Kids and Teen Blog
13 New Halloween Books for Monsters of All Ages
by Siobhan
October 13, 2011
It's that time of year again: costumes are being sewn, pumpkins are being carved... The cold is starting to creep in, and we're all starting to crave some creepy, bonechilling tales. Here are a few new Halloween books for all ages, ranging from the cute to the creepy.
New Halloween Books for Young Monsters...
Little Owl Finger Puppet Book (Ages -3)
Count, Dagmar! by J.otto Seibold (All Ages)
Renowned artist J.otto Seibold (Olive the Other Reindeer) gives Halloween a delightfully wacky and sweet spin in this counting board book starring Dagmar, the beloved vegetarian vampire from Vunce Upon a Time. Lift the flaps and count from one to ten billion -- or at least from one to ten!
Ten Little Beasties by Ed Emberley and Rebecca Emberley (Ages 2-6)
If there's one thing beasties love to do, it's dance! When one little beastie is joined by two little, three little, and more little beasties, we count UP until there's a party on the page. But when one of the little beastie starts trouble, it's time to start counting DOWN.
Click here to listen to the "Ten Little Beasties" song!
When a Monster Is Born by Sean Taylor (Ages 3-6)
When a monster is born, there are two possibilities— either it’s a faraway-in-the-forests monster, or ... it’s an under-your-bed monster. If it’s a faraway-in-the-forests monster, that’s that. But if it’s an under-your-bed monster, all sorts of comical things can happen. Read it at bedtime and laugh your pajamas off ... or read it during the day and laugh your socks off!
Bone Dog by Eric Rohmann (Ages 4-8)
Ghost dogs and skeletons in a tall tale with a tender heart from the Caldecott Medal-winning creator of My Friend Rabbit. Sam doesn't feel like doing much after his dog ella dies. He doesn't really even feel like dressing up for Halloween. But when Sam runs into a bunch of rowdy skeletons, it's Ella -- his very own Bone Dog -- who comes to his aid, and together they put those skeletons in their place. A book about friendship, loss, and a delightfully spooky Halloween.
Monster Doodles for Kids by Chris Sabatino (Ages 6 and up)
Filled with prompts and illustrations to help inspire their inner Dr. Frankenstein, Monster Doodles for Kids lures boys and girls into this pocket-sized laboratory where they can create fiendish, snaggle-toothed monsters and eye-popping villains to their heart's desire.
Horrid Henry Wakes the Dead by Francesca Simon (Ages 7-10)
Henry will do anything to win the grand prize at this year's talent show...even wake the dead! Plus three other stories that will leave you screaming for more.
New Halloween Books for Tween Terrors...
The Orphan of Awkward Falls by Keith Graves (Ages 8-12)
"The worst is yet to come for a town built on secrets and sauerkraut..."
With a penchant for spooky details, surprising twists, and haunting illustrations, Keith Graves (best known for his picture books, Frank Was a Monster Who Wanted to Dance and Chicken Big) delivers a suspenseful and engaging first novel.
Chihuawolf: A Tail of Mystery and Horror by Charlee Ganny (Ages 9-12)
Paco, a smart, fashionably-dressed Chihuahua, lives in a snug and comfortable world as the pampered pet of ten-year-old Olivia. The problem is Natasha, the gorgeous Afghan hound he adores, thinks him too tiny to be taken seriously. Determined to change his outside to reflect the lion-hearted courage he possesses inside, Paco decides to do something drastic. He enlists the help of his animal friends to help him transform into the biggest, fiercest canine he can imagine: a Chihuawolf!
Wonkenstein: The Creature from My Closet by Obert Skye (Ages 9-12)
Click here to read the first chapter! (PDF)
Twelve-year-old underachiever Rob has better things to do than read. His parents give him lots of books but most of them just end up in the messy pile of junk he keeps locked in his closet that once doubled as a makeshift science laboratory. One day, Rob hears weird sounds coming from behind his closet door and discovers a funny little creature that seems to be a cross between two characters from books he's tried to ignore. He names him Wonkenstein...
Sally's Bones by MacKenzie Cadenhead (Ages 9-12)
Click here to read the first chapter!
Sally is a quirky character who loves Death Rock and faded blue jeans. She fits in better with the Addams Family than with a clique of catty sixth grade girls. After her mother's death, grief-stricken Sally begs for death... and death is exactly what she gets: a tail-wagging skeleton dog called Bones. A gift from beyond the grave, Bones is a dreadfully delicious girl's best friend. In this cleverly written, alliterative tale the neighbourhood's dog treats go missing and everyone blames Bones. Sally must solve the mystery to save her cadaverous canine from puppy prison.
New Halloween Books for More Grown-Up Ghouls...
The House of Dead Maids by Clare B. Dunkle (Ages 12 and up)
Young Tabby Aykroyd has been brought to the dusty mansion of Seldom House to be nursemaid to a foundling boy, but there are ghosts lurking the halls, and sleeping in her bed. Clare B. Dunkle, author of the acclaimed Hollow Kingdom trilogy writes this bone-chilling story as a prelude to Wuthering Heights.
Daybreak by Brian Ralph (Ages 16 and up)
Click here to read a excerpt from the graphic novel! (PDF)
Daybreak is seen through the eyes of a silent observer as he follows his protector and runs from the shadows of the imminent zombie threat. Brian Ralph slowly builds the tension of the zombies on the periphery, letting the threat-rather than the actual carnage-be the driving force. The post-apocalyptic backdrop features tangles of rocks, lumber, I beams, and overturned cars that are characters in and of themselves. Drawing inspiration from zombies, horror movies, television, and first-person shooter video games, Daybreak departs from zombie genre in both content and format, achieving a living-dead masterwork of literary proportions.