What is it about spooky books that young children just love? I think it must be the combination of being slightly scared whilst being curled up somewhere snug and safe with someone they love. Anyway, here’s a selection of the stories I’ve been sent to thrill and delight as the nights draw in (more treats than tricks!)
The Broom of Doom!
“It’s Halloween again and everyone’s excited to celebrate the spooky season. Everyone that is, except for Broom. It’s always Witch who gets the glory!
This year, Broom’s determined that SHE will be the star. She’s about to sweep the floor with the competition…”
This, is a story with many morals: be careful what you wish for, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side… but ultimately it’s a journey of self-discovery and personal growth for Broom – the unsung hero of Witch’s story.
Such fun – readers will love sassy Broom and his increasingly demanding wishes. They may also find themselves longing for a Pink-kin.
How to Scare a Mouse and Bear
“It’s Halloween – woo-hoo! – and Bear is determined to scare Mouse. Mouse, however, isn’t fooled by Bear’s clumsy attempts to dress up . . . Bear’s ghostly wail is just plain silly and his werewolf smells of wet dog. But wait! Who’s knocking at the door now? This mysterious monster might just scare them both!
Watch out, it’s Fright Night! Will YOU be fooled by Bear’s spooky costumes?”
Mouse’s determinedly unimpressed face made me chuckle at every turn whereas poor Bear looked thoroughly disappointed.
The big ‘show don’t tell’ reveal through Ross Collins’ expressive illustrations is just hilarious and will have little ones desperately making up their own narrative to accompany what they see. A joyous read!
Elmer and the Monster
“There is pandemonium in the jungle! A strange roaring sounds sends the animals stampeding, convinced it’s a monster. But all is not as it seems. Only Elmer is brave enough to investigate, and what he discovers comes as quite a surprise!”
This board book adventure is perfect for sharing with young readers. You will always be safe in the knowledge that no real harm is going come to Elmer, regardless of the path he takes.
I really loved that Elmer wasn’t prepared to just take all the other animals’ word for the fact there was a monster out in the forest and decided to investigate for himself. A clever story about different perspectives and bringing people together.
Halloween Journey
“With a whistle’s loud shriek and a clickety-clack,
The ghost train clatters along the track.
Skeletons rattle their rickety bones,
And the air is filled with ghostly moans.
Hop aboard the spooky ghost train! Turn the pages of this fantastic, layered book to discover a range of Halloween scenes from haunted houses to witch’s shacks.”
There are so many clever little details hidden in the layers of this spooky pop-up book. I’d suggest that slightly older readers will enjoy building focus and their powers of concentration by going on a ghoulish treasure hunt through the pages.
I’d love to take a ride on the Halloween Express as it glides though the chill autumn air – especially if I got to attend the party at the end!
Ghost, Ghoul, and Little Mouse
“Little Mouse lives alone in a dark, creaky old house. He dreams of having friends to share meals with, play games with, and enjoy adventures alongside. But life is quiet and lonely – until two unexpected housemates arrive.
When Ghost and Ghoul move in, they are so busy arguing that they barely notice Little Mouse at all. Both are convinced they deserve to be the house’s official haunter, and neither is willing to back down. To settle the dispute, they decide to hold a competition to determine who is the scariest.
As the rivalry grows more ridiculous, Little Mouse watches from the sidelines. But he may have a clever surprise in store. With a little creativity and a lot of heart, he shows Ghost and Ghoul that friendship can be far more important than winning.”
I think the idea of ‘The Great Scare-Off’ will really capture the imaginations of readers as Ghost and Ghoul try to outdo each other. But will they notice that this constant competition actually means that the dastardly duo miss out of the offer of cake and friendship?
I’m going to share this book with my class to highlight the perils of constant competition. I’m also going to show it to them because I think they’ll love the increasingly grumpy Little Mouse and gorgeous illustrations.
Who Said Boo?
“In the green, green castle with the green, green door
And green, green carpets on the green, green floor,
There lived a little ghost who was never seen,
And that is because he was green, green, green!
The naughty little ghost loves giving his unsuspecting victims a fright with a loud ‘Boo!’ – they can’t see him, but the reader can! Each character blames the wrong person, until the clever jester finds an unexpected way to expose the culprit!”
The bouncy, repetitive text is just begging to be joined in with, with gusto! Young ghost hunters will enjoy marching around the green, green castle trying to spot the chaos-causing ghost camouflaged against the decor. Much fun to be had by all.
A perfect read aloud at any time of the year.
Frankenkitty
“Born of stitches and lightning, Frankenkitty wanders the halls of the darketty dark castle. Everyone trembles at the sight of him. But is he really such a foul and loathsome creature? And can anyone save him before it’s too late?
Packed with deliciously dramatic narration from bestselling author Maudie Powell‑Tuck and freakishly fun illustrations from Kate Greenaway Medal‑winner Mini Grey, this spine-tingling tale serves as a mischievous reminder that looks can be very, very misleading.”
Before I even opened the cover of Frankenkitty, I knew I was going to love it. Maudie Powell-Tuck has a magical way with words and Mini Grey has always been one of my favourite author/ illustrators; her work is always so full of hidden humour.
With the drawing of the theatre curtains, the stage is set for a glorious gothic tale of a deceptively cute kitty and the fearless Olive. I’d suggest that readers take their time to enjoy all the devilish details and clues within the illustrations to get to the bottom of the terrible things which are happening at the castle.
So they we have it – a boo-tiful collection of picture books for the young and not so young reader to enjoy.
Jo
*Many thanks to all the publishers who sent me these titles to review*
