Not-so-scary tales for autumn nights

You know it is autumn when Christmas decorations start appearing in stores.

But before we get to the December holidays, many children enjoy slightly spooky stories as the dark nights of Fall approach.

One of my favorites is The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything (opens in a new window) by Linda Williams (HarperCollins) — a cumulative tale with lots of repetition and onomatopoeia. In it, a valiant old woman remains undaunted by the ghostly doings on her walk home.

The Teeny Tiny Woman (opens in a new window) retold by Paul Galdone (Sandpiper) is another brave soul who defies the increasingly loud voice from her cupboard demanding the return of “my bone.”

Of course, there’s Molly Bang’s version of Wiley and the Hairy Man (opens in a new window) (Aladdin) in which Wiley and his very smart mother outwit the nasty Hairy Man, forever banning him from their home in the woods.

And for the board book set, there is Kevin Henke’s Julius’ Candy Corn (opens in a new window) (HarperFestival) and the illustrated fingerplay rhyme, Five Little Pumpkins illustrated by Dan Yaccarino (Harper Growing Tree). Both of these can double as counting books or a game for younger children.

There are lots of books and stories that are especially fun to share at this time of year, especially those that are slightly spooky but not terrifying for younger children — and safer within the covers of a book!