Big Pumpkin

by Erica Silverman

illustrated by S.D. Schindler

A witch, trying to get her pumpkin off the vine to make a pie, gets some help from some spooky friends.  In the end, size doesn't matter, because it's the idea of the smallest of the creatures who gets the pumpkin to come loose.  

image via coverbrowser.com

Five Little Pumpkins

illustrated by Dan Yaccarino

A cute rhyme that makes a great boardbook.  Want to make a little book for kids to color and reread after the book has gone back to the library?  Follow the links from this page.

image via amazon.com

The Dark at the Top of the Stairs

by Sam McBratney

illustrated by Ivan Bates

Three mice are given a choice of what to do that day.  Instead of spending the day outside or having other kinds of fun, they are insistent that their Grandfather take them to the Dark at the Top of the Stairs.  If read well, this (not scary-but definitely tense) book can make a person, child and adult alike, momentarily dread the Dark at the Top of the Stairs.  A good book, you'll just wish it was longer!

image via onepotato.net

Skeleton Hiccups

by Margery Cuyler

illustrated by S.D. Schindler

A skeleton attempts to get rid of his hiccups, but it seems none of the traditional methods are helpful--but they are comical!

images via amazon.com

The Hallo-Wiener

by Dav Pilkey

Perhaps better known as the author and illustrator of the "Captain Underpants" Series, Dav Pilkey uses the same cartoony style in a book about a weiner dog named Oscar (hmmm, how'd he get that name?).  If you haven't figured out the connection, you can find "Meyer" on his family's mailbox.  The story follows Oscar the wiener dog through teasing from other dogs because of his differences.  The sad thing is that Oscar tries his best to be friends with those same dogs who bully him.  As is always the case, mother is loving and supportive, but this Halloween, Oscar's mom makes Oscar a Halloween costume that he is sure will only make the harassment even worse.  It is a bun, complete with mustard.  He's a real wiener for Halloween. Despite the torture he knows will come, Oscar loves his mom and wears it.  Of course he is teased, but in the end it's his differences, and his costume, that save the day and create new friendships.  It turns out to be a happy Halloween after all.

image via pilkey.com