From: Maureen Milton <library_at_arborschool.org>
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2011 22:23:48 -0700

My favorite books for Halloween aren't all directly about Halloween, but provide a gentle frisson or a good laugh.

Once When I Was Scared by Helena Clare Pittman (fanciful & captivating for K-1s, with some scariness overcome by imagination and beautiful Ted Rand illustrations)

Wicked Jack adapted by Connie Nordheilm Wooldridge (funny take on an American folktale, complete with devils & Will Hillenbrand's illustrations)

Space Case by Edward Marshall (it's worth explaining the word "atomized" at the outset)

I also read (& sometimes help the children recite for an assembly) an older Deborah Kogan Ray-illustrated version of e.e. cummings "hist wist" ("little ghost things"--illustrations take the liberty of depicting Halloween which helps ground the lively language for the littles)

Maureen Milton

-- Librarian Arbor School of Arts and Sciences Tualatin, Oregon
Received on Thu 13 Oct 2011 10:23:48 PM CDT