"Once there was a little girl who went to live in a big old house at the edge of town. It was a splendid place, but there was one problem. The house was...haunted!"
~ from Kazuno Kohara's
Ghosts in the House!
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Halloween Spooky Fun Time at South Library
Come and join in the
Halloween fun at South Library. Free activities including Story time with a Halloween theme, craft, treasure hunt and more. Suitable for families with children aged from 2 to 10.
Read our
page on Halloween
for
information on costumes, crafts, reading, and trick-or-treating.
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Dinoblock
by
Christopher Franceschelli
Introduces more than twenty different kinds of dinosaurs via die-cuts of their unique silhouettes while comparing them to familiar things
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Toys Meet Snow
by
Emily Jenkins; illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky
Something strange has happened outside. Looking out the window, toys StingRay, Lumphy, and Plastic (two plush animals and a red ball) wonder at the fresh blanket of white snow. What is it, and how did it get there? They decide to see for themselves. Kids will smile at the toys' not-so-efficient efforts to make it outside, as well as at their joyful play and fanciful explanations ("the clouds are sad and happy at the same time"). Older readers who are charmed by these curious characters should check out their previous adventures in the Toys Go Out chapter books; younger ones may appreciate the similarly cozy feel of Kevin Henkes' Waiting.
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I will chomp you!
by Jory John
A would-be ferocious blue monster whimsically roars at readers to stop progressing through his book so that he does not have to share his beautiful, delicious cakes with them. By the author/illustrator of the Dinosaur vs... series.
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Touch the brightest star
by Christie Matheson
A companion to
Tap the Magic Tree!
combines lush watercolors and cut-paper collage images in an interactive story that invites children to explore spreads depicting sleepy animals against a darkening nighttime sky.
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The Tea Party in the Woods
by Akiko Miyakoshi
When a young girl named Kikko realizes her father has forgotten the pie he was supposed to bring to Grandma's house, she offers to try and catch him as he makes his way through the woods. She hurriedly follows her father's footprints in the snow and happens upon a large house she has never seen before. Curious, Kikko peers through the window, when she is startled by a small lamb wearing a coat and carrying a purse. Even more surprising, the lamb speaks, asking her in a kind voice, "Are you here for the tea party?". Suddenly, Kikko realizes her trip through the woods has turned into something magical. Award-winning author and illustrator Akiko Miyakoshi has beautifully crafted an original fairy tale picture book that will delight and enchant.
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Welcome home, Bear : a book of animal habitats
by
Il Sung Na
Tiring of the appearance of his green forest surroundings, Bear visits sumptuously illustrated habitats of animals from around the world before realizing that his own home is the perfect place for him after all. By the creator of The Thingamabob.
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Lizard from the Park
by
Mark Pett
When the egg he rescued from the park hatches a small green lizard, lonely young New Yorker Leonard is delighted. He promptly names the lizard Buster, and together they roam the city, taking the train to the Museum of Natural History and visiting the stone lions outside the library. Rendered in soft, hazy hues, their adventures have a warm, wistful feeling - one that increases as Buster grows waaaay too big to keep, and Leonard hatches a clever plan for returning him to the freedom of the park. Kids who long for a pet like Buster will also relate to the goofy goings-on in George O'Connor's If I Had a Raptor.
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What a hoot!
by
Frann Preston-Gannon
A companion to the best-selling Hot Dog, Cold Dog explores the idea of "this" and "that" through the antics of a group of adorable owls, leading to a surprise ending that adds to the read-aloud fun.
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Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World
by
James Kochalka
Johnny Boo - who resembles Casper the Friendly Ghost with a duck-tail hairdo - and his small ghost friend, Squiggle, each have a special power: Johnny has BOO power (he can yell "BOO" really loudly), and Squiggle has squiggle power (he can fly in speedy loop-de-loops). They're pals who spend their time racing, taunting each other, and sharing ice cream. When they encounter the giant pink-and-yellow Ice Cream Monster, they're terrified...but as it turns out, he's a nice monster, if a little greedy with the ice cream. Kids who think that belching is the funniest thing ever are sure to laugh at this silly, simple graphic novel for the very young.
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Ghosts in the House!
by
Kazuno Kohara
Friendly illustrations in orange, black, and translucent white create an atmosphere of whimsy, not terror, in this spooky-sweet tale of girl versus ghosts. When a girl and her cat discover that their new home is occupied by a gaggle of ghosts, they don't get scared - they get to work. The girl, you see, is also a witch, and she knows just what to do. After a quick costume change (pointy hat and broom for the girl, black-cat costume for the cat) she starts rounding up and repurposing the smiling spirits, leading to a cozy conclusion that's sure to satisfy even the biggest scaredy-cat.
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Ol' Clip-Clop: A Ghost Story
by
Patricia C. McKissack; illustrated by Eric Velasquez
John Leep is a rich landlord with "a stingy heart." On a murky October night in 1741, he sets out on horseback to evict an old widow from her home. He's accompanied by the familiar "clip-clop" sound of his horse's hooves…but what's that sound? Is there another horse following him? Though he can't see anyone, he's dogged by the laughter of a mysterious rider, and as he urges his own horse faster and faster, he hears spectral hoofbeats keeping pace. The frantically increasing "clippitycloppityclippitycloppity" of John's desperate dash begs to be read aloud, as does the ending, which is startling enough to make listeners of all ages jump!
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Zen Ghosts
by
Jon J. Muth
It's Halloween night, and after trick-or-treating, costumed siblings Addy, Michael, and Karl meet their old friend Stillwater the panda, who invites them over for a ghost story. After an eerie journey through the misty twilight woods, the children encounter the storyteller (who looks strangely similar to Stillwater himself), and listen to a Zen koan about a woman with the uncanny ability to be in two places at once. This haunting, contemplative tale is matched in mood by Jon J. Muth's delicate ink and watercolor illustrations. Readers who want more stories from Stillwater the panda should be sure to check out his previous outings in Zen Shorts, Zen Ties, and Zen Socks.
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Bow-Wow's Nightmare Neighbors
by
Mark Newgarden and Megan Montague Cash
A trio of ghost kittens have stolen Bow-Wow's doggie bed! With nowhere to nap, the determined terrier follows his naughty neighbours to their dreary-looking house. Inside, Bow-Wow has to fend off the tail-biting, shape-shifting ghost kitties while he navigates a comically clichéd array of "haunted mansion" perils - a trick floorboard, a portrait with moving eyes - in search of his beloved bed. Fast-paced, minimally coloured, and wordless, this ghostly romp invites close reading, and offers an upbeat ending that's "as gratifying as it is surreal" (Publishers Weekly).
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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