I am loving this time of year...the weather is getting cooler, and the leaves are starting to fall from the trees, leaving our backyard looking like a rainbow of colors. My girls have been taking advantage of the rainy days we have had to sit near the bay window reading a few books, while taking in the beauty that is fall outside their window. And, when they are not reading on their own, they have been asking to snuggle on the couch under a warm blanket and have me read some Halloween and fall-inspired books to them. How can I say "No," as I know eventually they will not be asking me to read to them. So, I am taking advantage of these extra snuggle sessions every chance I get. :-) With that being said, I wanted to share some books that my girls and I have read recently, that are perfect for welcoming in fall and Halloween, which is only 16 days away. They are all available now from Simon & Schuster, and would make for a great rainy day or bedtime read with your child(ren). I hope you find a few books from my list that will offer you some extra snuggle time with your kids. :-)
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Introduce the magic of Halloween with on-theme board books:
(Also available in Kindle, Audiobook, Hardcover, Paperback and Audio CD formats)
About this book:
"New York Times bestselling duo Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin’s beloved Halloween story is now available as a Classic Board Book!
Farmer Brown does not like Halloween. So he draws the shades, puts on his footy pajamas, and climbs into bed.
But do you think the barnyard animals have any respect for a man in footy pajamas? No, they do not. For them, the Halloween party has just begun. And we all know these critters far prefer tricks over treats.
There are big surprises in store for Farmer Brown!"
- Publisher: Little Simon (July 23, 2019)
- Length: 40 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534450127
- Grades: P and up
My Thoughts:
My girls have been fans of Doreen Cronin ever since they were babies and I would read to them. The "Click, Clack, Moo" books were the first books both of my girls learned how to read, and they still enjoy grabbing them from the bookshelf from time to time to read them on their own, or have me read to them at bedtime. So, when I heard about this Halloween-themed board book, I jumped at the opportunity to review it, as I knew my girls would love adding another Doreen Cronin book to their growing collection, and would giggle like they do with her other books, with the cute story featuring Farmer Brown and his unique farm animals.
This board book didn't disappoint, as it was filled with tricks and treats mainly at the expensive of Farmer Brown, as the animals prepared for their Halloween party in the barn. Don't worry I will not give too much away, so you can experience this cute book with your kids soon. I know you will love this book just as much as my girls and I have. This is one book we will read for many Halloweens to come.
About this book:
"A cute kitten with a very twitchy tail is looking for a friend to trick-or-treat with in this purr-fect Halloween novelty book from award-winning creator Salina Yoon.
Will Kitty find someone to play with on her favorite night of the year? Help Kitty wag her furry orange tail whenever she meets a new friend. With a sturdy pull-tab that wags Kitty’s tail, this interactive novelty book is perfect for Halloween."
- Publisher: Little Simon (July 23, 2019)
- Length: 12 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534443426
- Grades: P and up
My Thoughts:
I ended up requesting this board book for my oldest daughter, as she is a huge cat lover, and loves reading books featuring cats -- even if they are board books. The book itself is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, and can fit nicely in a diaper bag for on the go reading with little ones. Your kids will love pulling the tab on the side of the book to make the cat's tail wag back and forth. The story itself is cute and easy to follow along and understand, making this a cute Halloween-themed book for little ones, that you can enjoy time and time again, or just hand to your child to make the cat's tail move and keep them entertained.
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Cast a spell on your curious child! Our Halloween picture books are both clever and cute:
(Also available in Kindle format)
About this book:
"Magical mayhem and hilarity ensue when a clever little witch tries to turn her baby brother into a goldfish in this funny and imaginative picture book about sibling rivalry.
Little Linh is the cleverest little witch on Mãi Mãi island. She has everything she could need: a trusty broomstick, a powerful spell book, and a magical pet mouse. She also has a new brother named Baby Phu, and she does not like him one bit. He crashes her broomstick, eats pages out of her spell book, and keeps her up all night. Little Linh tried giving Baby Phu away, but nobody will take him, not even the Orphanage for Lost and Magical Creatures.
So, she’ll just have to try something else…like turning him into a goldfish. The only problem is, Baby Phu ate the second half of the spell. Still, there’s a reason Little Linh is the cleverest little witch. She can guess the second half of the spell…but it might take a few tries."
My Thoughts:
This was a really cute picture book that is perfect to share with kids who will be or have recently become a big brother or sister, and are not to pleased about the new addition. Also, for kids who have sibling, and find themselves fighting and getting on each other's nerves, like my girls get from time to time, this is a fun book to share with them, to remind them how lucky they are to have a sibling (a.k.a. built in best friend), who may one day swoop in and save the day, as Little Linh's baby brother does. Don't worry, I will not spoil the ending. All I will say, though, is be sure to take in all the colorful and playful illustrations that make up this cute children's picture book. My girls found themselves lingering on each page to take in all the detailing of the illustrations, and said they loved how the illustrations helped to bring the story to life.
You probably don’t think much about skulls.
So what’s the big deal about them?
Well, every head
of every person
you’ve ever seen
has a skull inside.
And that includes YOU!
This smart, skull-positive story cheerfully dispels any fears kids might have about their skeletons, flipping our view of skulls from a spooky symbol to a fascinating, cool, and crucial part of our bodies."
When Spencer gets a new pet, he’s excited to do all the things that pets do—taking walks in the park, going to the vet, and attending parties together.
There’s just one hitch: Spencer’s new pet is a balloon.
And that means No. Sharp. Objects.
No drooling dogs at the park. No prickly porcupines at the vet. And absolutely no pinning tails on any donkeys!
Spencer’s New Pet is a story of pure fun about a boy, his dog, and a friendship that endures life’s sharpest...and most unexpected twists."
(Also available in Kindle format)
About this book:
"Debut picture book author Blair Thornburgh and award-winning illustrator Scott Campbell put their heads together to celebrate one of the most important bones in your body: the skull!
You probably don’t think much about skulls.
So what’s the big deal about them?
Well, every head
of every person
you’ve ever seen
has a skull inside.
And that includes YOU!
This smart, skull-positive story cheerfully dispels any fears kids might have about their skeletons, flipping our view of skulls from a spooky symbol to a fascinating, cool, and crucial part of our bodies."
- Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (July 23, 2019)
- Length: 40 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534414006
- Grades: P - 3
- Ages: 4 - 8
My Thoughts:
My girls really enjoyed this book, as it was not only fun to read, but they learned a few things about the human skull. When they first looked at the cover they thought the book was going to be able Halloween skeletons and skulls, but as we started to read the book together, they learned it was a book written to introduce kids to our skulls in a fun and entertaining way. When you get to the end of the book you will fund cool school facts, which kids and adults will find interesting. I had no idea that the skull isn't one single bone, but 22 different smaller bones that make it up. This is just one interesting fact shared in this section, and can be seen when you read this book with your child(ren). I highly recommend this book, and know your family will enjoy it, too!
(Also available in Kindle formats)
About this book:
"From the creator of Not Quite Narwhal comes a classic tale of a boy and his dog—except in this unique story, one of them is a balloon!
When Spencer gets a new pet, he’s excited to do all the things that pets do—taking walks in the park, going to the vet, and attending parties together.
There’s just one hitch: Spencer’s new pet is a balloon.
And that means No. Sharp. Objects.
No drooling dogs at the park. No prickly porcupines at the vet. And absolutely no pinning tails on any donkeys!
Spencer’s New Pet is a story of pure fun about a boy, his dog, and a friendship that endures life’s sharpest...and most unexpected twists."
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (August 27, 2019)
- Length: 56 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534418776
- Grades: P - 3
- Ages: 4 - 8
My Thoughts:
This book reminded me of watching a black and white projector film from back in day, thanks in part to the illustrations. The only non-black and white and gray illustration is of this bright red balloon, which in the end turns out to be a real dog, and the boy is the balloon. My girls really enjoyed this book, which doesn't have words, but will have kids making up their own version of the story as they flip through the pages with you, or on their own.
When we first read this book, my girls thought they knew how it would end, with the red dog balloon popping. But, they were pleasantly surprised when their was a twist in the story and what they thought was a balloon animal was really a dog. This is a super cute, and a fun book to share with kids of all ages, that can be enjoyed year round, and time and time again.
For Ages 5-7, a spooky sleepover Ready-to-Read:
(Also available in hardcover and Kindle formats)
About this book:
"Mavis is thrilled to be reunited with her friends Sophie and Charlotte, twin werewolves from her Ghoul Scout troop. But when Aunt Lydia smells humans on the premises, she orders a lockdown of the castle and a search of the entire hotel. Mavis’s sleepover goes awry in this hilarious Level 2 Ready-to-Read based on an episode of the hit Disney Channel show Hotel Transylvania: The Series."
- Publisher: Simon Spotlight (July 23, 2019)
- Length: 32 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534440647
- Grades: K - 2
- Ages: 5 - 7
My Thoughts:
My youngest daughter is a huge Hotel Transylvania fan, and is always looking for new books from Simon & Schuster to get her hands on and add to her growing collection. So, when she saw this and the additional Hotel Transylvania The Series book that follows, she was all smiles, as she couldn't wait to read them.
This book is all about Mavis hosting a sleepover at the castle with her friends Sophie and Charlotte. But, you know that when you host a party in a vampire's castle, that there is going to be some creepy and unexpected events that transpire. My daughter really enjoyed this book and said it was great at getting excited about Halloween which is fast approaching.
(Also available in hardcover and Kindle formats)
About this book:
"Mavis and her friends go trick-or-treating in this hilarious novel based on an episode of the hit Disney Channel show Hotel Transylvania: The Series.
On Halloween, a curious Mavis and her friends break with tradition and do something every monster has been warned not to do: they go trick-or-treating. How much trouble can they cause? Plenty apparently. According to legend, when monsters go out on Halloween they conjure up Pumpkin Guts, a centuries-old spirit who wants to turn all monsters into jack-o’-lanterns. Luckily Drac finds out and takes a short break from the Vampire Council. Surely he can help Mavis before she’s reduced to a pile of pumpkin seeds and guts!"
On Halloween, a curious Mavis and her friends break with tradition and do something every monster has been warned not to do: they go trick-or-treating. How much trouble can they cause? Plenty apparently. According to legend, when monsters go out on Halloween they conjure up Pumpkin Guts, a centuries-old spirit who wants to turn all monsters into jack-o’-lanterns. Luckily Drac finds out and takes a short break from the Vampire Council. Surely he can help Mavis before she’s reduced to a pile of pumpkin seeds and guts!"
- Publisher: Simon Spotlight (July 23, 2019)
- Length: 64 pages
- ISBN13: 9781534440449
- Grades: 1 - 4
- Ages: 6 - 9
My Thoughts:
As I mentioned in the previous book "my thoughts" section, my youngest daughter is a huge "Hotel Transylvania The Series fan, and loves collecting these books to add to her growing book collection. She had fun with the "The Creepiest Sleepover Ever" release, but had even more fun with the "Pumpkin Guts Versus the Vampires," book as it was full of adventure and suspense.
Filled with monsters, vampires and spooky legends, this book based on the Disney Channel animated series, will delight fans of all ages of the Hotel Transylvania The Series. My youngest can't stop reading this book, and have even passed it along to her friends so that they can read and enjoy it, too! She told me to tell readers that this a must own book for fans of the animated series, and is a "two thumbs up" book, for sure! :-)
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You can learn more about these and other new or upcoming children's book releases from Simon & Schuster by visiting https://www.simonandschuster.com/. And, with the holidays fast appraoching, they have some great Thanksgiving and Christmas books worth checking out. Later today, I will be sharing another post featuring some of the new Thankgiving-inspired picture and board books from Simon & Schuster for those who like to plan ahead, and get their hands on some new books to share with their kids in November. So, be on the look out for that post. :-)
Disclosure: I was sent review copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
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