Home » Posts tagged "Halloween books" (Page 3)

Halloween Books, Continued

Lucy, a librarian who read my last post, pointed me to another list of new and not-so-scary books to share at storytime by Nora Rawlinson at EarlyWord, a collection development and readers advisory blog that collects reviews, bestseller lists, and much more in one place. Very nice! These are also mostly current books, although she also listed a couple of her own favorites. It was fun to see Pamela Jane’s Little Goblins Ten on her list- a very cute book that we just received here- and a brand new easy reader. The lack of “scary” easy readers is a frustration of mine. There’s nothing wrong with Biscuit or Henry and Mudge– these are both series a lot of kids love-, but some kids just aren’t motivated by the typical easy readers. They want the spooky stuff. I’ve noticed a few more titles like this recently, and am glad to see that this is changing.

In other news, I was pointed toward a blog called A Book-lovers’ Review, which is holding a contest that looks like a lot of fun, if you like either YA or adult paranormal fiction. It’s called “Trick or Treat Spook-tacular”, and there is a giveaway of a selection of titles, many of them signed, every day until October 31. In the interests of full disclosure, I haven’t encountered this one before and don’t know much about it. According to the reviewer, she includes information about content in her reviews, which could be useful, but this is definitely not a professional review site. Still, the contest looks really cool! I wish I knew how she managed to collect all these signed books, because I’d love to do this kind of giveway for you all right here!!

Enjoy!

Posted on October 17, 2011 by , Reply

Pumpkins and Skeletons: Booklist’s Suggestions and Classroom Connections

A fresh look at Halloween is always intriguing, and Booklist’s October 15 suggestions are really kind of fun. A librarian who emailed us recently told us a children’s librarian who used our Halloween List for Kids found many books to promote for Halloween that were already in her collection, that she hadn’t even thought of. And Booklist made some suggestions here that really extend the connections Halloween has to nonfiction topics outside the picture books and the 398’s (that’s folklore and fairy tales, for those not intimately familiar with the Dewey Decimal System). Joke books, poetry, and intermediate level spooky mysteries pepper their list of suggested titles published in the current year. What’s most interesting, though, that if you scroll down past that list, you’ll find their suggestion that a time of year that traditionally includes skeletons and blood could be extended into displays, programs, or lessons about, well, skeletons and blood (as well as other parts of the human body). I love this idea! And it’s even linked to lesson plans.

I’m sad to report that my son’s elementary school will not have a Halloween party or Halloween parade… no mention of Halloween at all, as far as I can tell. It’s a first for me. as I’ve never actually not experienced this, as either a kid, school librarian, or parent. Just look at all the ways to incorporate the trappings of the holiday into engaged learning experiences! Please, don’t be afraid to invite the holiday in. Your kids will love you for it, and learn from it as well.

Posted on October 16, 2011 by , Reply

Help a Reader Out: Mystery Moose

I’m so excited! I got to have an awesome superlibrarian moment today thanks to Brice, who sent us this inquiry:

I was looking over your sight for a Halloween book I had as a kid (early 1970’s) but I can’t remember the name and was wondering (with your knowledge of kids Halloween books) if you might know the book. This is an illustrated book of 2 animal friends who dress up in costumes to go trick or treating. I think one of them was a moose. My sister and I had this hardback book about 1974 or 1975 I believe and have both been searching for it but without the title it’s difficult. She swears the story was about 2 monsters who dress up as other monsters but I think they were animals. Regardless, if you have any ideas I would appreciate. Or if you have some search ideas that will help too

Waay back in some creaky corner of my brain a barely-remembered Morris the Moose poked his head out. Did Morris have a Halloween story? I couldn’t remember. But I could find out…

It turns out that Morris does have a Halloween story, Halloween with Morris and Boris, by Bernard Wiseman, published in hardcover in 1975. It’s out of print, but if you want it, it’s possible to find it used.

When I told Brice I’d found the book, it sounded like I’d made his day… Brice, you made my day, too.

Posted on August 22, 2011 by , Reply
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