Halloween and fall titles

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, October 2019; written by Ann Marie Meiresonne.

Trick or Treat it is time to check out the new fall and Halloween picture books in the Children’s library! These titles are great for working on interactive reading, also known as dialogic reading. Asking and answering questions, counting how many of the same objects found, rhyming words, color naming, comparing the objects found in the story to those in a child’s life, playing with the text are all dialogic techniques to use when reading with a child. And, “research tells us that children given the chance to hear and use vocabulary in a playful setting remember it far better that those who get straight forward instructions,” as Meghan Cox Gurdon states in her book The Enchanted Hour.

New favorite The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry and illustrated by The Fan Brothers (Terry and Eric) is a tenderhearted tale of friendship and the great happiness in giving to others from the perspective of a crow and scarecrow. Told in rhyme with rich language to whisper and shout. The illustrations are brilliant with detail down to the denim overalls and fledgling feathers.

Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round by Roseanne Battigelli with illustrations by Tara Anderson is full of rhyming fun. The colored pencil illustrations remind this reader of a child’s vision of Halloween. The recurrent use of the word pumpkin creates word awareness and the books End Papers are part of the whole reading experience. Definitely a repeat read with this book as a child will pick up the rhythm and vocabulary possibly reciting it to the grownup with very little help.

The ever popular team of Caralyn and Mark Buehner has done it again with Snowmen at Halloween, a follow-up to Snowmen at Night, Snowmen at Christmas, and Snowmen at Work. Not only is there silliness and laughter when reading the Buehner’s work but as with their other Snowmen books they have intentionally hid a rabbit, cat and T.rex within each illustration for the reader to find.

Jonathan London and Frank Remkiewicz have brought Froggy back again with Froggy Picks a Pumpkin. As always there are high hopes for Froggy, this time to pick out a prize winning pumpkin but it does not turn out quite the way he expects.

Board book Little Pumpkin’s Halloween by Algy Craig Hall has large sweet baby faces and a kitty cat which will grab the attention of the very young. Take a picture walk with your child pointing out colors, the kitty on every turn of the page, and each baby you find together.

Come in and explore some new titles as well as old favorites in the children’s collection to share with the loved ones in your life. If your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews live elsewhere take an idea from a friend of mine, she finds and reads her grandchild’s current favorite book then has a Facetime, or phone book talk. These are not titles chosen by the grandparent but by the child and as I understand the conversation is brilliant.

There are more new titles to explore including some spooky and some not. Ketchikan Public Library is open 7 days a week! Come check us out.