types of zombies and the causes of zombification to fashion choices and survival skills. The allure begins with the textured metallic sheen of the cover and the format of the content encourages continued reading. While the highly visual quality and abundance of illustrations could indicate a lack of content, here that is not the case. Instead, the book is chock full of information using both historical and pop culture references for examples. The subject matter, interactive nature and layout of the text make this an attractive item for reluctant readers and the annotated lists of zombie-themed movies, games, comics and books provide myriad options for where to go next. Various elements such as step-by-step directions on zombie make-up, party planning ideas for music, food and décor, and suggestions for zombie outings will keep readers’ interest well beyond the first use. Valentino writes to her audience but even grown-up fans of zombies can enjoy this quick read. 2010, Candlewick Press, Ages 12 up, $14.99. Reviewer: Karin Suni (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7636-4934-0

I Spy: A Skeleton
Riddles by Jean Marzollo
Photographs by Walter Wick
   Clever riddles and picture puzzles make this Halloween “I Spy” book a treat for the curious reader. The Marzollo and Wick duo has paired up again to bring another easy reader to the “Scholastic Reader” series. The rhyming text accompanied by miniature pictures helps a beginning reader read the words and hunt for the pictures in Wick’s collage photography. Some pictures are spooky, some brightly colored, but all have Halloween related themes. Bones, complete skeletons, bats, and masks are just some of the Halloween items the reader will be hunting for in the photographs. After looking for the pictures in the photographs, the reader has the opportunity to do an “I Spy” with words by finding words that match, words that rhyme, and words that have the same letter patterns. Even nonreaders can still enjoy the picture hunt. Some items hidden in the photographs are easy to spot immediately and some require a bit more patience. Wick also hides other things in his pictures that are not part of riddle. This is a Level 1 book for beginning readers that would make an excellent addition to kindergarten classrooms and libraries. Parents looking for car ride entertainment might also find this an excellent choice. 2009, Cartwheel/Scholastic, Ages 4 to 7, $3.99. Reviewer: Marcie Flinchum Atkins (Children’s Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-17539-5
ISBN: 0-545-17539-9

Let’s Look at Bats
Ruth Berman
   As a classroom teacher, I was impressed with many aspects of this book. It is perfect for research reports because of its beautiful photographs and interesting morsels of information. The graphic design of the contents page, on which the page numbers are in bubbles, is interesting and inviting. The map and diagram were excellent ideas and perfect for this nonfiction text. The glossary, with challenging vocabulary words and easy-to-understand definitions, is an excellent and crucial addition. This book would be great for a classroom read-aloud. The colorful photographs, entertaining information, and print size allow it to be used in small- and large-group settings. The interactive text asks students questions throughout. Students will enjoy the beginning of the book, when they are asked to make faces and sounds like a bat. The text boxes on various pages are in fun locations with a different font and print color. The author uses “Watch Out!” and “Look!” in bold print to capture readers' attention. The author personalized the book by asking the question, “Who gives you piggyback rides?” The lightning bolt at the top of a page warns that a new idea will be discussed. In summary, the book has many excellent possibilities for use. It could be an easy read for a child, a great read-aloud for teachers to supplement a unit of study, an entertaining book to read around Halloween time, and/or a useful book for a research report for an early childhood reader. Grades K-2. 2009, Lerner Publications, 32p, $25.26. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Tracy Alley (National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)).
ISBN: 9780761338857
ISBN: 0761338853

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew: The Halloween Hoax
Carolyn Keene
   Nancy Drew and her friends, George Fayne and Bess Marvin, are not only eight-year-old third graders at River Heights Elementary School: they are also pint-sized detectives. Members of the Clue Crew, young Nancy and her pals are invited to the taping of the Dudley the Science Dude show at the local television station for his Halloween show. Unfortunately, every experiment Dudley tries to perform goes terribly wrong. Some of the kids suspect the ghost of a 1970's era TV scientist called Dr. Funk-N-Stine, but Nancy and her pals suspect more modern foul play and vow to solve the mystery. Part of the “Clue Crew” series of Nancy Drew mysteries for younger readers, this engaging book features a much younger and more modern Nancy Drew than the protagonist of the eponymous series popular for decades. The plot is intriguing and age appropriate. Informative nuggets about topics ranging from science to the business of television are scattered artfully throughout. Also included are craft activities that complement the theme of the book. Younger readers--especially girls--will find this both fun and engaging. 2010, Aladdin Paperbacks/Simon and Schuster, $4.99. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Lauri Berkenkamp (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9781599616445
ISBN: 1599616440

October
Mari Kesselring
Illustrated by Ronnie Rooney
   A title in the “Months of the Year” series from Magic Wagon, this book is a lively introduction to what makes October unique from the other months. Alongside cheerful illustrations featuring a multicultural cast of characters frolicking amid an autumnal backdrop, young children will learn a bit about changes in seasons, holidays like Yom Kippur and Columbus Day, and various October eccentricities, like the fact that Fire Safety Week has a home in this particular month. There is not a lot of detail here in terms of facts, and interested children will look for an adult who can explain some of the finer points, such as who Columbus actually was. The book does make up for this somewhat with the inclusion of information on the back page that explains some of the words and instructs children in how to make a paper jack o’lantern, among other information. Overall, this is a happy overview of a month that many associate only with Halloween. It would be well situated in a preschool or elementary school library, alongside the rest of the series. It will be useful especially as an opener to class activities centered around the month. 2010, Looking Glass Library/Magic Wagon/ABDO Group, $25.65. Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Elizabeth McMunn-Tetangco (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9781602706378
ISBN: 1602706379

Ollie’s Halloween
Oliver Dunrea
   Gossie and Gertie, who have appeared in several books, are celebrating Halloween with three other friends—Peedie, BooBoo, and Ollie. They are all dressed up for Halloween. Ollie is a mummy, BooBoo is a bunny, and Peedie is a dragon. Off they head on an evening when a strong wind seems to be blowing the leaves around, but the intrepid goslings do not seem to care. They have fun hooting like an owl, scaring frogs, poking around the pumpkins, and stalking in the cornfield. Somehow they discover treats in the haystacks and among the cornstalks. As they head for the barn there is a ghost dangling from the open doorway, leaves flying everywhere, jack-o-lanterns with various expressions, and a group of bats flying around. It is a scary night, but these goslings are having fun. They bob for apples and feast on treats, but somehow Ollie has managed to get separated. Never fear, the goslings all end up together nice and cozy in the barn enjoying treats. It is a simple story that mainly shows some Halloween activities. Early on the illustrations are equally simple, just depicting one of the characters set on a white page. As the story progresses, the images become larger and more complex. At the back of the book there is a delightful Halloween poster. A potential gift purchase for the holiday. 2010, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Ages 1 to 5, $12.99. Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-618-53241-4

The Peculiar Pumpkin Thief
Geronimo Stilton
Illustrated by Lorenzo Chiavini
   With Halloween approaching, Geronimo Stilton is gearing up for a big party with his nephew. Suddenly, something strange begins happening in New Mouse City. Someone begins stealing all the pumpkins, Halloween decorations, and costumes from all the shops in town. This villain, who later reveals himself to be a clown mouse named Chuckles, then creates an amusement park in the middle of town to lure all the citizens away from their homes. Once they are there, the gates are locked and Chuckles’ minions begin their plot to rob all the locals of their belongings. Only two mice are able to escape and save the city from this villainy: Geronimo Stilton and his detective friend Hercule Poirat. In quick time, they track down Chuckles, break into his giant headquarters and free all the trapped mice, just in time to truly celebrate Halloween. The story is very easy to get through and fun to read. As an eye-catching technique, various words in the text are put into fonts that personify the content. Although sometimes overused, this works to pop words that invoke one of the senses, such as having the words “gigantic,” “pop,” and “explosion” in huge explosive font. The end of the book also includes everything you would need to know to throw your own Halloween party, such as décor, drinks, and snacks. 2010 (orig. 2003), Scholastic Books, Ages 7 to 9, $6.99. Reviewer: Melissa Rife (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-10372-5

The Pumpkin Head Mystery
Gertrude Chandler Warner
Illustrated by Robert Papp
   The Becketts are not only finding smashed pumpkins, overturned flowerpots, and tractor problems but there seems to be a pumpkin-head ghost lurking in the fields at night. Mr. Beckett broke his leg trying to chase down the ghost. The Alden children pitch in to help out the Becketts at the farm during the busy Halloween season. The Becketts are short-handed on help. Not only is Mr. Beckett is recovering from his broken leg, many of the workers on the farm quit because they were scared of the strange events that were occurring. The Alden siblings do some detecting to get to the bottom of the mystery. Who is behind all the mishaps and why? This story is part of the “Boxcar Children Mystery” series. Fans of the Boxcar children will enjoy figuring out the mystery with Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny as the siblings gather the different pieces of evidence to get to the truth. 2010, Albert Whitman & Company, Ages 7 to 9, $14.99 and $4.99. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8075-6668-8
ISBN: 978-0-8075-6669-5

The Pumpkin Elf Mystery
Abby Klein
Illustrated by John McKinley
   I have a problem. A really, really big problem,” Freddy Thresher tells the reader right at the beginning of this story. Thus, the reader is hooked from the start of this addition to the “Ready Freddy” series. So begins this cute mystery involving a creature described as the Pumpkin Elf by Mrs. Wushy, Freddy’s first-grade teacher. This whimsical and mysterious trickster leaves clues at Halloween time for the children to find treats. Since not all of the Pumpkin Elf’s clues lead to treats, Mrs. Wushy cleverly uses each incident to teach the children a valuable lesson. But when the Pumpkin Elf leaves each child a pumpkin to carve for a class-decorating contest, things get really exciting. Freddy, with the help of his sister, carves a shark pumpkin. He is so proud of it that he leaves it on his porch for everyone to see before bringing it to school the following day. When the pumpkin disappears, Freddy is totally upset. The culprit is a surprise, and the story’s ending is satisfying. The illustrations are spread nicely throughout the story. 2007, Scholastic, $3.99. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Joan Elste (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780439895910
ISBN: 043989591X

Scarum Fair
Jessica Swaim
Illustrated by Carol Ashley
   A bit of ghoul, a dash of terror, and a little fright are behind the entrance gates of Scarum Fair. The fair opens at night for attendees. Meet the scary creatures like the tattoo artist whose work and designs comes to life or the members of the Sleeping Dead Band who play haunting tunes. What is a fair without rides and food? Survive the swirl of the Teacup Terror or the slither of the Rattler Coaster. Then have a bit of steaming devil’s food cake with a scoop of I-Scream. If you are thirsty have some vampire punch; there are three types, A, B, and O. The collection of poems reveals the hair-raising, spine-tingling entertainment found at the fair. Some readers may enjoy the word play found in the poems. The illustrations are spooky and haunting; there are characters with blank eyes and some characters with gray rimmed eyes. Chilling and spooky verses await for the brave who dare but maybe not for those audiences who scare easily. 2010, Wordsong/Boyds Mills Press, Ages 6 to 10, $17.95. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59078-590-4

Sleepy Hallow Sleepover
Ron Roy
Illustrated by John Steven Gurney
   It seems as if young readers never tire of “A to Z Mysteries” so this latest installment will be very welcome. To get appropriately spooked for Halloween, Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are spending the weekend at a Sleepy Hallow campout. Just after dark on the first night a headless rider passes their cottage window giving the kids quite a fright. Wary of the Headless Horseman legend, they embark on the planned activities but a creepy hay wagon ride, flying witches, and the appearance of a ghoulish leg-grabbing creature have them shaking in their shoes by the time they get to the bonfire. It seems all the mayhem was set up by the local police officers and just as it was time to roast marshmallows and bob for apples all the hay wagons suddenly burst into flames. Dink remembers seeing two suspicious men near the wagons and one of them was wearing boots with a glint of silver. The manhunt is on and the kids soon find themselves involved in a bank heist. Ingenuity and courage win the day and the three become quiet heroes. As for that headless rider, well no one knows for sure who that was. Breezy, undemanding text makes this suitable for early readers who want a little substance to their reading. The kids are likeable and the adventure believable. Black and white drawing are scattered throughout and help in boosting the spooky atmosphere of the story. 2010, Random House, Ages 6 to 9, $4.99. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-37586669-2
ISBN: 978-0-375-96669-9
ISBN: 978-0-375-89829-7

Too Many Monsters!
Robert Neubecker
   It is a counting book--from one to ten--but the theme is Halloween. The young lad in this story finds one monster hiding under his bed, the next one appears in a drawer. The bedroom is the setting as one monster comes in through the door; others are lurking behind the bed, under the lamp, and just about any place you can imagine. They have tentacles, multiple eyes, and fierce expressions on their faces. The number appears at the bottom left hand corner and it is repetitive--“8 [or whatever number] are in my room.” The humor is there for those who look closely at the picture of a basketball player who is reacting to all the craziness. In the end our young fellow puts on a monster costume to become number ten as they all head out to go trick-or-treating! It is illogical, but young ones will have fun counting and looking at all of the outlandish monsters and learning a variety of words such as yikes, eek, zoinks, oof and other useful expressions. 2010, Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, Ages 18 mo to 3, $7.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4424-0172-3

This Totally Bites
Ruth Ames
   Emma-Rose thought she was just a kid who liked to dress Goth, was a night-owl, and hated garlic--until her great-aunt Margo comes from Romania. Emma-Rose’s mom says that great-aunt Margo is coming to bring an unusual collection of bats to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Then Emma-Rose discovers great-aunt Margo morphing from a bat into a human. Emma-Rose begins to put the pieces together and thinks that she might be a vampire too. Emma-Rose is torn between a gala at the museum that her parents want to her attend and her school’s Halloween party, which she has helped with. Emma-Rose’s best friend thinks she is crazy to think that she is a vampire, but Henry Green has been researching it himself and thinks that Emma-Rose might just be a vampire. This is a story of friendship and family history. It is part of the “Poison Apple” series and will appeal to the younger middle grade reader who finds some of the more popular vampire books too challenging. 2010, Scholastic, Ages 8 to 12, $5.99. Reviewer: Marcie Flinchum Atkins (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-545-20878-9

Y is for Yowl! A Scary Alphabet
Laura Purdie Salas
   The alphabet is brought to life as letters are accompanied by related words and photos of night crawlers, haunted house inhabitants, poisonous creatures, and visions of nightmares past. Interesting letters to note include “K,” which is for “Knife,” shows a knife-thrower who needs perfect calm as he prepares to throw a sharp tool at his terrified lady; “Q,” which is for “Quicksand,” shows an eerie hand reaching from mucky mire; and “X,” which is for “Explode,” shows fireworks illuminating the night sky. Finally, “Z” is for “Zombies,” which feed on “BRAINS! YIKES!” Each page has a built-in photo-quality image cast behind the alphabet letter printed in an eerie font followed by vivid descriptors and lush colors that stimulate the imagination and hook the reader to turn the page to the next fright. Following the alphabet pages, the author provides related nonfiction content, including “Fun Facts” pages, a glossary of terms complete with a pronunciation key, and a list of additional resources related to the content of the book. This picture book may not be appropriate for very young children, as the images may elicit fear and unpleasant dreams; however, use in the elementary classroom as a read-aloud may be appropriate for early readers. 2010, Capstone Press, $23.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Christine D. Ward (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9781429632928
ISBN: 9781429638487

Zen Ghosts
Jon J. Muth
   This Halloween is special. Stillwater, the panda, knows someone who will tell Karl, Addy, and Michael a ghost story...or draw them a story. With muted brush strokes, the story of Senjo unfolds. Long ago Senjo hoped to marry her childhood friend, Ochu. But, sadly, her father became ill and her parents married her to a prosperous man who could take care of the family. When Ochu heard this news, he fled. He told no one--not even Senjo. But as he traveled down the river, he saw Senjo running along the river bank. Together they journeyed far away and married. As the years passed, Senjo was overcome with a longing to see her parents and so the two returned to their childhood home. Senjo’s father was astonished when Ochu told him that Senjo was waiting to greet him. He swore that his Senjo had never left the village, that she had been bedridden for years. He hurried to his daughter’s bedside; when she heard this news, she rose from her bed and went down the stairs. At that moment Ochu arrived with his Senjo. And “the two Senjos, upon seeing each other, merged and became one.” The story of Senjo and Her Soul Are Separated (written down in the 13th century) is a koan--a story or question contemplated by Zen students to find enlightenment. This koan is about duality. As the storyteller asks, “Which Senjo is the true one?” the author suggests that children have questions about duality at a very young age. “There is the me I am with my parents, the me I am with my friends.” Are they the same or different? The story of Senjo is enchanting; less so is the author’s Halloween lead-in which seems superfluous. The youngest readers may be attracted to the Halloween tale but are likely to lose interest after the abrupt change to a sophisticated “ghost” story. Older children may enjoy and understand Senjo’s story, but might find the picture book format and the Halloween story childish. Beautifully illustrated with watercolor and ink images. 2010, Scholastic Press/Scholastic, Ages 6 to 8, $17.99. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-439-63430-4

The Zombie Chasers
John Kloepfer
Illustrated by Steve Wolfhard
   When Zack arrives home one Friday evening, he is dreading only the usual obnoxious shenanigans from his older sister Zoe and her eighth-grade friends at their sleepover. After all, no one ever expects their neighborhood to become suddenly zombified, but suddenly Zack, his best friend Rice, and his sister's friend Madison find themselves fighting off the lumbering, moldering undead and running for their lives. Even Zoe has been turned into a zombie, but they bring her along, carefully trussed up so she can not bite them, as they attempt to flee from Phoenix to the Tucson Air Force Base, as the President advises. They take the family Volvo and inexpertly head down the road, battling zombies and picking up Madison's classmate, hunky but dim and cowardly Greg, along the way. Rice's hunches that ginkgo biloba is an antidote for zombism, and that a new fast-food chain called BurgerDog is responsible for the zombie outbreak, seem to be correct, but their troubles are far from over; a sequel, Undead Ahead, promises further adventures. Full of details of popped-out eyeballs, spilling intestines, and missing limbs, which are carefully rendered in cartoon-like black-and-white line drawings, this gruesome tale is played for laughs. There is lots of sniping and squabbling between the characters, whose main emotional reaction to the zombies around them seems to be more “ew” than terror. Zombies have been popular lately, and the high “ick” factor of this offering will hold appeal for upper elementary students who enjoy being grossed out. 2010, HarperCollins, Ages 9 to 12, $15.99. Reviewer: Paula Rohrlick (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-185304-3

For reviews Halloween book from features for previous years, click on the following links:
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Updated 09/29/2010

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