Halloween is a much-anticipated event in our home. My daughter loves all-things-spooky. (If you don't believe me, check my earlier blog on Scooby Doo). Anyhow, now that she is four, her attention span has increased. This has allowed me the opportunity to share with her books that were previously not in our range.
The two big hits I want to point out are Boris and Bella by Carolyn Crimi and Scary Fright, Are You All Right? by Scott Gibala Broxholm. Both manage to have a monster-perspective twist on real conflicts, be they between neighbors (like the neat-freak Boris and the messy Bella) or between parents and children (like with Scary Fright and her folks). I have been a huge fan of Boris and Bella since I first read it as a new book that came into my work at a library in Las Vegas. The illustrations use jagged lines and muted colors to create just the right eerieness. Just this year, I found Scary Fright. The book goes through multiple episodes of Scary's young life after her outlook shifts once she befriends a human. My daughter has requested multiple readings.
In general, both of these books, while being appropriate to the holiday season, are not overly gorey. They teach an embracing of differences while respecting one's own individual traits. All the while, neither book falls into preachiness. Most importantly, they are fun! So, if you're incorporating literature for your pre-kindergarten or kindergarten kiddo into your Halloween celebrations, give these two a whirl.
