Skelly the Skeleton Girl


Jimmy Pickering - 2007
    Who could it belong to? As Skelly searches for the bone's owner, she questions everyone from her skeletal goldfish, to her man-eating plants, to the monster who lives beneath the stairs. Finally, Skelly locates the bone's owner--and makes a new friend. Rising talent Jimmy Pickering has created a mildly spooky and totally original cast of characters who populate Skelly's Tim Burton-esque world.

A Job for Wittilda


Caralyn Buehner - 1993
    Wittilda's attempt to work at a beauty shop ends in disaster, so she goes to Dingaling Pizza, where the applicants are told, "'Five pizzas each to deliver. The first one back gets the job!'" Wittilda balances the boxes on one hand as she flies over town on her broomstick. She is slowed down when she helps a kitten caught in a tree, but still makes her deliveries in time to land the position. The last page shows the witch and 48 cats all eating pizza together by candlelight. The rhythmic language has an effortless flow, and both text and artwork are a great mix of the traditional and the contemporary. The illustrations (oil over acrylic) are a delight, with comic touches to discover at every rereading. The evening scenes showing Wittilda flying through a luminous moonlit night are especially effective. The best book to date by this husband/ wife team, this one is a winner for group sharing."

The Witches' Supermarket


Susan Meddaugh - 1991
    While trick-or-treating on Halloween night, Helen and her dog Martha happen upon a very unusual supermarket -- for witches and cats only -- where they are most unwelcome!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas!


Dr. Seuss - 1957
    No one quite knows the reason."Dr. Seuss's small-hearted Grinch ranks right up there with Scrooge when it comes to the crankiest, scowling holiday grumps of all time. For 53 years, the Grinch has lived in a cave on the side of a mountain, looming above the Whos in Whoville. The noisy holiday preparations and infernal singing of the happy little citizens below annoy him to no end. The Grinch decides this frivolous merriment must stop. His "wonderful, awful" idea is to don a Santa outfit, strap heavy antlers on his poor, quivering dog Max, construct a makeshift sleigh, head down to Whoville, and strip the chafingly cheerful Whos of their Yuletide glee once and for all.Looking quite out of place and very disturbing in his makeshift Santa get-up, the Grinch slithers down chimneys with empty bags and stealing the Whos' presents, their food, even the logs from their humble Who-fires. He takes the ramshackle sleigh to Mt. Crumpit to dump it and waits to hear the sobs of the Whos when they wake up and discover the trappings of Christmas have disappeared. Imagine the Whos' dismay when they discover the evil-doings of Grinch in his anti-Santa guise. But what is that sound? It's not sobbing, but singing! Children simultaneously adore and fear this triumphant, twisted Seussian testimonial to the undaunted cheerfulness of the Whos, the transcendent nature of joy, and of course, the growth potential of a heart that's two sizes too small. This holiday classic is perfect for reading aloud to your favorite little Whos.

A Valentine for Frankenstein


Leslie Kimmelman - 2018
    For starters, he only has one head, just two eyes, and no tail. And worst of all, he's sort of nice! Frankenstein quickly realizes his friendly behavior is out of place at the Valentine's Day Bash. There's one monster, though, who likes that Frankenstein is different. Can Frankenstein figure out the identity of his secret valentine? And can the other monsters finally accept Frankenstein for the monster that he is?

Halloween Mice!


Bethany Roberts - 1995
    Four Halloween mice dress up in costumes for a midnight romp in the pumpkin patch. But they hadn't counted on a Halloween cat! Children will applaud as the mice's clever plan scares the cat away-and the littlest mouse gets the last laugh.

A Beasty Story


Bill Martin Jr. - 1999
    . . BEAST! But don't be scared--this beast may not be so beastly after all. The beloved Bill Martin Jr and Steven Kellogg bring their enormous talents together to create a ghoulish story that's both scary and snug. Includes fun new book-related activities!

Mommy?


Maurice Sendak - 2006
    And what does he want? He wants Mommy!No matter how scary these monsters are, there's no besting a little boy who's looking for his mommy. In one hilarious pop-up extravaganza after another, this kid shows them a thing or two.

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost


Flavia Z. Drago - 2020
    Drago about finding the courage to make friends is perfect for the spooky season — or anytime.Gustavo is good at doing all sorts of ghostly things: walking through walls, making objects fly, and glowing in the dark. And he loves almost nothing more than playing beautiful music on his violin. But Gustavo is shy, and some things are harder for him to do, like getting in a line to buy eye scream or making friends with other monsters. Whenever he tries getting close to them, he realizes they just can’t see him. Now that the Day of the Dead is fast approaching, what can he do to make them notice him and to share with them something he loves? With fancifully detailed artwork and visual humor, debut picture-book creator Flavia Z. Drago’s vivid illustrations tell a sweet and gently offbeat story of loneliness, bravery, and friendship that is sure to be a treat for little ghouls and goblins everywhere.

How Oakley Lost His Spots (Oakley and Bella Book 1)


D.C. Swain - 2013
    Convinced by his friend Rover that he has lost them, he sets off to find his spots, only to find out that Dalmatians aren’t born with spots and that they all develop at different times. A vividly illustrated picture book, this story is perfect for showing children how everyone develops at different rates. ***Check out the other books in the "Oakley and Bella" series: -When Oakley Met Bella -Oakley and Bella Meet Puss -Oakley and Bella on Holiday

Peep and Egg: I'm Not Trick-or-Treating


Laura Gehl - 2016
    She wants to visit the duck pond and the cow pasture to get treats. But Egg thinks Halloween is too scary, with frightening monsters possibly lurking everywhere! Peep tells her jokes because laughing helps you feel less scared. Egg is still not cracking. But soon Egg learns that maybe trick-or-treating is not so scary after all when you have a friend to hold on to.

Dinosaurs in the Supermarket!


Timothy Knapman - 2013
    

The Curious Little Witch


Lieve Baeten - 1992
    Late one night she spots an old house all lit up when everyone else is asleep, and she can’t help herself. She just has to investigate. The Little Witch books have been favorites around the world for years. Now, at last, the irresistible Little Witch comes to America! NorthSouth is excited to launch this new Picture book series here in the Unied States.

Bones: Hilarious Early Reader


Jolie Canoli - 2018
    Simple language, repetition, and colorful illustrations help beginning readers fall in love with reading. Buddy Bones goes on a journey to find what is most precious to him, teaching kids the value of perseverance. Written in a similar style to Mo Willems and Tedd Arnold, this popular easy reader reminds kids that they will succeed if they keep on keeping on! Bones contains conversation starters in the back of the book, encouraging parents and caregivers to go beyond the story into practical life applications, reading comprehension, and critical thinking. We believe learning happens best when it is filled with love. Our stories seek to create opportunities for a relationship to grow. Bones conversation starters discuss the virtue of hard work, understanding personal value, managing loss, and even include prompts for sharing your own stories with one another. * Written for ages 2,3,4,5,6,7, and 8 years old * Free downloadable audio book and song included. If you enjoy this picture book by Jolie Canoli and Friends, you’ll love our other fun to read stories too!

The Night Before Halloween


Natasha Wing - 1999
    Moore's beloved poem. But what will happen on Halloween when the monsters come face to face with human trick-or-treaters in this fun-filled book by the author of The Night Before Easter?