Halloween Picks!

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With Halloween sneaking up on us, I thought I’d tell you about some great Halloween books I’ve come across.

 

whoswhoWho’s Who in the Woods?

Written by Eryl Norris

Illustrated by Andy Mansfield

18 pages – ages 1-5
Published by Little Bee Books on October 6, 2015

Synopsis from Publisher- “Find out which pair of eyes belong to which woodland animal in this engaging novelty book with pop-ups on every page!

It’s nighttime in the woods and there are eyes peeping out from the darkness—but who do they belong to? Pop-ups on each page reveal different woodland animals, including an owl, a bear, a wolf, and more.”

What I Thought- This is a cute pop-up book. i like it that the pages are very sturdy.  I don’t like it when pop-up books get caught up or bent easily. The book is illustrated in white and shades of gray with big yellow eyes for kids to figure out who they belong to.

whoswho2

The illustrations have just a little bit of spookiness about them – just right for young kids. The story has the reader trying to figure out who a “terrible creature” in the woods is. After examining all sorts of glowing eyes in the woods, the creature turns out to be a little mouse. This will make a great read aloud for Halloween night!

turkeyTurkey Trick or Treat Hardcover

by Wendi Silvano

Illustrated by Lee Harper

40 pages -ages 3 – 7
Published by by Two Lions on August 11, 2015

Synopsis from publisher- “Everyone loves Halloween candy—even Turkey. But how can he and his barnyard friends get any when the farmers give it out only to children? With a costume, of course! As his pals look on, Turkey comes up with one clever costume after the next. Each trick gets better and better…but will Turkey and his friends end up with any treats? This hilarious companion to Turkey Trouble and Turkey Claus is filled to the brim with holiday fun.”

What I Thought- This is a funny story that kids of all ages will like. Silvano’s story has Turkey wanting to get some Halloween candy but can’t fool the farmer into giving him any (candy is only for kids not farm animals!). The story shows great teamwork as the farm animals help turkey come up with solutions. After each failed attempt – the farm animals show perseverance and don’t give up. In the end, their solution is ingenious (won’t give it away 😉 )! Harper’s illustrations add an incredible amount of detail and humor to Silvano’s fun story.
hideousHideous History: Trials and Trickery Hardcover
by Sandra Lawrence

Series: Hideous History
64 pages – ages 10+
Published by Little Bee Books on July 5, 2016

Synopsis from publisher- “All the grim, gruesome and gory bits of history they never teach you in school!

From the betrayal and murder of Julius Caesar by Marcus Brutus to the gunpowder plot to overthrow the English government of Guy Fawkes to the outlandish trials of witches, this book is packed with men, women, and historical events that involve unfair trials and unspeakable treachery. Others included are: La Malinche, the Spanish Inquisition, the trial and execution of Charles I, the betrayal of Jesse James by Robert Ford, and trial and execution methods, among others. Kids will love the scrapbook style and all the illustrations and charts!”

What I Thought- This was an interesting book. Warning that it is a little gory. It describes deaths, beheadings, and other grisly things – not in extreme details but enough to get the idea.  The pages are laid out in a neat way, with text boxes, illustrations, and pictures. It makes it visually appealing to the reader. Kids get to learn a bit of history too.

hideous2It is a really neat nonfiction read, and kids will like reading about the things they don’t really hear about in school. It is an interesting book that will appeal to reluctant readers too!

missperigineMiss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
by Ransom Riggs

382 pages – ages 14+
Published by Quirk Books on June 4, 2013

Synopsis from publisher- “A mysterious island.   An abandoned orphanage.   A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.   A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.”

What I Thought- Okay – so I haven’t read this book yet but it is sitting next in line on my to be read list after seeing the movie. I am one who never sees a movie first, but my mom wanted to go see this (she read the book) and took me along. Mom said the movie does the book justice (she had a few minor complaints). Well, I loved the movie and am expecting the book to be even better. I think this creepy paranormal story will be great for teens this time of year!



Categories: 13+ (YA), Age 1-5, Age 6-9

Tags: , , ,

16 replies

  1. Thanks for the spooky roundup. I haven’t read Miss Peregrine either so you’re not the only one. Hideous History looks really interesting. 🙂

  2. Great variety in your reviews today. Thanks for including all ages of readers. Wonderful blog post with suggestions for us.

  3. Miss Peregrine’s is a really good, but very eerie book. Forget the movie, read the original. I’ve seen Turkey Trick or Treat and it is cute. The other two, or the publisher, are new to me. I do love pop-ups. Are you still a Halloween trickster? What will you be?

  4. Nice recommendations – fun and spooky!

  5. Oh, haven’t seen a pop-up book review in a while! Thanks for the Halloween list – now that we’re in the last week or so of October, I have to get in all my ghoulish, bookish delights!

  6. I haven’t read Miss Peregrine yet either! That cover always creeped me out a little. That’s a great Halloween to-read list. Thanks, Erik. I love Lee Harper’s artwork. He can make any humorous book funnier.

    • The cover did throw me off too – I can’t read things that are scary: I get too paranoid, and my imagination takes over. 😉
      Lee Harper is a great artist, and I totally agree with you on him making books funnier! 😀

  7. Turkey can borrow some of my costumes. I have lots of them! Although they don’t work for candy – just Milkbones.

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

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