Fiction Books

Bats at the Library

Brian Lies

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Bats love this library 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

And librarians and the kids they share it with will love this book. The detailed pictures beg for young readers to take a closer look. Baby bats wear swimmies on their arms. A water fountain is turned into a great splashing pool. Characters from books kids know and love make frequent appearances, and the library setting reminds us of the venerable institutions we all remember, or at least wish we'd grown up with. This librarian says the book is not to be missed and I'm off to order my copy now.

Editorial Review:

Houghton Mifflin Company Another inky evening's here—
The air is cool and calm and clear.
Can it be true? Oh, can it be?
Yes!—Bat Night at the library!

Join the free-for-all fun at the public library with these book-loving bats! Shape shadows on walls, frolic in the water fountain, and roam the book-filled halls until it's time for everyone, young and old, to settle down into the enchantment of story time. Brian Lies' joyful critters and their nocturnal celebration cast library visits in a new light. Even the youngest of readers will want to join the batty book-fest!

Haunted Castle on Hallow's Eve (Magic Tree House, 30)

Mary Pope Osborne

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In the second of the "Merlin Missions"--hardback additions to Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series--plucky heroes Jack and Annie must once again must travel back in time to rescue Camelot from looming danger.

One wonders why Merlin can't handle this sort of thing himself, but then of course we wouldn't get a chance to see Jack and Annie have another seat-of-the-pants adventure, getting mixed up with shape-shifting magic, armies of birds, a puzzling gem of power, and all sorts of other trouble. With the help of their old pal Teddy (Morgan le Fay's apprentice, last seen in dog form in four earlier Tree House stories), the two "Master Librarians and Magicians of Everyday Magic" must solve the mystery behind a castle full of ghosts and a menacing army of ravens. Not surprisingly, half the trouble comes in unraveling Merlin's riddles and helping Teddy use his rhyming magic correctly.

Osborne doesn't challenge readers overmuch (including the constant restatement of plot elements, perhaps worried that kids might otherwise forget or lose interest) and many parts of the story barely convince (like Teddy's "period" dialogue, e.g., "'Tis cool indeed"), but fans of the Magic Tree House will no doubt love another installment. (Ages 6 to 9) --Paul Hughes

Room on the Broom

Julia Donaldson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 45 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

There's always room for one more on this affable witch's broomstick... or is there? In another mild-mannered tale from the creators of the Smarties Prize-winning picture book, The Gruffalo, a witch and her happily purring cat fly through the wind on their broomstick, without a care in the world, until the witch's black hat blows away. In the process of retrieving it, they pick up another passenger, a polite and helpful dog. All goes well until the witch's hair bow flies off. And then her wand. And then real disaster strikes--in the shape of a big red dragon, a broken broom, and some very important (but notably absent) friends. Julia Donaldson's story, though not earthshaking in plot or rhyme, is a pleasant way to pass the time leading up to the witching hour (Halloween!) especially when paired with the friendly illustrations by Axel Scheffler. Readers will especially love the final illustration, in which our heroes solve their space problems once and for all. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

Ghosts in the House!

Kazuno Kohara

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Gorgeous Artwork, Great Story 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I grabbed this book for my toddler son who loves Halloween, ghosts, and monsters, after seeing the striking artwork on a table of children's Halloween books. The artwork is superb, the story is simple and fun, and I guarantee this will end up a cherished children's classic as time goes by. My son loved it so much, he fell asleep with this book in his bed.

Simply Perfect. 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This delightful, simple halloween story is so different from the rest of the preschool halloween titles out there. It tells the tale of a young witch who enters a haunted house but is not afraid because she is going to capture the ghosts and put them to better use. She uses her magic to capture the ghosties - and then washes them all in the washer machine and hangs out them out to dry on the line. When dried, she makes curtains, tablecloths and bed sheets out of them. And they all lived happily ever after.

Very sweet. Just one or two lines per page. AMAZING artwork. It looks like block printing with some sheer paper overlay (for the ghosts). Depicts a brave girl and an alternative way to take charge of things that may at first seem scary.

My 3 year old son loves it. With this book, he embraces the idea of a ghost, instead of being afraid of them.

Highly recommended for all.

Editorial Review:

JUST THE RIGHT MIX OF SWEET AND SCARY for the youngest trick-or treaters

At the edge of town lives a clever girl with a spooky problem: Her house is haunted! Luckily, she happens to be a witch and knows a little something about taking care of ghosts. She catches them, puts them in the washing machine, airs them out to dry, and gives them new lives as sofa covers, table cloths, and,

of course, bed sheets to cozy up under. Fresh and charming illustrations in dynamic orange, black and white bring this resourceful heroine and these spooky ghosts to life.

Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise (Mercy Watson)

Kate Dicamillo

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

We loved it! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

We loved this one so much that we went out to the library the next day to find the others. My son read them in no time and wanted to read them over again-something he hasn't wanted to do in a long time. Love it!!!!

great series for young readers 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Every parent/child should know Kate DiCamillo, a wonderful author with fabulous books. Mercy Watson books are so cute.

Editorial Review:

Mercy’s in the pink for her fourth adventure!

When the Watsons decide to zip their porcine wonder into a formfitting princess dress for Halloween -- complete with tiara -- they are certain that Mercy will be beautiful beyond compare. Mercy is equally certain she likes the sound of trick-or-TREATING and can picture those piles of buttered toast already. As for the Lincoln Sisters next door, how could they know that their cat would get into the act and lead them all on a Halloween "parade" of hysterical proportions? Kate DiCamillo’s beguiling pig is back in a tale full of treats, tricky turns, hijinks, and high humor.

Can visions of treats entice a porcine wonder to wear her princess costume? Hold on for some Halloween havoc, Mercy Watson-style!

Scary Stories Boxed Set

Alvin Schwartz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 68 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

These are Not for the Faint of Heart 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The stories you will find in these books are the most terrifying I have ever read. As I understand it, they originate from American Folklore. This, in addition to Gammell's truly disturbing artwork, adds the minute shot of realism that transforms harmless fiction to something that reads more like a short, historical, tale of warning. They are told in a simple, blunt manner, giving the reader the impression that they are hearing a historical account. As a kid I was addicted to horror, but these were the tales that led to literally months of sleepless nights. If you are buying them for a child with a vivid imagination, prepare his or her parents' for the ensuing insomnia.

Memories of being scared to go to sleep 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I loved these books when I was little- this is what got me started off on my love for scary books/movies/tv shows. I still remember some of the stories from the books, especially one where the dark is creeping over the ceiling and walls, and they always seem to come to mind when I'm in the dark trying to sleep. The pictures still scare me and I'm 26 now. I'd recommend these books for anyone who loves scary stories- get those kids started off early! And they'll scare adults too...

Editorial Review:

Walking corpses, dancing bones, knife-wielding madmen, and narrow escapes from death -- they're all here in this chilling collection of ghost stories.

Big Pumpkin

Erica Silverman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 48 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Best with the tape 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Scholastic put out a tape many years ago with this book being read to music. It is the most fabulous addition to this book. I've seen 3-5 year olds with special needs who won't sit for anything, perk up and take interest when this book is read along with the tape. Unfortunately you can't really find it anymore. If you do come across it, GET IT!

bad mother-in-law 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I gave this book to each of my children's families. The kids LOVE it. My Daughter-in-laws don't know if they like me anymore because they have to read it all day long.

An instant favorite 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is an instant favorite! It is filled with fantastic illustrations and is filled with fun (not scary) traditional halloween favorites. It uses repetition as a tool to the story but doesn't over do it and your children will be reciting along some small parts by the end. A great story of teamwork when help comes from the most unlikely halloween friend. It will most likely, end up being your children's (and yours as well) favorite halloween must. Happy reading!

Editorial Review:

The witch has grown the biggest pumpkin ever, and now she wants to make herself a pumpkin pie for Halloween. But the pumpkin is so big she can't get it off the vine.

It's so big the ghost can't move it, either. Neither can the vampire, nor the mummy. It looks as if there'll be no pumpkin pie for Halloween, until along comes the bat with an idea to save the day.

How can the tiny bat succeed where bigger and strong spooky creatures have failed? You'll be surprised!

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

Linda Williams

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Harper Collins Publishers - Model: HC-0064431835 Amazon Marketplace: 95 new & used starting at $0.40

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Features:

• CHILDRENS BOOKS & MUSIC
• Childrens Books
• Language Arts

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Our Favorite Halloween Book 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I found this book last year at the library and read it to my daughter when she was three- Within a few pages, she was saying most of the entertainingly repetitive dialogue on her own. It's the best Halloween book for preschoolers out there, in my opinion. This year, we bought a copy of our own and she loved it just as much as the first time around.

Oh, yes! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

We pull this one out in the fall. The story is great for standing up and moving around -- clomp, clomp - wiggle,wiggle - shake, shake - clap, clap - nod, nod... plus, there's a great surprise (which we shout out VIGOROUSLY!) and a happy ending. It's one of our best fall books.

Excellent Spooky Tale For Youngsters 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Youngsters eight and younger will love this spooky children's tale about a little old lady who refuses to be afraid of "things" following her through the woods on her way home. "The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid Of Anything" is simple, fun, and excellent for kindergarten and first grade kids to practice their reading skills on. It works even better as a tale read to a child. My daughter loves it when I read this story to her and put emphasis on the noises that each of the old ladies' followers makes. From "Clomp, Clomp" to "Boo, Boo," my daughter giggled her way through this story. There's just enough spookiness to the story to keep kids a tad antsy, but the resolution eventually makes everything okay.

I highly recommend this tale to anybody who has a child eight years of age or younger and stress that this story works best if it's read to the children instead of having them read it. Author Linda Williams has done a nice job of making a lightly spooky tale for youngsters and Megan Lloyd's dark and moody (though somehow amazingly fun) illustrations only add to the tale's atmosphere. It's a fun Halloween tale that works on any night of the year.

Editorial Review:

0nce upon a time, there was a little old lady who was not afraid of anything! But one autumn night, while walking in the woods, the little old lady heard . . . CLOMP, CLOMP, SHAKE, SHAKE, CLAP, CLAP. And the little old lady who was not afraid of anything had the scare of her life!

Junie B., First Grader: Boo...and I Mean It! (Junie B. Jones, No. 24)

Barbara Park

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In the 24th installment of Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones series of illustrated early chapter books, Boo... And I Mean It!, the precocious first grader is worried about Halloween--with good reason. Paulie Allen Puffer has given her five good reasons, in fact, not least of which is that real witches and monsters go trick-or-treating on Halloween (no costumes necessary); if you carve pumpkins with pointy teeth, they will bite your feet; and...shhh...candy corn isn't really corn. Junie B. goes to great lengths to avoid trick-or-treating altogether, but she finally decides that if she dresses up like Squirty the Clown (a disturbing circus clown who terrified her grandmother by chasing her with a seltzer bottle and making her wear an "unattractive balloon hat"), even the most horrific witches and monsters will be scared off. As ever, her way of expressing herself "I did a groan" and "Chills came on my arms" is grammatically unique, but as you get to know her, more endearing than alarming. Children who have mixed feelings about Halloween festivities will relate to Junie B.'s fears, and they'll be relieved when Halloween passes without a monster attack or pumpkin bite, just a delicious bag of 100% candy. (Ages 4 to 8) --Karin Snelson

On A Scary Scary Night (Can You See What I See?)

Walter Wick

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Fun book 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Great book! Fun for the whole family! Could anyone find the "too" on the spirit potion picture?

An excellent Halloween romp! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

My 3rd grade daughter and I enjoy doing look and find type books (we have a lot of Disney ones), and we recently picked up this Halloween themed one by Walter Wick, who also helped create the "I Spy" books. We bought this at the Scholastic book fair at her school.

This is an excellent Halloween look and find outing. There are 12 pages of pics that you can spend a lot of time pouring over trying to find the requested items. The production quality of the pictures is top notch, and they have just the right Halloween atmosphere.

The pages are very challenging, and there are a lot of additional items thrown in the pics, giving you plenty of "replay" options. I plan to buy the Christmas themed one next since this one was so well done.

It's also fun trying to find the red and yellow wooden robot included in every picture.

Editorial Review:

Co-creator of the popular I SPY series,Walter Wick is at it again. Mr. Wick dazzles the senses with spooky scenes that achieve new levels of aesthetic excellence! This book offers readers lots of search and find fun as they peer through pages and pages of brilliant photographic compositions looking for fascinating toys and objects.

This highly collectable book is a must.