October is the time of year when we celebrate costumes and candy. Halloween is coming and the bewitching time is on the way. Here are some great new picture books and beginning reading books to read with your child and get them in the “spirit”.  These are great for ages 4 through 8.

And Then Comes Halloween, by Tom Brenner, and illustrated by Holly Meade, is simply a wonderful depiction of this delightful holiday. From decorating the front door at home to carving pumpkins, the entire family takes part in helping get ready for the last day of the month.  What I like best about this nicely illustrated book with watercolors and collages is this: the kids are making their own costumes from nick-nacks found around the house. This is the best way to get ready for Halloween!

Spells, by Emily Gravett, is a clever story about a frog who happens upon an old spell book and makes a wish to kiss a princess.  He comes upon a page that reads:  “Spell to become a handsome Prince.” As the frog attempts to make this happen split pages result in hilarious combinations.  The final result will have you smiling.  The torn and shredded paper along with the possibilities of the spell book will lure the reader to the very end. But don’t forget to read the endpaper which subtly explains the “spell.”

There Was An Old Monster!, by Rebecca, Adrian & Ed Emberly, is a takeoff from the song, “There Was An Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly.” The vibrant colors explode off the dominating black pages as the wild-eyed monster devours all sorts of slithery critters that gradually get larger. It all comes to a cumulative ending when the monster meets something larger than the monster that scares the living daylight and critters all out of him.  Ed painted the bright pictures, his daughter Rebecca wrote the text and the granddaughter, Adrian, did the music which is available on-line.  This book is great fun.

Boo To You!, by Lois Ehlert, is a great story full of what this author / illustrator does best:  collages on bright backgrounds. In this case, she uses vibrant shades of oranges as well as black. The last page has photos of the many fall items used throughout this inventive picture book which includes seeds, pods, squash and more.  A cat wants to be a part of a mouse party but wants the mice to be the edible part of the party.  The mice devise a foldout solution which will surprise you.  This is clever in rhyme and color!

Dark Night, by Dorothee de Monfreid, is about a young boy who is afraid of the dark as he walks through a dark forest.  He’s scared when he sees a wolf, then a tiger, then a crocodile.  The adventure continues until he finally makes it home by meeting a small rabbit and both dress up in a scary costume that ultimately scares these animals away. The pen-and-ink drawings are in a cartoon mode and move the story along to a nice sunrise at the end.  No more dark nights now.

Tucker’s Spooky Halloween, by Leslie McGuirk, has a little dog not wanting to be dressed up in a cute costume like he was last year. This year he wants to be something scary. This storybook includes a DVD, poster and stickers.

Mystery Vine, by Cathryn Falwell, shows what happens to a plant as it grows throughout the season and pumpkins appear.  The care and watering of the garden are demonstrated  as 2 children begin preparing vegetables as they grow to their maturity. The text is written in rhyme and there’s a pumpkin seed recipe found at the back of the book.

It’s Halloween Night, by Maryann Cocca-Leffler, is a short little paperback about two little kittens who go trick-or-treating.  The bright colors and the special cut-outs and window peeks make this book a nice and inexpensive addition.

Hush, Baby Ghostling, by Andrea Beaty, and illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre, is a reverse story about a momma ghost tucking her baby ghost into bed as she says not to be afraid of the daylight.  The digitally colored pictures are covered in blues, purples and pinks and the poetic text makes for a charming read.

Dirk Bones:  And the Mystery of the Haunted House and Dirk Bones and the Mystery of the Missing Books, both by Doug Cushman and at beginning reading level 1, are delightful, silly and funny mysteries that young readers will thoroughly enjoy. Let’s hope Mr. Cushman writes more!

Peter Peter Picks a Pumpkin House, by Christine Graham, and illustrated by Susan Boase, is a beginning chapter book that is a take on “Jack and the Beanstalk”.  Peter needs money to fix his roof and trades his goat for a bag of treasure. But the treasure ends up being nothing but seeds.  But the seeds help him in a big way.

The last two books are small sized board books for small-sized hands.  Boo Who?, by Lola Schaefer, and photographed by Michael Frost, is an innovative book that opens up and over to reveal a picture twice the size of the book. The picture reveals a Halloween costume.  Trick or Treat?, by Melanie Walsh, is a simple demonstration of the events on Halloween night. There are flaps to open on every page