How to Catch Challenge & Book Reviews

 

Disclosure: I was sent copies of these books in order to provide honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

Have you discovered the How to Catch Series? Sourcebooks has been publishing the series for 10 years and have announced a How to Catch Challenge! It is for classrooms and families to enter!! There are many prizes including a child being a character in a future book in the series to the entire series for a school library. Be sure to check how to enter and all the details and prizes! Now to be honest, I had not read any of the series, so they sent me some books to check out and share with you. Two of them are perfect for Halloween. We will start with the Halloween themed books. The first one is called How to Catch a Witch by Alice Walstead and illustrated by Megan Joyce. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.

Publisher's Summary:

A New York Times and USA Today bestseller from the hit How to Catch series! Do YOU have what it takes to snatch a Halloween witch?

It's Halloween night and something doesn't seem quite right... When the How to Catch Kids head out to trick-or-treat, there are ghosts, goblins, and ghouls everywhere! Our heroes discover a witch on a broom has opened a magical portal that let out spooky creatures all over the neighborhood. Follow along in this frightfully fun story as they set zany traps for the witch to close the portal and save Halloween before all the candy is gone!

How to Catch a Witch is a treat sure to delight young readers and educators alike with STEAM concepts and classic hilarity and chaos. The perfect Halloween gift or basket stuffer that kids ages 3-7 will love!

You've been waiting all year long to trick-or-treat with friends.
But wait—a witch is on the loose! We'll catch her before night's end!

From Me:

The kids are in their costumes and ready to celebrate Halloween when they notice some more characters than there are children in town. Next a witch is having a party and invited all the spooks and ghouls. The kids are going to catch the witch and end the party so all the extra monsters will leave town and still have time to trick-or-treat. Can they do it?

In this book and what seems to be true about the series, the kids are not successful in catching the character but rather learn from the character. In this book the witch has a Halloween party with all the "scary" monsters and the children. It is fun and respectful. After the party ends, the spooks all leave, and the witch promises to see the kids next year. Like the other books in the series it is written in rhyming verse. It is a wonderful book that can open a discussion on accepting people who are different from you. Plus, it is just a fun book with a different theme from most. It is perfect for a Halloween story time or a quick story time in a classroom or at home! There is a printable activity packet offered on the publisher's website here. 

The other one that is perfect for Halloween is How to Catch a Monster by Adam Wallace and illustrated by Andy Elkerton. Instead of a partying witch this one has a monster from the closet!

Publisher's Summary:

A USA Today Bestseller! From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling How to Catch series comes an all-new monster story and picture book for kids!

Get ready to laugh along in this fun children's monster book as a brave young ninja heads into the closet to meet the monster that's been so scary night after night! But what if our monster isn't scary at all? Maybe our hero is about to make a friend of the strangest sort...

Whether you're looking for kids' books about fears, spooky basket stuffers, festive gifts for children, a great bedtime story, or inspiration to build your very own STEAM traps and activities, parents, educators, and children alike will love sharing this silly read aloud! This inventive picture book about conquering fears and overcoming anxiety reminds us that things aren't always as scary as they seem!

There's a monster in my closet with claws, and teeth, and hair,
and tonight, I'm going to scare him! He lives just right through there…

From Me:

In this book a child has been cast to be a ninja in the school play. The child decides it is time to be brave like a ninja and fact the monster that lives in the closet. The child catches the monster but soon learns the monster hasn't been trying to scare the child but rather wake him/her so they can play. The monster breaks out of the cage and takes the child to his house to meet his parents. They are all so friendly.

Again, in this book it is not so much about catching the monster but realizing that the "scary" monster in the closet is actually friendly and kind. It is a wonderful Halloween book for kids who are easily scared (like Hazel was when she was young). It shares that someone who looks different may be just as kind, friendly and fun as you. It is also written in rhyming verse. Again, a great book for a Halloween story time as well as just a read at home or in the classroom! There is an Educator's Guide available for this one here. 

Our final book is the newest addition to the series. It is How to Catch a Bookworm by Alice Walstead and illustrated by César Samaniego and Andy Elkerton. 

Publisher's Summary:

From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling series comes a delightfully new, books-about-books adventure, perfect for classrooms and libraries...do YOU have what it takes to catch a BOOKWORM?

Read alongside the How to Catch kids as they scour their books for the squiggly-giggly Bookworm that has escaped their local bookstore! It's up to the Catch Club kids to find this wiggly critter before class begins. Filled with STEAM concepts and an adorably bookish creature, this hilarious picture book is parents, educators, and readers ages 4-10.

Allow me to introduce myself.
I am what is called a BOOKWORM.
Books are what make me happy!
I dive right in, wiggle and squirm.

From Me:

This book starts with some children visiting the bookstore. The bookworm that is there tries to hide but shares the excitement for the books. The bookworm eventually hops a ride with one of the kids inside a book. The bookworm shares how each book helps him grow as it does the kids. The girl he goes home with sets up a trap for the bookworm, but he doesn't fall for it. Instead, he goes to school with her. There they are doing crafts and then have reading time! He is happy as can be reading a book there. 

I love how this book shares the amazing things about reading and books. It shares how the reader can learn about things or travel to faraway places without leaving. There is so much fun and excitement around reading and books and it is perfect for the classroom setting or anywhere that wants kids to realize how amazing it is to read! The words usually point to where the bookworm is, but it is also fun to try to find him. He is visible on most of the pages! I can see this book being perfect for a story time before or when visiting the library, bookstore or starting silent reading time. The rhymes are fun and the bookworm is so happy to share about how amazing books are!