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Slightly spooky books are fun now — and later

I'm the kind of adult who does not (emphasize not) like scary movies. I stopped reading scary books after I read a Stephen King novel that gave me nightmares.

So if you like the type of books that give you major creeps, then don't bother reading any more. But if you're up for not-too-creepy books to share with the children in your lives, you may find an idea or so here.

The Amelia Bedelia of the poultry world, the little white hen is back for an autumn tale. Here, Minerva Louise interprets the fall celebrations with her own literal spin in Minerva Louise on Halloween (Dutton). Loveable but not very bright Minerva always allows young children to stay one step ahead.

When a big bad Bullybug comes from outer space to terrorize "itty-bitty baby bugs," well, let's just leave it that something larger — maybe child-sized — saves the day (and the smaller bugs). Bye-Bye, Big Bad Bullybug! (Little Brown) cleverly uses page cut-outs to build the Bullybug — then get rid of it.

When the "wind whispers winter" it becomes time to decide what to be on that special night at the end of October. And Then Comes Halloween (Candlewick) culminates the change of season with costume preparation and candy collecting on that night. Poetic language builds excitement as the day grows closer.

Remember the old folksong, "Over in the Meadow?" It's been Halloween-ized in a recent book, Over in the Hollow (Chronicle). In this version, there are skeletons that boogie, ghosts that boo and more — all rhythmically and playfully depicted.

And finally for slightly older readers (those learning to read independently), there's The History of Vampires and Other Real Blood Drinkers (Grosset & Dunlap). Each short chapter is liberally and comically illustrated and attempts to differentiate fact from fiction.

So, there you have it: not-very-scary books especially appropriate for this time of year — but good enough to continue sharing.

The gift of a thank you letter

I love children's writing. It can be fresh, fun, and unexpected. It can also be rare. E-mails just don't have the staying power of a pen (or pencil) and paper correspondence.

But recently I got a batch of thank you letters from a group of 4th graders at the grade school from which my son graduated. I had donated some new books to the school.

The librarians and teachers are always appreciative as their budget frequently doesn't allow them to purchase new materials.

The librarian at this school — a woman whose commitment and passion about books, reading, and children is positively contagious — suggested that a 4th grade class write a thank you note to the mom of a former student who had given the books to the school.

They were all simply wonderful. And it reminded me of the power of books and the statement that school libraries can make providing children with new and often refreshed books.

One boy wrote: "Thanks for all kinds of book entertainment you've given us. I love reading. If it weren't for you, I have to go to the public library which is very rough anyways. Thanks."

Another student, a girl, wrote THANKS in big, bold printing with a picture of a full book shelf — and told me her teacher is fun and that I "rock!" (I am thrilled that a 4th grader says a person rocks because of books!)

Another girl thought I asked me how it felt to be can actor (she must have heard about my son's budding acting career which started at this school); another boy asked for Diary of a Wimpy Kid while someone else requested a Guinness Book of extreme sports (I think he'll have to write it).

Yet another child hoped that I'd enjoy reading all of the thank you letters. (I still do!) Others hoped for a "playground full of books" or to meet me some day — just as I'd love to meet them — and celebrate our mutual love for books and reading.

Knowing what you see

A film critic's review of the film version of Where the Wild Things Are in today's Washington Post started me thinking. In it, the writer says clearly that the film adaptation of a picture book classic is not typical family film fare but that the film version "created a fully realized variation on its most highly charged themes."

How? By using the filmmakers' tools: real-life actors, costumes, sound, music, dialogue, and more — the general wizardry of movie making.

The idea of understanding what one sees, however, is critical. So crucial in fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics has suggested guidelines for parents about the use of media with children.

It seems to me that imbedded in the use of media is the broad notion of "visual literacy" — the ability to see, understand and interpret ideas and/or information conveyed through images. There are a great many sources available both off- and online.

But I'm not at all sure that adults pay much attention to what they see — I know I'm often oblivious. So how can we help children see and understand what they see in movies, on television, and the other images we're bombarded with everywhere?

One essential element is watching movies and TV together, adult and child/ren. Co-viewing is not a new idea at all, but it's one that should be taken to heart. It means not only respecting but investing time in what may interest a child.

I'm convinced that just as young children can effectively compare different versions of stories in books (I've done it with them), they can be guided to see visuals for what they are.

The depth of that comparison, of course, will depend on the age and sophistication of the individual child. But parents and teachers know the children with whom they live and work best. And why not use film adaptations — on television and in the movies — to start it all.

The payoff is that the movies they see and the books they read leads the way to their own storytelling and the ability to see beyond the most obvious.

A new Pooh or Pooh continued?

It's being released this month…a new adventure of Winnie the Pooh. You remember Pooh bear, I'm sure. He and his pals from the Hundred Acre Wood have been part of childhood since well, for the past 80 years. A.A. Milne, the author of Pooh (and more) died in 1956.

And now, the Milne trust has entrusted Pooh to another writer.

Before I launch into a diatribe, I have to admit that I have not yet read or even seen the book. I have listened to a small part of the introduction in the audio book that the publisher is releasing. It's read by Jim Dale — known not only for his acting but for the extraordinary reading of all of the Harry Potter books. (I have to admit, too, that I could listen to this man read a telephone book.)

That said, I am not at all sure what to think about it.

What will happen to the characters and their characterization? I wonder if another author will subtly change what have become my characters — dour Eeyore, bouncy Tigger, and of course, Pooh (the so-called "classic" bear of little brain). How will another writer create a story with those characters without changing them for the time in which he works? Is it possible to revisit a classic and retain what made it so 80 years ago?

Sequels — particularly those written after the original creator is gone — well, in my opinion tend to be disappointing.

I may just read this book "with my ears" — Jim Dale is always worth the time.

An exquisite corpse?

Lots of people know the work of Jon Scieszka, Katherine Paterson, and illustrator Chris Van Dusen. But last weekend at the National Book Festival, a group of well known writers for children and young adults discussed their Exquisite Corpse.

It's not as bad as it sounds. This Corpse is actually based on an old game in which a story is written or picture drawn by multiple creators — each without having any control over the previous entry. It's similar to the old campfire game where people tell a story together one line at a time.

Anyway, Jon Scieszka and a host of well known authors and illustrators in a presentation moderated by NCBLA President, Mary Brigid Barrett, launched the first-ever (at least to my knowledge!) national Exquisite Corpse.

The Exquisite Corpse will involve a wide range of amazing authors and illustrators. You're bound to know many of the contributors!

Jon Scieszka read the first chapter from which other writers will develop their chapter. You can now read it online and see how it was illustrated at a special website hosted by the Library of Congress, www.read.gov.

Every two weeks a new chapter will be posted. And the first one is a hoot — with plenty for those who follow to chomp into.

And now kids from kindergarten to grade 12 can be inspired by the Equisite Corpse authors and illustrators to do their own writing — in a writing challenge called the Exquisite Prompt, hosted by Reading Rockets and Adlit.org.

This should be a lot of fun for readers and writers of all ages. So stayed tuned — and be sure to check out the ever evolving Exquisite Corpse Adventure at the Library of Congress website!

Book to screen

Children's books have inspired creators of other media for a long time. You can probably come up with many television programs inspired by characters who first appeared in print: Rosemary Well's Max and Ruby; Angelina, based on the mice-children created by Katharine Holabird, and Marc Brown's ever popular aardvark Arthur are just the start.

Films, too, have been inspired by children's books: the Wizard of Oz, Old Yeller, and more recently Shrek and Polar Express.

Books translated into film or television shows are a different medium. Pictures move, voice and music are added and often action is added to adapt the material to its new format.

The appeal of films or television from books is much like the appeal of series books. Known characters are brought to life again in a different way. And translations are good. I think.

One of my all-time favorite books, a practically perfect picture book, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak (HarperCollilns) is being released as a live action (enhanced by computer generated animation, I think) next month.

Okay, it's a different medium. But how can this perfectly paced tale told through a flawless yet brief blend of words and illustration be adapted to a live action movie that will have to be at least 90 minutes long?

What will be added? And what will be lost? Will the audience be new or will it be for folks like me — those for whom Sendak's classic holds a special place?

I don't know. So I'll have to wait until next month to find out, I suppose. I don't worry about the film ruining the book for me — I know it by heart (and in my heart, too, I think).

I wonder about those children who haven't met Max personally yet. I wonder if the screen Max will diminish the Max of the imagination, the one who lives every time a child and an adult read Where the Wild Things Are.

A time to remember

The anniversary of 9/11 is here. The impact continues to be felt in subtle and not so subtle ways. One day changed our society and frankly, our world — the world of our children.

Older children and adults can grasp — to some degree at least — what caused these changes. But young children don't have the reservoir of experience to make sense of it.

When 9/11 first happened, my son returned to books in which the weak were able to gain power over stronger forces. To him, books provided a sense of control.

Books can also pay subtle homage to an event without confronting it head-on and may even help young children develop — or deepen — their emotional reservoir.

I still like Mary Pope Osborne's New York's Bravest (Knopf). Though he lived in the 19th century, Mose Humphreys is a larger-than-character whose courage lives on — just as the contemporary fire fighters to whom the book is dedicated. Not only do readers glimpse a real life hero through an old-time hero but presents another time.

Philip Petit was a daredevil who broke the law to walk between the Twin Towers back in the 1970s. His very real activities inspired Mordecai Gerstein to create The Man Who Walked Between the Towers (Roaring Brook). The stunning views will take your breath away and won this book the Caldecott Medal.

A less place-specific book about coping with an unexpected crisis is presented for young children by Jean Gralley. The Moon Came Down on Milk Street (Holt) tells the story of how a community comes together to return the moon to the sky in a simple rhyming text. People everywhere make a difference.

Like an earlier date, 9/11 is one that will live in infamy. For more books about 9/11 and children, visit Kay Vandergrift's (Rutgers University) site.