One that tickles our scary-bone (in a good way) is a Halloween take on a classic rhyme called There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Bat by Lucille Colandro. It's definitely a read-aloud book, and the more expression you put into it, the better. Let's see . . . an owl, a cat, a ghost, a goblin, and other creatures have to be swallowed just to tame the bat. But I don't know why she swallowed the bat. Imagine that!
Love Goodnight, Moon? (And who doesn't?) We found a funny take on this beloved bedtime story called Goodnight, Goon: A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex. Say goodnight to all the spooky creatures in your swampy room (yeah, I'm looking at you - you, with the swampy room) and that witch's hat and big cauldron of goo. But never fear. All the little goblins are tucked safely away by the end of the book. And it's always so satisfying to hear the "eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwws" at the goo-part.
If you're looking for something to get the wiggles out before bedtime, we love Shake Dem Halloween Bones by W. Nikola-Lisa. When the sun sets and the lights come up on Halloween night, you're invited to a very special hip-hop Halloween ball with your favorite fairytale characters. But these are no dreary storybook types. They are movin' and grovin' and ready to shake shake shake dem Halloween bones. Practice your rappin' skills before reading this one. Who knew what Red Riding Hood, Jack of beanstalk fame, Tom Thumb, Snow White, and others get up to after dark on Halloween?
We never get tired of the Berenstain Bears' Trick or Treat story. Costumes, jack o'lanterns, treats, neighborhood bullies, and a misconception about a scary-looking neighbor create just the right Halloween atmosphere, with the added bonus of a valuable life lesson: appearances can be deceiving.
Last year we read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson and got to know Beth, Charlie, and the infamous Herdman clan. We really loved Imogene, Claude, Leroy, Gladys, and the rest of the gang, so we were curious to see how they would mess up the October holiday in The Best Halloween Ever. Well it seems they've caused so much havoc in the past that the mayor calls off Halloween for the town. Ah, but the Woodrow Wilson School (and the Herdmans) have other plans. 
Ever since the grandchildren's mama chose The Ghost-Eye Tree by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault at a school book fair almost 30 years ago, it has been a perennial October favorite for our family. A brother and sister are sent to town by their mother to get milk from a farmer, but along the way they have to pass the creepy Ghost-Eye tree. Do they have the nerve to get by the tree both to and from town "when the night is so dark and the mind runs free"? Great read-aloud poetic pacing and a realistic brother-sister relationship. Three generations in our family love this one.
Keep these treats by your bed and blankie this October. Better than candy, guaranteed!
