Today I’m excited to welcome Courtney from Stiletto Storytime to guest post today. Courtney is a twenty something children’s librarian who loves reading justin about anything and anything she can get her hands on. Courtney has recommended a whole host of books for 8-12 year olds, including on of my favorite, Bunnicula.
I Vant to Suck Your… Vegetables?
It’s that time of year again. The leaves are rustling, the skeletons are shaking and the monsters are creeping, Halloween is finally upon us. With this fun time of year comes the desire to read “scary” books and kids of all ages want to get in on the Halloween celebrations. But how do you tread that narrow line between scary enough to satisfy your younger readers but not literally scare them?
Kids between the ages of 8-12 can be especially hard to satisfy when it comes to scary stories and horror themed books. Their reading level makes it possible for them to read the majority of books that are out there in this genre, however they are not ready for the content of many of those books. Also they are at an age where they feel they are ready to be “scared” but often that can backfire and result in an extra body count in your bed at night!
As a children’s librarian I often encountered this problem when planning Halloween activities for schools and the library for the ages of 8-12. I found my answer after many trials including being laughed at for things not scary or “babyish” and maybe possibly causing permanent damage to a few kids who I did manage to scare a little too much. So this Halloween I share my secret weapon. The one thing I found was always a hit and yet didn’t actually scare kids. The series that is perfect for everyone this time of year. The answer is Bunnicula.
You remember Bunnicula. Author James Howe’s suspicious rabbit friend who only goes out at night and seems to drain vegetables dry while all the time remaining a lovable pet to the Monroe family. The Monroes coincidentally found him while at a theater where they were watching Dracula. The story is told by the family’s faithful dog Harold and remains a classic to this day. The first book in series titled Bunnicula was released in 1979 and has since then been read and loved by millions of children. It was a personal favorite of my own as a child and now one of my favorite suggestions for good “spooky” but ultimately silly fun for Halloween. It’s perfect for reading aloud to younger kids and great for the older kids to tackle on their own. There is even an ABC Special that was made of the book if you are lucky enough to track down it down at your local library.
Another great bonus is that the book continues into a series so if the kids enjoy the book there is plenty more to come. Below are some more great books for Halloween fun appropriate for all ages. They range from chapter books to picture books and poetry but all seem to incorporate the elements of Halloween while remaining somewhat silly instead of frightening.
Great Halloween Picks for Children
• Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery by Deborah and James Howe
• Howliday Inn by James Howe
• The Celery Stalks at Midnight by James Howe
• The Witches by Roald Dahl
• Halliwilloween: Nefarious Silliness by Calef Brown
• The Shy Creatures by David Mack
• The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams
• Thelonius Monster’s Sky-High Fly-Pie by Judy Sierra
• Sally and the Something by George O’ Connor
• I’m Not Going Out There by Paul Bright
• Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley
Thank you, Courtney, for the excellent post and recommendations!
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