Halloween-Themed Books for the End of October

 

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

Vampires, black cats, monsters, costumes and trick-or-treating! It is that time of the year that the spooky and scary things are out everywhere. When Hazel was young, we couldn't go into stores without her freaking out with all the Halloween products. She would get so scared. We were always on the lookout for Halloween books, activities, etc. that were not so scary. Today we are going to share three picture books and one early chapter book that are not too scary but have a Halloween theme. They have the vampires, black cats, monsters and more in them but are full of fun! The first book is actually more of an emotion awareness book, but it features a vampire! It is Vlad Is Mad! by Su Moon. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.

Publisher's Summary:

A grumpy little vampire learns how to manage his big feelings–with some help from dad. The ideal gift for spooky season, this is also for fans of the Grumpy Monkey series.

Vlad may be a little vampire, but he has big feelings.

And Vlad is MAD!

He's chasing the cats. He's gone fruit-bats!

His friends are trying to stay out of his way, but luckily dad knows what to do.

Sometimes, even a vampire needs to stop and take a breath.

From Me:

Vlad is mad. We have all been mad and act up. However, as a vampire, Vlad's tantrum is a bit different from most kids. When he goes batty he literally turns into a bat. He also screams, hits, chases, tears and bites. His father however steps in to help him calm down with some breathing. It is a wonderful little book to remind us even in our darkest and angriest times we just need to breathe and calm down!

I love that it is Vlad's dad that steps in to help Vlad calm down and that his vampire father uses what looks like yoga poses and breathing techniques to calm him down! It is a wonderful book that shares a normal emotion and tantrum with a bit more because of the vampire characters! Plus, it has a wonderful solution to help get Vlad at a point where he can think and discuss why he is so mad.

Our next book has vampires as well. It also is about a unique little black cat. It is truly the story of there being a right pet for everyone. It is called Vampurr by Justin Colón and illustrated by Lenny Wen. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Publisher's Summary:

For fans of Creepy Crayon!, Vampurr is a spooky and hilarious picture book about an adopted vampire kitty who finds the purr-fect home. A fang-tastic read aloud!

MEET VAMPURR.
Her fur shines blacker than a raven’s feathers.
Her eyes glow greener than a witch’s brew.
But most unusual of all are her long, needle-sharp fangs.
This is her story...

Born among tombstones beneath the blood moon's light, a vampire kitten longs to find a loving home like her siblings who were adopted right away. But her unusual appearance and abilities send visitors fleeing the cemetery in fright. Until one night, an eerie fog rolls in, bringing with it an unexpected new friend.

Vampurr is a laugh-out-loud funny picture book that celebrates people loving you just the way you are.

From Me:

In this book six kittens are born in a cemetery. The first five are normal kittens but the sixth is a bit different and has fangs. It makes an interesting scream, and one boy, Victor, goes to investigate. He knows just what the little kitten needs and makes it for her. He names her Vampurr. When the kittens are found, the first five get adopted but no one seems to want the sixth one. That night the young boy brings his father by and asks if they can keep her as their pet. At first the father is hesitant since all the other pets have run away since they are vampires, but when he sees Vampurr he knows they have found their pet. 

I love that the little vampire recognizes right away that the kitten is like a vampire and needs a cape. He sews a cape for her from his father's favorite cape. The kitten can do things like the vampires, and he is instantly connected with Vampurr. This book is truly about finding the people you belong with and how there is someone for everyone. For this fun little kitten there is the perfect family, and Victor gets the pet he has longed for. It is a fun book about friendship and caring for others. 

Our last picture book is a fun countdown to Halloween. Many kids get excited for the holiday, dressing up and trick-or-treating and other celebrations. This book is a fun way to remind them and help them countdown until the day is here. It is 5 More Sleeps 'til Halloween by Jimmy Fallon and illustrated by Richard Deas. It is recommended for ages 3 to 6.

Publisher's Summary:

Host of NBC's The Tonight Show and #1 New York Times-bestselling author Jimmy Fallon returns with this exciting countdown to Halloween picture book.

It’s 5 more sleeps ‘til Halloween!
That spooky time of year.
Where all of the ghosts are wide awake
As nighttime’s drawing near.

The excitement leading up to spooky season has been enjoyed by so many for so long. Filled with costumes, candy, and big scares! But why not make the last few days before Halloween even more exciting by counting how many sleeps until trick-or-treat night?

Paired with the eerie artwork of Rich Deas, fans will enjoy the humor of Jimmy Fallon as he prepares readers for the most spinetingling week of the year—5 More Sleeps ‘til Halloween.

From Me:

In this book a young boy admits Halloween can be scary. In this rhyming book he is counting down the nights until Halloween. He hears noises and gets scared. He figures out what he is going to dress up as for Halloween. He mentions bats, screams, corn mazes, ghosts, being boo'd, and costumes. Each day ends with a page that says "Boo!" His Halloween includes a parade (around the school or town), hayrides, a haunted house and candy from trick-or-treating!

It has all the fun events and spooky things that make up Halloween, but it is done in a fun and entertaining manner that won't scare kids! He even admits it is scary, but it is also fun! This book provides a preview of what Halloween may look like in your community. It is a fun book to introduce some of the traditions like trick-or-treating or a community parade. I also love that his costume is a ghost and is a sheet. His sister combines a princess costume with a witch costume. It is not just store-bought costumes. I love the creativity and thought into the two costumes oh and his dog is a ghost dog with a sheet as well!

Our final book brings back one of Hazel's favorite characters!! The Princess in Black! We get to share the twelfth book with you, and it is a Halloween book! Now years ago, Hazel dressed up as the Princess in Black for Halloween. She would have fit right into this book! The book is The Princess in Black and the Trick-or-Treating Trouble by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale and illustrated by LeUyen Pham. It is an illustrated early chapter book and is recommended for ages 5 to 8. 

Publisher's Summary:

Where is the real Princess in Black? A case of hilarious costume confusion leads some neighborhood trick-or-treaters to discover their inner heroes thanks to the power of a good disguise.

It’s a dark and silly night, and Princess Magnolia is wearing her Princess in Black cape and mask over her clothes—just enough to pass as a Halloween costume in a hurry. She can’t wait to go trick-or-treating! This year, Princess in Black costumes are popular, and so are monster disguises, like the little orange guy with horns yelling “GOAT!” as the kids shout “trick or treat!” When the little monster devours an onion, however, along with an eraser and a bar of soap (not to mention a rock), and as he politely asks for a goat at each door, it’s clear to Princess Magnolia that something isn’t quite right. And—oh no—the next house is Duff’s goat shack! With half of her monster-fighting outfit at home, who can come to the poor critters’ rescue? Halloween hijinks meet high-spirited heroics in a special Princess in Black adventure that’s a treat all around.

From Me:

I am so excited to share this book. We LOVED the Princess in Black when Hazel was young! In this fun book, there is a lot of confusion as to whether the monsters are monsters or kids dressed like monsters and there are so many Princesses in Black or Blue or perhaps a Prince in Black. Through the confusion is it possible a real monster will eat one of the goats? Where is the real Princess in Black? Who will step up to protect the goats?

I love how the child dressed as a monster confuses Princess Magnolia, and she answers the door partially dressed as the Princess in Black. It is what gives her the idea to go trick-or-treating with the kids. However, the confusion comes in when a small monster is trick-or-treating but not acting quite like the other kids. The goats know it is a real monster right away and let Duff know. He goes to change into his Goat Avenger costume but struggles and it is neither superhero who save the day. It is a reminder that sometimes dressing in a costume makes you a little braver than you would be as yourself. And there is a happy solution for all in the end!

We have shared quite a few different books for Halloween (and Summerween) this year. Over the years we have shared different costumes (homemade and not) that Hazel has worn. I think one of my favorites is her Princess in Black costume. It was so easy to do!! We needed a black mask, a black cape and black clothes and then pinned on a fake flower and made a pipe cleaner tiara and a scepter. You can see our whole post about it here. You can see some of our other costume ideas here. What are you being for Halloween this year? How about your kids? What has been your favorite costume thus far?