Reference Sunday: Halloween Activity Books

Since Halloween is a week away I thought I would suggest some great activity books to get your little ghost or goblin in the mood.  





Intricate Jack Lantern's: 45 Halloween Designs to Color by Jack Abraham geared towards 4-8 year olds but I know a few adults who would love this.  Who said coloring is for kids?











Halloween Doodles: Spooky Designs to Complete & Create by Emma Parrish the publisher also recommends for ages 4-8 but we know that older kids love to doodle!









Spooky, Silly Halloween Puzzles by Patrick Merrill is meant for ages 9-12 but I am sure older kids can share some it with a younger child.









Halloween Lift-the-Flap Shadow Book from Priddy books is perfect for toddlers to have fun with....





Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, Mittens by Lola M. Schaefer illus by Susan Kathleen Hartung

Sometimes I forget how beginning reader books can just be so cute.   I tend to always think that they can't be a fun book.  Today's book is a perfect example of a "teaching" book that is fun to read.

Happy Halloween, Mittens (My First I Can Read) by Lola M. Schaefer and illustrated by Susan Kathleen Hartung is a really sweet new book about a little kitten who keeps getting in the way of Halloween preparations.   Even though it is meant to help children learn to read I think it make a sweet read aloud for any child.   This is a great new character for kids to love and learn with.   The illustrations are precious but not too sappy and the story really speaks to kids.  

Flashback Tuesday: The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg

The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg is an old favorite of mine.  I have always admired Chris Van Allsburg because he really knows how to tell a story and convey emotions with his illustrations.   As with most of his stories the feeling of a bygone era is evident although timeless.  Another thing I love about this book is that it is just a scary story that is not "Halloween" oriented....it can be read any time of year not just in the Fall.   This is a great book to read to a group of kids, especially if there is a wide range of ages.  It is spooky but not too scary for little ones and the older ones can relate to what happens.    I love to watch the expressions on the kids faces when they understand the twist of an ending.   So have a glass of apple cider, dim the lights and enjoy a spooky tale!

National Chocolate Cupcake Day!

Happy National Chocolate Cupcake Day!   I just love any excuse to eat chocolate....here are some of my favorite books about cupcakes....the first one is a book I wrote about recently but it never hurts to mention again.:

Cupcake by Charise Mericle Harper is a cute new book....even though it is about a vanilla cupcake ~ a cupcake is a cupcake....still a sweet (no pun intended) story!

Little Mouse and the Big Cupcake by Thomas Taylor and illustrated by Jill Barton....fun book about a little mouse who needs help moving a very large cupcake and all his friends who help him....

If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond..from the "If You Give..." series...totally perfect!

It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder is a great middle grade book about a girl whose mother is opening a Cupcake shop....

These are just a few books to read while the enjoying a delicious Chocolate Cupcake.....yummmmm!

Reference Sunday: Lives Turned Upside: Homeless Children in Their Own Words & Photographs by Jim Hubbard

The things that we learn by using the Internet.  The one thing I want this blog to be is informative.   I am always looking for ways to tie together what goes on in the world to books.   Today I found out is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.  It originated in Paris in 1987 but was only recognized in the US in 1992.   According to wikipedia, and I quote" One of the main aims of the day is to make the voice of the poor heard. To this end, commemorations often include testimonies from people living in poverty, describing their own experiences or those of people they know"   


In doing research as to what book to highlight on today's blog I came across a title that moved me.  

Lives Turned Upside: Homeless Children in Their Own Words and Photographs by Jim Hubbard was first published in the late 80's and early 90's.  He is a renowned photographer who gave camera's to children in order for them to document their lives.   The images are still quite powerful.   This book also became the basis for the organization Shooting Back.  Looking at these photograph's and seeing what these children see is inspiring.  What amazes me is that it is as if these photos were taken yesterday.  Not much has changed and yet there is a hopefulness that change will come.   This is a great book for children and adults to foster discussion and empathy for the world around them.  This is the perfect book for teachers and parents to use as a teaching tool so that maybe our children will grow up to care about others and try to help.   There is always hope.

Bright Baby Touch and Feel Fall by Roger Priddy

Bright Baby Touch and Feel Fall by Roger Priddy is a great new touch and feel book for toddlers that is perfect for today.   As I sit here looking out my window the leaves on trees are changing colors.   The wind is blowing like it is shouting that Autumn is here.   I have always been impressed with Priddy Books for children, this goes back to the days when I bought Toddler books.  Roger Priddy really knows what is perfect for little ones when it comes to books.   This book has wonderful textures and photographs for babies to look at and feel.   A perfect addition to a toddler's repertoire of books.

Zen Ghosts by Jon J. Muth

I have always loved the artwork of author illustrator Jon J. Muth.   I find his art work has a soothing and calming effect on me. Besides his other Zen titles: Zen Shorts or Zen Ties, I really love The Three Questions and Come On, Rain.


Zen Ghosts by Jon J. Muth finds the three children of the previous Zen stories getting ready for Halloween.    This time Stillwater tells the children an ancient ghost story that makes the reader think.   This is the sort of picture book that is more for the older crowd.  While it is definitely a spooky story it really has the message of how to be true to oneself.  How many of us act differently depending on who we are with?   While I would still read it  to the target audience of ages 4-8 because they might enjoy the illustrations and the basis of the story I would most certainly give this to the older student to enjoy and discuss. A different kind of Halloween book~