As the daughter-in-law of a former elementary school librarian, we’ve been gifted an amazing library of children’s books. On my own, I never would have thought to start collecting seasonal books, but my mother-in-law started the trend and now neither of us can stop. I love having books for all the different holidays. Our family looks forward to those books making an appearance for only a few short weeks at a time and we add to our collections each year. I think having seasonal book collections just adds to the excitement of the holiday!
So to celebrate this Halloween, I’ve rounded up our favorite books that don our shelves during the month of October.
by Julia Donaldson
This delightful story came to us last year from my mother but is very popular this year! My 1 year old loves all the animals. My 4 year old giggles at the slightly absurd story. I love the cadence and the undertone themes of acceptance and loyalty. For a children’s book, it really has a pretty good story line and you can’t beat the surprise ending. This one makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
by Tony Mitton
I picked this one up from the library last year and just had to purchase it for our collection. The only thing I could remember were the illustrations. If you’re familiar with the wonderful book, Giraffes Can’t Dance, you’ll know the illustrations are equally as good as the writing. The same illustrator (Guy Parker-Rees) created the memorable images in Spooky Hour and did a fantastic job. This book also employs counting and ends with a big surprise. It allows for some silly voices by mommy the narrator which makes this one a favorite in my house.
by Dav Pilkey
This hilarious story was a gift this year and we’ve already read it numerous times. The story is best-suited for preschoolers and up, but even my toddler is entertained by the pictures. Enjoy the story as the main character struggles with his traits and short-comings and ends up saving the day. The mom in the story is an absolute scream and the illustrations are hilarious.
By David A. Carter
This was my personal contribution to our collection. I loved it when I first saw it and had to have it. Both my kids love this pop-out/lift-the-flap book. It’s the one they look at daily, and who can blame them for loving the imaginary bugs that author/creator David Carter has created? My personal favorite are the bugs found behind the Enchanted Door, and the headstone engravings at the very end are a hoot.
Happy Halloween, Curious George
by H. A. Ray
Curious George is a well-loved monkey in this house. This book was given to us a few years ago but remains a favorite. We have lots of Curious George books and toys, and my girls love the recognition of the beloved character in a Halloween setting. The book is a grouping of 7 short stories which follow George through the day of Halloween. My toddler enjoys 1-2 stories at a time and my preschooler enjoys the whole book at once. You cannot go wrong with Curious George!
I started my collections by simply placing a basket of holiday books in my oldest daughter’s room. Our collection has now grown to a much larger basket in the playroom and this year I used a few books around the house as part of the Halloween Decor. Books are such a fun way to create memories with each other. I hope you’re inspired to pick up just 1 of these books and start your own seasonal collection of children’s books!
Do you have a seasonal book collection? What are your favorite Halloween books for kids?
These are some of our favorites, too! A new one this year was “Me and My Dragon: Scared of Halloween”, and I loved it! The illustrations were great, and the idea of the pet dragon being afraid of Halloween is comforting to the ambivalence of many children about the holiday. Gail Gibbons has several titles that pertain to the holiday: “Halloween Is…”, “Bats”, and “Owls”. A favorite among teachers, Gibbons’ non-fiction books are chock-full of facts and illustrations that appeal to children AND their adults!