By now I hope your children’s costumes are decided and ready for the big day. If not—quick!—stop reading and hit the Internet for fast and easy ideas. As for me, I’m thankful my kids are still young enough to let me dress them up as cuddly animals and produce—though I’m aware those days are numbered. The good news is that this year Halloween is on a Saturday. You still have some time to pick up a pumpkin and stockpile candy for the trick-or-treaters. And as an extra treat for the kids in your life, how about a few Halloween-ish books to set the mood? Here are three that I personally don’t mind reading over and over again. While not specifically written and marketed for Halloween (a plus, in my opinion), they’re great to read now and at any other time of the year.
Real bats may be icky, but those in Bats at the Library and Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies are so adorable that both little boys and girls will become instant fans. In Bats at the Library, an open window is just the invitation that these bats need to spend an exciting evening at a library—experimenting with the copy machine, frolicking in the drinking fountain, and enjoying storytime (so much so that they’re transported into classic famous stories). See if you can recognize the books from the scenes depicted here with bats replacing the key characters. Hint: Peter (Bat) Rabbit, Winnie the Pooh (Bat), to name a few. The rhyming text is a pleasure to read out loud (“Please keep it down—you must behave! This library is not your cave!"); the illustrations are full of humorous details.
Bats at the Beach (published first) follows a similar premise, except this time the night critters are headed for an evening of fun by the ocean. That includes moon-bathing, digging sand caves, and toasting bug-mallows. Lies’ charming illustrations feature the winsome bats engaged in all sorts of unlikely beach activities—a real treat.
Leonardo the Terrible Monster is a great choice for a slightly younger, overlapping audience (preschoolers to kindergartners). Written and illustrated by Mo Willems (who also wrote and illustrated the award-winning titles, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Knuffle Bunny), this oversized book introduces a pint-size monster who has a hard time scaring anyone. Finally Leonardo comes up with a plan to find the perfect “scaredy-cat kid” to terrorize. I love the way the book works on two levels—reassuring to little ones who may be afraid of the monsters in their own lives and providing a playful, gentle message about what it means to be a good friend.
Happy Halloween!
