It’s been a while since of blogged, and Halloween feels like the perfect time to start back up. There are plenty of things to love about Halloween (candy, monsters, scary stories), but since I became a storytime librarian two years ago Halloween picture book ranks at the top. Just take a look at this list and you’ll see why. Stop back soon for a blog post on my favorite Halloweens for tweens and teens.
Crankenstein. Samantha Berger, illus. Dan Santat.
Crankenstein doesn’t like to get up in the morning, or go to school, or do a lot of other things. And all he has to say is, “Mehhhhh.” Until one day…he meets another Crankenstein? Dan Santat’s dramatic and colorful illustrations perfectly encapsulate the mindset of a cranky preschooler. The tie to Halloween is obvious, but this is also a book that will help children talk about feelings, make connections to their every day lives, and laugh out loud.
Skeleton Hiccups. Margery Cuyler, illus. S.D. Schindler.
Skeletons does the same things as everyone else–he even has the hiccups. How can he get rid of them? This is an active story that will engage young readers and a storytime crowd with its friendly illustrations and funny storyline. Schindler depicts Skeleton’s R.I.P headboard and everyday things with bright, contrasting color. Skeleton’s face never changes, and yet somehow manages to convey his emotion at not being able to get rid of his hiccups. Children will enjoy playing along with the story and guessing how Skeleton will get rid of his hiccups!
Pumpkin Eye. Denise Fleming.
Setting the mood for children about to experience Halloween, Denise Fleming sweetly describes all the objects that come along with the spooky holiday in simple rhyme. Fleming’s illustrations of colored cotton fiber and hand-cut stencils give a uniquely hazy, yet playful, impression of Halloween night. The book will help children talk about the different things they might see on Halloween night and make connections to their own Halloween plans.
Ghosts in the House! Kazuno Kohara.
In striking black, orange, and white illustrations, Kazuno Kohara tells a story of a little witch, whose house is haunted. Not to be daunted, however, the witch and her cat set about catching the ghosts and putting them to good use (as tableclothes and curtains). The contrast of the white ghosts on the dark pages give a textured, almost three-dimensional look. Though the storyline sets itself up to be spooky and dramatic, the witch’s sweetness and cleverness will delight young readers in unexpected ways!
A young boy lives all alone by himself literally at the end of the world. His days are filled with wonder as he explores the wilderness and plays with extraordinary creatures, but the boy begins to reevaluate things when an old man shows up, promising to bring fun without end. The old man, Mr. Constantine Shimmer, stays true to his words, building an amusement part at the end of the world which brings tourists all year round. The boy makes friends and enjoys the amusement park like everyone else…until he starts to miss nature and quiet time. Kevin Hawkes’s water color and acrylic illustrations perfectly compliment M.T. Anderson’s rich, natural prose, which give the world a texture that makes this otherworldly setting seem very old, lived-in, and real.
Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt each made their own mark on history, so it only makes sense that they would have been friends. And in fact, they were! One night, the two women go for a flight from Washington, D.C. to Balitmore and back, despite the protests of the secret service. Based on a true story, Pam Munoz Ryan and Brian Selznick team up to show the truly independent spirits behind these two women. Though rendered in black and white, Brian Selznick’s illustrations evoke a magical tone and depicts history with vivid texture.
This is wolf’s version of the “Three Little Pigs.” When he goes to borrow a cup of sugar from his neighbor, the first little pig who built the house of straw, and accidentally sneezes the house down, things progressively go from bad to worse. Mr. Wolf claims he was framed, but was he? Scieszka’s conversational prose pairs with Smith’s muted illustrations to add nostalgic character to the wolf’s tale.
A boy gives a imaginative narrative of what he did last summer, phrased by sets of rules. Starting with some seemingly practical rules, such as “Never leave leave a red sock on the clothesline,” the rules become gradually more and more sinister. Shaun Tan’s accompanying illustrations paint a dual story of the relationship about the young narrator and his brother, monsters and horrors they face, and the dire consequences when the narrator does not follow his brother’s rules. Tan’s abstract oil paintings,more fully realized by the contrast of light and shadows and stark reds, add a layer of suspense that sparks emotion of both menace and wonder.
Based on Jewish legend, a rabbi molds a giant called Golem out of clay, tasking him to protect the Jewish people from those who persecute them. Golem dutifully fights against his enemies, though he yearns to simply enjoy being alive and watching the sunset. But when his task is done and the Jews are safe, the rabbi returns the Golem to clay even though the Golem begs him to “Let me live!” Fashioned by color aid, coral, and bark cut papers, David Wisniewski’s illustrations depict a vividly majestic, yet shadow-hung Prague. Contrasting the stately Prague Castle with the earthly Golem and humble Jewish ghetto, Wisnewski portrays the drama between cultures and the desperation of the Jewish people.
The Journey Librarian 