Halloween Books

This is a great book, beutiful to look at fun to read, more importantly my neice, who has made me read it with her at least 50 times, adores it, Ms. Paul has a childlike veiw of the world, and it seems to really capture a childs imagination. As an adult I thought it was beutiful, with the help of my neice I saw it from a childs point of veiw, and found it fascinating!

This book is not only a great concept but well executed. I loved it the moment I first saw it. It's an easy read aloud book that kids will want to read again and again. The depth of the illustrations will give the adult reading for the 1st time or the 21st time something new every time. Great work and I can't wait to read the next book from this author/illustrator.

It's a take on E.A. Poe's "The Raven" wherein a child wakes up to find a crow sitting on a branch outside their window. As the narrative unfolds the child imagines the crow as a king on his throne, a thief in the night, a powerful wizard, each with its own wordless spread that re-pictures the scene with the imagined one. In the right hands this would be clever but here it exists only as a clever idea.

There are places where the illustrated collage work appears sloppy, the layered effect not achieving a suggested depth, the whole looking like a hastily produced dummy of a book promising greater execution in the future. Children might not be able to see the differences between the good and the mediocre but that doesn't give adults the permission to ignore quality.

This charming book will appeal to both boys and girls (and parents too). It's engaging, seek-and-find format makes for a spooky and exciting read. The collage illustrations are really beautiful, and the storyline turns out, as the book suggests- not so scary. I am a big fan of the Crow, and can't wait to see what Alison Paul puts out next! P.S. Great jacket flaps!!

Ok, so I am giving this 5 stars mainly because this is a much cherished book from my childhood. I clearly remember my mom reading it to me as a young girl. I sought this book out to read to my kids as well.

Orson and his family are much loved at my house. The illustrations, while done in a now dated palette, are charming. The kids love to examine the eggs and other things the family decorates. It sparks creativity at my house. The kids are always ready to paint or draw after reading this.

All in all, if you can get your hands on a copy, you won't be disappointed. I have my original from childhood and it's still in great shape....looking to add 2 more copies to pass on to my kids.

A very enjoyable book for young children and adults.There are wonderful illistrations and a great story line.I highly reccomend this book.

Adrienne Adams was one of my twin daughters' favorite book illustrators when they were small. They are now 26 so I was delighted to find this especial favorite of theirs. The Abbotts are rabbits who decorate their house, their car, airplanes and bridges during vacation, but their real business is Easter eggs. Son, Orson, helps with the one hundred dozen they have to do for Easter because he loves to paint and never tires of it.

I reviewed this book as part of a preschool curriculum development for an Easter theme. My 2 and 4 year olds are my audience. They have now read this book several times. On the surface, it's a very simple book about a rabbit who paints eggs. Underneath, it's about a rabbit who's too young to "keep to the task" -- until he's fully appreciated for his personal art style. If allowed, it can cause parents to think about allowing our own children to follow their interests, and can give us a way to introduce different art styles: a good precursor to a art museum field trip.

If you own the Disney Family Fun Crafts book and the Family Fun Parties book, you have seen most of the ideas in this book. I was really excited to get this book but there werent many new ideas. :(

This book is an awesome resource for make-at-home costumes and decorations. The ideas are so cute, easy to follow, and where else can you find a recipe for slime?

This was great! My daughter & I love Halloween and when we saw this we bought it right away. There are so many wonderful ideas. A must have! There were a lot of spooky things to do with foods and great little ideas for those little helpers to decorate your home with lots of memories! You have to get this one!

There are a number of Halloween books out on the market for decorating, baking and costume making, but this is one of the few that actually has something new in it!

The crafts are clever, but actually look doable wtih things you might already have on hand. The costumes ideas are fun and innovative, the food ideas are also really cute, but not overly-complicated. While some classic ideas never die, this book puts a nice twist on things like "body parts" games.

Of course, the ideas come from the monthly magazine that Disney produces, Family Fun, and if you get the magazine, you'll have already seen alot of these things in print or on their website. Still, the book is nicely layed-out, easy to flip through and a good resource of party and costume ideas for both kids and their grown-ups.

For enjoyment, I've given it 3 stars, but I should have knocked one star off for poor editing. Please learn the difference between 'loose' and 'lose.'

Anyway, this book is a reimagining of Baum's second Oz book (The Marvelous Land of Oz.) In this retelling, Dorothy is along for the fun (she was not actually present in Baum's book). For some reason, all the Oz characters except for Dorothy & Glinda and the other characters from the first book have been renamed (Jack Pumpkinhead is now Punk N. Hedd, and so on). One of Baum's major plot points (the hiding of Princess Ozma) was significantly altered, and Dorothy's history was slightly changed to allow for a revelation about her parents and Oz. Other than these changes, the outline of this book is interchangable with that of The Marvelous Land of Oz.

Still, as I said -- I didn't hate it. I'll give the second book in the series a chance, just to see if the authors really do succeed in taking the series in a different direction. Hopefully the next book will be an actual new story and not another retelling.

I'd also hope that the swearing (admittedly only 'Hell') will be eliminated, as it is historically inaccurate and completely unnecessary. I would like to see less feminist ranting from Dorothy -- in the Baum books she managed to be the equal of every boy without the tiresome blathering about it. Finally, I'd like to see an end to the written dialect -- IE: 'gonna' istead of 'going to.' Baum's Dorothy was a bit prone to this also and I didn't like it from her, either. And in this book, they all used this shorthand and I really found myself hating it.

I am writing as a poet who, for whatever reason, has read little
fantasy-based prose. When a friend gave me a copy of this book, I
asked myself whether I should read it or simply set it aside.I'm glad
I chose to read it.
It's a nicely plotted piece of work and well crafted throughout,
replete with delightful tension and surprise -- most enjoyable.
Edward Nauss

I just loved the book. Dorothy is so much more real a person here than in any of the other stories that I have read, or in the movie too. In the movie all Dorothy wants to do (beyond singing and dancing) is get home to Kansas, where she was totally totally bored. I can relate more to the Dorothy in this new book. I love the Kradakas and how they explain why that bucket of water dissolved the Wicked Witch.

The summer after fourth grade, I spent one Saturday reading three of L. Frank Baum's sequels to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Tik-Tok of Oz, Rinkitink in Oz, and The Scarecrow of Oz. Reading Leo Moser and Carol Nelson's marvelous book, Halloween in Oz: Dorothy Returns, brings all of those memories back.

Moser and Nelson wrote their own sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in a Halloween story featuring Dorothy Gale, an orphan living with her aunt and uncle on a remote Kansas Farm in 1900. The eleven-year-old blond is lonely, and her only friend, Tim Gault, along with her aunt and uncle, thinks she shouldn't do things "girls" don't normally do. Dorothy is rebellious, and believes with a new century, girls should be able to do anything boys do.

Dorothy is particularly lonely since she lost her only picture of her parents in her trip to Oz. Suddenly, she starts to dream about that picture, and her parents telling her she needs to return to Oz, because it's Halloween, and trouble in brewing. The unusual purple and silver ribbons found by Tim allow Dorothy and Toto to return, only to run into a boy who resembles Tim, a boy named Mitt who tends pigs for an old woman named Salmanta who is trying to gather magic during the thirteen days of Halloween in Oz.

Readers will recognize some of the characters in this book, Tin-man, Scarecrow and Glinda, the Good Witch. Other characters will be familiar to readers of Baum's books, Punk N Hedd, the pumpkin who becomes a man, and Tik-toc. This is a comfort read for anyone raised on L. Frank Baum's books.

However, nothing is comfortable in Dorothy's adventures. As in all good fantasy books, Halloween in Oz is a story of good versus evil. Dorothy and Mitt must gather than friends, and rally the troops for a large battle of the good animals and people of the land opposing Salmanta's magical forces. Moser and Nelson have written an exciting story that keeps the reader turning pages to see how Dorothy will deal with the wicked woman and her magic. The humorous touches relieve the anxiety. Mitt himself is funny at times, as are some of Dorothy's other friends, such as Punk N Hedd, with his fear of rotting or being eaten. In Oz, Dorothy argues with Mitt, instead of Tim, about a girl's ability to do anything a boy can do.

Just as Baum did, Moser and Nelson leave questions unanswered that allow room for sequels. Anyone who enjoys the fantasy stories that preceded C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, will appreciate Halloween in Oz: Dorothy Returns.

I just finished this book the other night. I only read it because There was nothing else to read. It was hard to follow since it went back and forth with people. I didn't like the ending at all. The author could of made it more scary, or at least give it a better ending.

Sam Genetti, a bright, seemingly popular high school senior is counting her blessings. Raised by a single father, she is adept at dodging rules and curfews. She is also dating a popular boy named Wyatt and is also close friends with a motherless boy named Gus. Sam and Gus have bonded since they were in kindergarten. They were the only children in their class who were being raised by their fathers.

Sam has a Halloween birthday and naturally all sorts of tricks targeted at her come out. Wyatt's former girlfriend and her snotty clique harass Sam; a mysterious woman breaks into Sam's home and leaves devastating messages for her. The same mysterious woman leaves anonymous notes in Sam's locker; one such message was a frightening secret about Sam.

Who is this woman? And why is she targeting Sam? Who else is involved? A shocking conclusion at a Halloween/birthday party for Sam is an open closet door for many skeletons to come dancing out. Sam unmasks her tormentor and the skeletons can finally be buried once and for all.

A masterfully written mystery that all ages will enjoy. Staub has a real gift for keeping her readers guessing. Each time one reads a Wendy Corsi Staub book, there's always that hope that Staub will keep on writing.

This is a sweet book and I love the warm atmosphere. Samantha lives with her father, who deeply loves and cares about her. Her best male friend, Gus, also cares about her. And her boyfriend Wyatt does, too.

Her birthday is on Halloween, which is just around the corner. Her friends are planning a Halloween/birthday party. Halloween is almost here and someone is pulling pranks on her: phone calls, notes, even a house break-in. Who is doing this to her? Is it her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend? And why are they doing it? Is it a harmless Halloween joke, or is it something to be worried about?

The plot/story line is very good and entertaining. All the pieces of the story fit together perfectly. The atmosphere is cozy. The horror part is thrilling and keeps you on your toes. The mystery part keeps you wondering. This book is so fun. The whole book is absolutely perfect.

This talented author is a winner. I would definitely recommend this book to both teens and adults - to anybody who wants an entertaining book.

I read this book at an early age and was amazed and scared. My first grade teacher is the mother of Wendy Corsi Staub and she once came to my elementary school which is where I was first introduced to her. She has a great ability to write and she has always kept me interested. This book had mystery and horror in one, it was great!! I know for a fact that her mother is proud and I also know for a fact that I will be a loyal fan.

When I was a kid growing up in the 70's, Halloween decorations pretty much consisted of those cardboard characters you taped on your windows and light up jack-o-lanterns. Heck the main decoration was the pumpkin you carved yourself. Today, Halloween decorations generate millions each year. There are entire superstores selling nothing but Halloween décor and costumes that spring up every Fall. The Fright Catalog has Hollywood-caliber props that cost in the thousands of dollars. It's easily become the biggest holiday for decorating next to Christmas and getting bigger every year.

The Hollywood Propmaker's handbook is the perfect book for those who love decorating for the season but who don't want to spend all of their hard-earned cash at those stores. The book is written by Keith Pitek whose work has been seen in Haunted Attraction Magazine. Pitek presents some two-dozen projects that can be made with inexpensive items, many of which you might have lying around the house.

Pitek begins by covering various techniques to setting up your outdoor display covering things which seem so simple and make perfect sense such as where to set-up speakers for sound, the best ways to display props, the use of remote controls, and lighting. Pitek also covers the use of black lights, techniques for painting skulls, wiring your props for light, and using two-way mirrors.

In the project section, Pitek provides several different types of skulls using inexpensive plastic skull props that are available at the Halloween stores as well as major retailers. Create one with light up twinkling eyes that doesn't take an electrician to wire; paint one so that it looks like it was just dug up out of a grave. The painting uses common household ingredients such as shoe polish or wood varnish. It's really all in the technique! Perhaps the most ambitious is the barbecued skull, which when finished, will look like it was just retrieved out of an incinerator.

One of my favorite projects, again one which is quite detailed, is the partially eaten hand made with a hand shaped gelatin mold and several other items. Done right, it creates a stunningly realistic looking prop. Pitek also provides a sure-fire recipe for stage blood that can be made with corn syrup and red-colored Kool-Aid. Pitek concludes with a detailed reference section informing readers where the items used in the props can be purchased as well as providing the phone numbers and websites to many different suppliers.

Now, these items are not your average weekend craft projects. Some are quite easy and can be made in an hour. Others are very involved and take many hours, or even days to finish, but the results will be worth it.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

The projects are explained well, the directions are clear, and I feel I would be able to re-create the clever props. Unfortunately there are no instructions for large sized props such as figures, monsters, etc. that are expected in a haunted hosue. All the props are on a small scale..at least half the book is devoted to creating different painting effects on skulls. There are also ideas for masks, brains, severed hands, and other small props such as skull flowers, flatware, salt & pepper shakers, candy dish, etc.
There is useful information on lighting, black lights, adding eyes to a prop, and general setting up of a scene which will help me with my haunted house decorating, but I won't use most of the other projects.

Halloween Propmaker's Handbook arrived too late for October mention but deserves ongoing recommendation for any avid party crafts person who enjoys putting together unique Halloween props. Here are recipes for fake blood, papier-maiche projects such as skills, two-way mirrors, and other techniques just perfect for Halloween decorators. No color photos, but the step-by-step black and white images and clear directions need little color to prove involving.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

The instructions in this book are easy to follow with a complete list of necessary items to complete each prop. The author also makes the book easy to read with his personal anecdotes and witty approach to the art of of Halloween "Scareology".

Some ideas are not all that original but there are a few things in here that will help you find insperation for your Halloween parties and costums. Some party activities are lots of fun. Overall a very fun book with great illustrations and all color photos.

When I was a kid...and I'm NOT saying when that was...decorating for Halloween consisted of mainly taping those old cardboard decorations of skeletons, witches, or bats, etc, on your windows, carving a jack-o-lantern, and maybe stuffing a dummy. Today, decorating for Halloween is second only to Christmas and is growing every year. No longer just sprouting up a week before the holiday, today people seem to begin decorating for Halloween as soon as October rolls around. And with the elaborate displays many people now have, it probably takes that long to finish. But as Halloween stores pop up each September selling expensive, Hollywood quality props and decorations, people have lost sight of the fact that you needn't break the bank to have a great Halloween display at your house. "Halloween Recipes & Crafts" presents 160 pages of fantastic ideas for decorating both inside and outside, along with great recipes and other tips for a memorable Halloween. The book opens with a short but interesting history of Halloween and then provides tips on party planning and safety. From there we get into the meat of the book and the fabulous projects you can make at home for little cost.

Outdoor Décor is the first section and provides a number of projects that were new to me. One of the most interesting was the freshly dug graves project where you turn everyday plastic garbage bags and a little bit of dirt or soil, to create the look of a freshly dug grave on for your front lawn. Accent it with a Styrofoam tombstone (which you can also make very inexpensively) some leaves, maybe a fake hand rising out of the dirt, for a truly terrifying display.

Another outdoor project utilizes old tin cans, such as soup or even coffee cans. Painted pumpkin orange, simply punch a series of holes in the can with an awl or screwdriver to make a face. Place a candle inside the can and hang outside for a brilliant Halloween lantern. There's also dangling skeletons that can be made with old gallon milk jugs and a scary Halloween ghost flag that can be made for a few dollars.

Moving inside, there are more great projects. Utilize those, unused Halloween masks by simply stuffing them and hanging them inside...or outside...as recently severed heads. One of my favorite projects is the shrunken heads made out of apples. Simply peel an apple and apply a solution of lemon juice and salt to prevent browning. Carve out the apple in the shape of a face and let dry for a couple of weeks. You can even use marker or paint to further accent these ghastly little decorations. The highlight for me was a miniature graveyard scene made with a simple sheet of Styrofoam, some Spanish moss, twigs, little stones, and smaller pieces of Styrofoam to make tiny tombstones.

The recipes section has all sorts of Halloween themed ideas like deviled egg eye balls or lady fingers made from a half of a hot dog with a red pepper finger nail applied with a bit of cream cheese. Add raisins to ice cubes for drinks or punch to give the appearance of bugs. A great idea for adults is to take the traditional bread bowl spinach dip and cut the bread bowl into a jack-o-lantern face. It would make a great centerpiece for an office party.

If you're hosting a party for your children and their friends there's a great chapter featuring a wide display of games like "Pin the Mouth on the Pumpkin", "Encase the Mummy", "Apple Grab" and more that will keep the kids busy and having fun. The book closes with some tips on costume selection and makeup.

The projects in this book are great looking yet very simple and inexpensive to make. The projects all have a supply list and are described in step-by-step fashion. Chances are you'll find that you have a lot of the items you need already in your home. The book is printed on glossy paper and is lavishly illustrated with dozens of photographs throughout. A real ghoul's treat of fun and great looking projects.

Reviewed by Tim Janson

"The moon is full, the sky is darkening and there is a chill in the air. It's October 31--time for the ghoulish ghosts, wicked witches and grim goblins to descend upon your haunted house for the most macabre Halloween party ever."

If you like Halloween or are a teacher or party planner, this book is for you.

The book is divided into:

-- History of Halloween
-- Outdoor decorations
-- Indoor Decorations
-- Jack-o-Lanterns
-- Devilishly Delectable Treats
-- Party Favors & Crafts
-- Ghoulish Games
-- Creepy Costumes and Menacing Makeup

Each section has a nice photo by Alan Bibby and Tamara Eder, list of needed supplies, and easy how-to instructions. Instead of heading to the store for ready-made stuff, you can make many of the things from items around your house.

My favorite was the recipes of Halloween-theme food. Imagine the end results of Crispy Roasted Bones, Wicked Weiner Fingers, Eerie Eyeballs. You get the idea.

A creative collection that will get your own creative juices flowing to have the best Halloween party ever.

Armchair Interviews says: Very, very spooky ideas for decorating, costumes, games and food.

I admit that I am a *freak* when it comes to Halloween...and now that I have kids I plan on getting them involved in my passion as well! I am always the one buying up all the Halloween magazines at the grocery store checkout looking for recipes and crafts...and THIS ONE sums up everything! AAANNNDDDD...It is ALL in color!!! It has awesome crafts, costumes, food, music/movie suggestions...everything...and for ALL age groups (eg, even non-alcoholic drinks to alcoholic drinks). And what I love about the food is there are cute ideas that are "spooky" and cute but not really gross like some Halloween recipes.

I DEFINATELY RECOMMEND this book to anyone that has kids or that is a kid themself when it comes to Halloween!!!

Very cute and fun book. We checked it out from the library and then I knew we had to own it for nightly bedtime reading. Clever lines to amuse kids as well as adults and adorable drawings.

My first inclination when I like a new book is to share it with others, town crier style (complete with bell and dressy tri-fold hat): Hey! Everyone! I enjoyed this book! I start looking for opportunities to read said book aloud, practice my voices, tone, inflection. But often times, after giving the matter some thought, I level with myself and realize that the book that I enjoy just won't work well as a read aloud. Working in an elementary school library, I've done my fair share of storytime. I feel like I know storytime personally. And I'm here to tell you that Happy Birthday, Monster! is definitely NOT cut out for storytime. But that said, it's still an outstanding book for the youngsters.

Ben, the friendliest looking three-horned devil in recent memory, is throwing a surprise party for his friend Doris. Monster friends are invited, snacks and entertainment is provided, and hilarity ensues. Each two page spread is its own little self-contained situation that occurs during the party. An all seeing narrator guides the story along, but the fun of this book lies in the word bubbles coming from the monsters themselves. You know - jokes, man. They just keep comin'. From the robot who falls in love with a lamp to the floating ghost who infuriates everyone by never messing up at jump rope, the story is filled with comic moments that will charm readers.

Word bubbles, you say? While they provide the spark in this book, they also prove to be the wrench in this title's storytime chances. It's often difficult and seldom fruitful and to attempt speaking them aloud. I have tried in the past, and I'm bound to try in the future, but those little ovals of whiteness are best read individually.

I am of the opinion that if given two picture books, one a great read aloud and the other a great read alone, a librarian will usually side with the former. Heck, I'm as guilty as y'all (P.S. Mo, keep on writing those gems!). What can I say? There is nothing like the feeling of getting a whole big slew of kids excited about a story at the same time. However the format of this title is best digested at a table of one - but still just as satisfying.

We've purchased all of Scott's books and they've become our children's favorites. This latest one is no different. They especially enjoy the cleverness of the drawings, they find something to laugh at in every panel-- a very fun book to read--even for my older children!

Ben is throwing a surprise birthday party for his friend Doris the dragon. So he invites his other monster friends--an alien, a robot, a mummy, a vampire, ghost and skeleton.

The guests all bring presents and wait for Doris to arrive so they can surprise her. When she gets there, celebration and hilarity quickly ensue: Ben plays music; the mummy does the twist; the ghost finds jump-roping an easy task; and the robot quickly destroys the piñata. When the party is over, Doris collects all her presents in a shiny red wagon from Ben.

Happy Birthday, Monster! by Scott Beck is a quick, fun children's read. There is minimal text, but the illustrations are bright, colorful and easy for a child to enjoy with its cast of quirky characters.

This is Scott Beck's fourth children's book. It is a great book for a younger child--but enjoyable for the whole family.

Armchair Interviews says: Fun characters kids will love.

Halloween is crazy enough, but how much crazier can it get when cellebrated by Amelia Bedelia?

Sweet, sincere, and helpful to the limit, Amelia is going to assist the Rogers family entertain for the holiday. To be sure, she will follow directions to the letter, and put a decidedly new spin on one of our favorite days.

Happy Haunting, Amelia Bedelia is a sweet treat that belongs in your child's bag of tricks!

I can't say I'm the biggest Amelia Bedelia fan, but I teach ESOL students and many, just love Amelia Bedelia! They see themselves as Amelia Bedelia as they go through their English language learning and feel they make the same mistakes as Amelia does in understanding people at times. It allows them to laugh at themselves while seeing someone else go through things they have done or misunderstood at one time or another. The series is joy for them at this level of reading and remember fondly after.

It's Halloween at the Rogers House and they want to have a party. They need Amelia Bedelia's help in getting ready. Amelia Bedelia takes every situation in stride and does exactly as she is told. Read to see what happens when she's told to crack the window, a leaf for the table and goes "trick or treating"!


This book will have parents and children laughing out loud, until the last page.


Amelia Bedelia is a great series for younger kids and a good way to teach them to read. It also helps them to understand two ways of looking at things.

As a beginning reader my 5 3/4 year old found this book easy to read! She loved the story, and it took her only 4 nights to read it. She loved the surprises on each page, and couldn't wait to find out what happened!

As a teacher, this is one of the most hilarious books I have ever read. I literally laughed until I cried. Robert Newton Peck is my very favorite author and he outdoes himself with this book. Told from the point of view of a well-mannered, behaved boy who struggles between right and wrong, he still manages to have a whopping good time with the help of a few friends.

This book is a real treat!..........
Or is it a trick?! Hig and Quince are best friends but always get in big trouble. This time it is the Seven Strikers Gang! Hig decides to take a stand and demolsh the gang's hideout called the "Tourture Chamber!!" Watch Hig hurl in the air and land in a gaint pumpkin pie! Experience more exiting adventures only in................"HIGBEE'S HALLOWEEN"!!!!!!!!!

Cridic:Dan

I like this book! Robert Newton Peck has written alot of books but this one caught my attention. At first I got this book because it would be easy to read due to length but I never thought I could read a book in five days with only a half-hour each day. This book is about halloween but it would be great to read all year round. The seven Strikers gave thi book a twist. I wish there was one more page with the Strikers being themselves. With the Strikers and all the action, this is at least a four-star book. I'm looking forward to reading more of Robert Newton pecks books.

I like this book. Robert Newton Peck wrote alot of books but this one really caught my attention. At first I got this book because it would be easy to read due to length but I never thought I could read a book in five days with only a half-hour each day. This book is about halloween but it would be great to read all year round. The seven Strikers gave this book a twist. I wish there was one more page with the Stikers being themselves. With the Strikers and all the action, this book is at least a four-star book. I'm looking forward to reading another one of Robert Newton Pecks books.