HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
With Halloween upon us, how could we not get eager to think of some great children's picture books for this fun time of year, which let's face it... even the most cynical of us cannot help but release a half smile when walking into the local Co-Op or Budgens.
Now as I always say to parents, it doesn't matter if you are not a die hard Pagan and do not celebrate Halloween, almost no one is. But it's just a pretext to get some themed books out and get kids excited, after all, the routine of life is so repetitive! Even if you have older kids, there are plenty scary reading books out there too. The only difference is, with picture books you can read them with your kids all in the space of a few days while Halloween is still around.
These top 5 I have chosen for you are books that I have used in Siggistardust storytimes in libraries on Halloween this year and in previous years and received a fantastic response from audiences from the age of 4 till 7.
WINNIE THE WITCH: WINNIE'S HAUNTED HOUSEBy Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul
Halloween wouldn't be Halloween in most children's homes, without Winnie the Witch and her clumsy and amusing adventures.
In Winnie’s haunted mansion, a mysterious spook seems to be loose in the house. It’s smashed the vase and tore down the chandelier. Winnie needs a plan to get rid of it, immediately!!
With a wave of her wand, and a big (Let's - say - together - moment) Abracadabra!! Winnie banishes the ghost… But oh goodness, instead she has filled the house with skeletons, spiders, bats and owls. It’s a total disastrously spooky mayhem! Turns out Winnie made a bit of a mistake..and not only that, why is Wilbur the cat looking so proud?
By Rob Scotton
Splat the Cat is notorious for his endless adventures, but this time round Splat and his friends have a Halloween adventure!
Halloween should be a black cat's favorite holiday, but Spat the Cat is nervous about visiting a creepy haunted house. He's worried it will be too scary. Splat's friend Spike tells Splat not to be a scaredy-cat--the haunted house is just for fun!
Splat and Spike’s visit to the haunted house turns into a rescue mission when Splat’s pet mouse, Seymour, gets lost inside.
Jennifer O'Connell
A witch decides to move into the happy haunted house but she starts to scare each ghost away one-by-one, using a different disguise or prop each time such as a skeleton, bat, ghoul, cat, owl, vampire, monster, spider, rat, and mummy!
The last clever ghost the witch frightens away, figures out that it was her the whole time and tells the other ghost friends who are now homeless in the woods. Now we've got ten Angry ghosts...
By J Elizabeth Mills
This book is based on the famous "Wheels on the Bus" song. This book encourages active participation and also has a counting concept built into it for numbers 1-10.
It's great for getting kids to shout out characters, numbers and using instruments.
Some of the lyrics are : "One spooky bus goes rattle and shake, rattle and shake, rattle and shake.
One spooky bus goes rattle and shake all through the town." "Three noisy cats go meow, hiss, hiss, meow, hiss, hiss, meow, hiss, hiss. Think you get the idea...
By Clemeney Pearse
During the day, Fragoline's a perfect angel. But in the shadows of night, when all good children are sleeping tight, this little imp dons her jet-black cape and makes a midnight hour escape! But when Fragoline's antics wake the dead who chase her to the tippy-top of the steeple, how can she escape? And will she learn her lesson? A picture book in the dark but sweet style of Tim Burton.
OTHER THEMED BOOKS
Room on The Broom: For all the Julia Donaldson and witch lovers!
Peppa Pig: Peppa's Pumpkin Party: Well let's face it, any young kid who loves Peppa will love this
Mr. Tickle and the Scary Halloween: Any lovers of Little Men and Little Miss series
Winnie The Witch: The first in the series for themes all surrounding the colour black!
Winnie's Amazing Pumpkin: A witch and pumpkins.... Halloween in a nutshell.
Winnie's Halloween: Specially Halloween themed Winnie the Witch
Spooky Winnie: Ok going a bit mad with Winnie the Witch now...
Happy trick or treating and pumpkin carving!
