What to Read to Your Kids

It has been another banner year for spooky (in some cases, “spooky”) picture books, and once again, I could not pick a favorite. In fact, I might like this bunch even better than last year’s, and that is high praise! This has officially become my favorite time of year to work at a bookstore. Some people delight in dressing up; I delight in dressing up displays of Halloween books. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: kids today don’t know how good they have it! (I hope that if you’re local, you’ll come see me at Old Town Books, where I’ll be working our Spooky Town Books event on Saturday, October 21 from 10am-5pm.)

The best part? Not a single one of these books actually mentions Halloween. Which means you can choose to pack them up at the end of October…or not.

Before we get started, here’s where I tell you that I was fibbing when I said we were talking strictly picture books today. Five of these are standard picture book fare; another is a picture book for slightly older readers looking to rev up their imaginations; and still another is akin to an early chapter book in length and text. (That last one is my favorite book of the entire year, so do not miss it. Unless you’re easily frightened, in which case maybe miss it. Actually, please don’t miss it.)