The spooky season has arrived, and so has a great collection of chills and thrills for young readers.
Halloween hijinks — spooky costumes, late-night escapades and creatures of the dark — can get a little intense for tender hearts. These fall-themed books take slightly scary circumstances like darkness, foggy forests and family mishaps and make them manageable, and even fun, to explore. These recommendations highlight picture books with an emphasis on tricky situations that turn out to be treats.
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“A Sound in the Night” by María Coco (Courtesy/Rise x Penguin Workshop)
“A Sound in the Night” by María Coco. (Ages 2-4. Rise x Penguin Workshop. $19.99.)
Without a single word (except the “CRACK” of a mysterious commotion), María Coco spins a tale of fun, fear, bravery and belonging — perfect for readers who want there to be something sweet, rather than scary, waiting in the dark.
A girl and her dog go camping, and all is peaceful — until strange sounds wake them in the night. They creep out of their tent to find … not a scary monster but a potential (fluffy) new friend.
Coco’s striking risograph illustrations have a limited palette but convey a wealth of emotion, from the late-night dark of a tiny campsite surrounded by trees to the warm, bright home the happy campers share.
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“Little Owl’s Fog” by Divya Srinivasan. (Ages 3-5. Viking Books for Young Readers. $18.99.)
Little Owl, star of four previous books, returns for a slightly spooky outing when friendly bats invite him to visit their cavern in a part of the forest he doesn’t know. Little Owl’s friends warn him that there’s something odd there, but Mama offers a more adventurous point of view.
“Strange is not always scary,” Mama reminds Little Owl. “And not everyone is scared of the same thing.”
So Little Owl braves someplace new — and is amazed by the way fog cloaks a familiar forest in mystery. At the end of his quest, he has seen new sights, but he’s ready to enjoy the comfort of returning home as the fog drifts off and the stars are visible again.
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“Pumpkin Dad” by Pascal Lemaître. (Courtesy/Viking Books for Young Readers)
“Pumpkin Dad” by Pascal Lemaître. (Ages 3-5. Viking Books for Young Readers. $10.99.)
When Dad’s nap is interrupted by young Ellis practicing magic spells, Dad decides to play a harmless little prank … and drops a big, orange replacement onto his recliner.
“Oh no,” Ellis laments, “I turned my dad into a pumpkin!”
The would-be enchanter becomes a rescuer, trying to haul the hapless gourd to the hospital but ending up at a pumpkin festival instead. As Dad chases the action — calling, “Ellis, come back! It was a joke!” — Ellis defends Pumpkin Papa from decorating, cooking and sipping.
As Ellis and Dad are reunited with a hug, all is returned to normal … and it’s Ellis who gets the last laugh.
Caroline Luzzatto has taught preschool and fourth grade. Reach her at luzzatto.bookworms@gmail.com.