by Diane Mayr and Gideon Kendall

Peering out from a hole in the ceiling, Littlebat loves listening to the librarian reading to children below. But he's too far away to make out the pictures, and his mother warns him that it's too dangerous to show himself. Will he ever be able to see them up close? "'You must wait for changes,'" says his mother mysteriously. So Littlebat waits, as the seasons, the bulletin board displays, and the leaves all change. At last comes a storytime where the rapt young listeners are in costume, a jack-o-lantern glows atop a shelf, and one small bat hanging over the librarian's head just seems part of the decor. Littlebat is no Stellaluna, but like the African American librarian in Kendall's warm-toned illustrations, he's all smiles and amiability. Children who delight in sharing stories will find kindred spirits here, and with plenty of clear visual cues both inside and outside the airy children's library to mark passing seasons and holidays, this is a natural candidate for thematic programs as well as Halloween story hours.

Buy new: $15.95 $12.92 

Buy new : $4.99 

by Rifken, Blume, Gail M. Kearns, and Carl W. Wenzel

This heartening tale involves Tally, a good witch, who is losing her power to fly. She befriends a Scarecrow and he comes up with a plan to save her flying power. Together they are able to get back Tally's flying power, express their gratitude to each other, and give young readers a few surprises along the way. The story illustrates to children how comforting and rewarding a good friendship can be as well as how much fun it is to solve a problem with the help of someone who cares about them. A beautifully illustrated children's book for ages 4-8.

 Buy new  $14.95 $10.17  

by Amy E. Sklansky and Karen Dismukes

From skeletons to vampires, the creepy icons of Halloween are presented in this collection of short, engaging poems. Forms of poetry are varied; some selections are very short, others longer, most rhyming, and some draped across spreads. "What Should I Be?" sets the stage as the narrator must decide on a costume while voicing the ultimate goal of Halloween for most children: "…superhero,/wise old wizard,/goblin for a night./Whatever I decide to be/(monster, hero, beast),/I want to get an early start/collecting all the treats!" Each playful poem is placed on a textured, brightly colored collage created by beads and fabric on canvas. The result is appealing, animated, and appropriate for younger children. While the alliterative language in "Night Flight" is imaginative with its "Flip/flap/floom" and "Dip/dap/doom," bats do not dive through the air "To land right in your hair!" This error is mitigated, however, by the overall appeal of the book and its potential use with a broad age range. Fresh, straightforward collections of short, Halloween-themed poetry are always welcome additions and this one is particularly handsome.

Buy new  $16.95 $11.53

Outfitted by her indulgent owners in a pink dress and tiara, Mercy Watson: Princess in Disguise (Candlewick, 2007) heads out for a night of trick-or-treating, but the pandemonium-loving pig soon finds herself initiating a madcap Halloween chase. Kate DiCamillo’s easy-reading chapters and Chris Van Dusen’s slapstick artwork make it a perfect title for newly confident readers and for sharing aloud.

Fairy Tale Connections (K-Gr 2)
Though cloaked in Halloween trappings, these familiar plotlines and characters won’t be able to hide from savvy readers who will eagerly point out parallels to traditional tales. Employing a “This Is the House That Jack Built” structure, Elizabeth Hatch’s Halloween Night (Doubleday, 2005) is a cumulative tale about a mouse hiding in a jack-o’-lantern. Jimmy Pickering’s slick, bold-colored artwork abounds with action and entrancingly eerie touches.