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!