Reviewed by Andrea Dochney of the Oakland Public Library
Halloween Faces
By: Nancy Davis
This book is a great way to help introduce the idea of costumes and Halloween for preschoolers. Readers can change the faces using die-cut images to create their own Halloween faces. Sturdy cardboard pages make the book durable and able to last for many Halloweens to come. The colors and images create a playful Halloween feeling.
Scaredy-Cat Splat!
By: Rob Scotton
In this fourth tale of the lovable cat, Scat tries to create the scariest Halloween costume in his class. Unfortunately, Scat’s own fears leave him less than frightening. After a scary ghost story from his teacher, Scat ends up with a surprisingly scary costume. Rob Scotton’s illustrations adorably convey Scat’s adventures and the festive looks of the holiday.
Happy Halloween Mittens!
By: Lola Schaefer
An easy reader level book, Happy Halloween Mittens follows a young boy, Nick, as he prepares for Halloween. His cat Mittens wants to help but just seems to get in the way until Mittens finds his own way to help. The books straightforward, easy to read sentences and cute images will appeal to many readers; especially any of those fans of Alyssa Capucilli’s Biscuit series.
An Eyeball in my Garden and Other Spine-Tingling Poems
By: Jennifer Cole Judd and Laura Wynkoop
This collection of spine-tickling, hair-raising poems is sure to please any little ghoul. The nontraditional subject matter is a great way to gross kids out and get them interested in poetry at the same time. 44 poems cover goblins, ogres and even “blackened pudding filled with flies”. Geared toward ages 9-12, the poems are a great way to get into the holiday spirit.
Extreme Halloween
By: Tom Nardone
Need a way to spice up your annual pumpkin carvings? This book explains ways to use extreme yard tricks to create the creepiest house on the block and hold an extreme Halloween party. If you’re not feeling up to tackling the projects yourself, the photographs alone make this book worth checking out. Children will be amazed at the creativity behind these extreme Halloween arrangements.