The Perfect Treat!

I was born on Halloween so I consider myself a bit of an expert on the holiday. Early on I recognized that on Halloween day, everyones' focus was on the candy dish and what best insured a strong take from said container. Anything that arrived around Halloween paled in comparison to the reality of what trick or treating would provide.  Fast forward into the future and my role as Nana. I wanted to give my grandchildren something for Halloween, but knew it would need  to arrive well in advance of the day to even be on the childrens' radar. I tried Halloween shirts a couple of years, but often the cutest ones were the wrong size or the shirts were not well made or the cost was nuts! When a chance outing to the bookstore in late September brought me face to face with the seasonal books in the childrens' section I could have smacked my own forehead in a "well duh" moment.

It was a treasure trove in orange, black and purple. Many of the volumes were opportunities for franchises to make an extra buck or two with weak stories and a character, with no connection to Halloween, who paraded around in a mask for a few pages in the interest of the publisher's bottom dollar. But there were gems to be found on the shelves...kind of the treats in the tricks! The books I've listed below are some of those that I've enjoyed with my grandkids. Most of the books are available on Amazon or from other book stores and you still have plenty of time to get them to your grands before the witching hour strikes!

Board Books

• Duck & Goose, Find a Pumpkin by Tad Hills -With their curiousity peaked, this web-footed duo set out on a search for a fall treasure that seems to evade them at every turn.  Duck and Goose are fast friends and have lots of adventures, but this story about their search for a pumpkin is one of our favorites. 
• Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch by Alyssa Satin Capucilli -Much like Duck & Goose, the series of books about Biscuit the dog are enjoyable to read. There is a sweetness and innocence about these books that make them perfect for snuggling and sharing.  

Pre-school and Kindergarden

• Wheres My Mummy by Carolyn Crimi, illustrated by John Manders - Surprisingly, this little bandaged wrapped baby wants to avoid bed time just like some children you might know. The insuing game of hide and seek brings him into contact with several inhabitants of his cemetary home. While none of the resident monsters gives this character a shiver, there is a surprise visitor that nearly causes him come to unraveled. Mummy to the rescue! My three year old grandson LOVES this book and never tires of hearing it.
• Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman, illustrated by S. D. Schindler - This story revolves around an aggravated witch and her attempt to remove a pumpkin from her garden. As help arrives in various forms the struggle continues. Who solves the problem ultimately is a surprise but the sweet solution makes the story very satisfying. A wonderful read aloud because of repetitive phrases, it is also nice for a child learning to read, as they can anticipate the words needed to complete the sentence.
• Fancy Nancy: Halloween or Bust! by Jane O' Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser - Normally I am a bit skeptical of books with popular characters but somehow Fancy Nancy and Halloween seem made for each other. Who else does dress up with such flair and originality? This book doesn't disappoint with Nancy's clever design of her own costume and a fun solution to Nancy's fashion crisisthat actually involves the reader.

Elementary

• The Hallo-Wiener by Dav Pilkey - You start with a wiener dog named Oscar. And the puns and silliness continue. Even if your grandchildren don't catch all the word play, they will still sympathize with poor Oscar's struggle to keep up in a costume he is wearing to please his mom. When Oscar sets out to rescue the friends who have been mean to him the entire Halloween evening your kids will love the outcome. (We own dachsunds so it makes this story extra popular, and there are queries each time the book is read about when Nana will be purchasing hot dog costumes for the dogs)
• Room On the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrations by Axel Scheffler - Hands down our family Halloween favorite, Room on the Broom is just a clever, funny, well told story. You have a toad, a witch, a dog, a cat, a bird and a dragon. You have mayhem and mishaps and conflict and drama. A great rescue and a magnificent solution to a very real crisis. Prepare to re-read!
• Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by S.D. Schindler - Just the concept of a skeleton with the hiccups is funny. Now add in all the things Skeleton tries to eliminate the hiccups and you have a terrific story. The details in the illustrations are wonderful in this book and the way Skeleton finally gets rid of the hiccups is priceless.
• Frank Was A Monster Who Wanted to Dance by Keith Graves- nothing delights boys more than gross collections of stuff and the words that define them. So be prepared for your grandsons to LOVE this book. Frank decides to hit the stage with his sweet monster moves, but things don't go quite as planned. A dear friend's son opted to design a Halloween costume around this character, which, is the truest form of respect and admiration any book loving kid can give at this time of the year.

 If your grandchildren are older and reading chapter books you will want consder James Howe's Bunnicula series. Told from the perspective of the family dog, these are great read alouds to share over popcorn and cocoa.

If you have your own family Halloween favorites please share in the comments. I'd love to know what other books bring a smile and a hint of a shiver when things go bump in the night! Happy Halloween!
                                  

Books to Sink One's Teeth Into...

Admit it. If you are a reader, one of your first thoughts when you heard you were going to be a grandparent was, "I am going to NEED more books!" Not that true bookaholics ever need an excuse, but what better reason to bring new books home than to entertain the next generation of readers in your family.

If your daughter or daughter in law agreed to your reading Shakespeare or Dr. Seuss, (depending on your preference of in utero influences), to her ever expanding tummy that is wonderful, but most grandparents content themselves with browsing through the children's book section and revisiting old friends from their childhood. For your new addition, you'll want board books. That way whether they are chewing or viewing you will be in good shape.

For those of us of a certain age our board book du jour as babies was "Pat the Bunny" by Dorothy Kunhardt. Its still a great choice for your grand baby and one you will share together often. Paul and Judy haven't changed a whole lot and they are still trying on rings and playing Peek a Boo! They even have a version that comes with a stuffed bunny so your grand baby cannot not only "Pat the Bunny", they can cuddle with it as well.

 
The other consistent classic has to be "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown. There are lots of copycats and parodies out there, but the version with the little old lady whispering hush and the crazy bowl of mush on the window sill is the one to turn to when reading at bedtime.

Black and white books seem to hold the attention of newborns so for your first book purchases these are the perfect choice. Two that our grandkids have loved are "Look, Look" by Peter Linenthal

and Baby Animals Black and White: Black and White by Phyllis Limbacher Tildes.Both are high contrast black and white and sturdy enough to be gummed and/or teethed on as time passes. Even if you aren't reading to your grandbaby, these books can be entertaining open during tummy time or for someone to talk to in the playpen. Start them chatting with their books early and they will make life long friends!

Reading...Anybody, Anyplace, Anytime!

I can't remember a time in my life when I didn't love books. So it seems only natural that I would want that love to be part of my children and my grandchildrens' life. While lots of sites give basic information and reviews of books, I, selfishly, wanted to share what I felt were the best books for Nanas, Papa, Grandma, Grandpas, Mimis, Paw-Paws, Grans and Grandads to read to their babies, toddlers, kids, tweens and teens.

Sometimes we have the luxury of actually having our grandchildren in the same town, even in the same house. But many of us are long distance grandparenting and that means sharing reading time is tough, so I'd like to talk about that in this blog as well.

In addition, I'd love it if people would share their favorite books for children and in so doing we can all find new favorites and revisit old friends.

Today's recommendation is more about a practical approach to reading than an actual title. If you have grandbabies that visit on a regular basis, make sure that you have books easy to access where you most often congregate as a family. We have a huge basket by our fireplace in our family room which is open to our kitchen. The kids know that there are books in the basket and usually head there first thing. If you have a shelf, keep them on a lower one where they can reach them easily, or just get a small basket to place them in. If you place them so that kids can see the fronts and leaf through them, it makes it much more user friendly and easier to pick up when reading time is finished.

I try to keep a few favorites along with new titles for them to look at, as well as having a selection of board books for the littlest readers to munch on or read as the spirit moves them. A darling friend has a collection of grandma books for holidays and seasons that she will put out when she has her first grandbaby. (She has been collecting for awhile, so that will be one lucky baby!!!!)

The other suggestion is to keep a tote bay with books either in your car, or somewhere its easy to grab as you head out the door. If you are waiting in a restaurant or at a doctor's appointment you have entertainment handy! (Of course Dr.'s offices are a good place to pick up some great new book ideas, but sometimes old favorites are a comfort in a strange place!)

We will place a bookmark here...see you soon!
Nana Leslie