October Stories

In this introduction to Halloween for the young, a child and parents choose a pumpkin, carve it, make a costume and then go trick or treating. Patricelli’s signature child is initially fearful of the costumed creatures gathering treats but comes to appreciate it by the end. Humorous illustrations and brief text are ideal to share with first time trick or treaters.

Jasper Rabbit (first introduced in Creepy Carrots) chooses the neon green underwear rather than the plain white ones. At night, the creepy pair of underwear glows eerily and is downright difficult to discard. But once they’re gone, Jasper decides that he was too hasty. This humorous tale puts a funny spin on what frightens people. 

Feathered friends Goose, Duck, and Thistle become a super hero, a ghost, and a swamp monster for trick or treating. Though each enjoys Halloween, they must muster up the courage to confront their fears in this gentle, relatable, and ultimately satisfying story.

From A to Z, all things Halloween are presented. Beginning with apple (bobbing) all the way to zombie, children will enjoy familiar (and some not so) sights and creatures associated with the autumn celebration each complemented and extended with child-like illustrations  

Lyrical language and handsome color photographs combine to present a portrait of the changes that occur in autumn. Different seeds dance in the wind or twirl to the ground while animals find shelter, hibernate or migrate. Autumn is also a season of celebrations which lead to the “shortest day of the year, and winter…” 

Spooky, traditional tales retold are presented again with new and mysterious illustrations (reminiscent of Edward Gorey). These stories, drawn from folklore, successfully create a deliciously eerie feeling while remaining perfectly safe. Sources for the tales are included in an afterward by the reteller. 

Remember “the middle of Fall, when the leaves have already turned” and the air is chilly, apples and pumpkins are ready to pick. Soon, the leaves will be gone and the sky will change again, filled with snowflakes. Lyrical language and richly hued paintings evoke the season and the changes that accompany it.

Atop a hill in an abandoned field was a dilapidated house near a haunted pomegranate tree guarded by a fierce witch. Attempts by village children to snitch a tasty fruit were unsuccessful until Halloween night when a kind old lady replaced the witch. This fast-paced story unfolds in rich, rhyming language accompanied by evocative illustrations.

Parallel stories of two girls who lived in different times converge at a place called Thornhill. One is told only in ominous black/white illustrations, the other in a text narrative. The result is an evocative, often downright spooky novel (likely to appeal to fans of Brian Selznick’s Hugo Cabret et al).

Photographs and factual information combine with comical illustrations and lighthearted (though accurate) asides about a range of creatures. Some are familiar, others are not, but all are fascinating and expand the concept of what makes a monster – including humans!