Reader’s Corner

I have always been an avid reader and one of my favorite classes at St. Ambrose was Children’s Literature. I loved exploring the many books that were written for children by authors that created imaginary worlds, loving characters, and intriguing atmospheres. Reading to children creates an environment of individual centered time that explores auditory learning, and great practice for sitting still/ No at some ages it is hard to make it through one book but every little bit counts.

 So now I challenge you to head on out and check out some fun books for this month’s activities:

Where is Baby’s Pumpkin?: Karen Katz is well-known for her books featuring babies. As for Halloween children’s books, she only has one, but one is enough. Here we meet a baby in a kitty costume. But there’s something missing. Baby can’t find her pumpkin! Throughout the book, children get to pull flaps, open doors, and lift bowls to find out whether or not the pumpkin is hiding there. Along the way, kids can touch the velvety cat suit that baby wears, watch sparkly items glitter, and enjoy plenty other visual and tactile sensations. For infants and children in preschool, both parents and kids will read this book over and over, delighting in finding the pumpkin every time.

Pumpkin Soup: A Halloween book that certain to put the idea of being warm and cozy in your head, it tells the story of three friends that live deep in the woods. Every day, Cat, Squirrel, and Duck make a delicious pot of pumpkin soup. Each character has their own job; Cat slices up the pumpkin, Squirrel stirs, and Duck adds a dash of salt. At least, until the time comes that Duck wants to stir instead. When the friends fight over the idea, Duck storms off. But true friends quickly show their colors; Cat and Squirrel are soon scouring the woods to find their beloved Duck.

Big Pumpkin: Nothing says “Halloween book” more than a story about a witch with a gigantic pumpkin. It’s a fabulously large pumpkin, and the witch is very proud of it. Now it’s time for her to make a delicious pumpkin pie. However, there’s one problem—her pumpkin is so big, she can’t even get it off the vine. Filled with ghosts, goblins, vampires, mummies and more spooky creatures, it may be up to the little bat to figure out a way to help the witch. Erica Silverman is the mastermind behind this warm tale while S.D. Schindler provides the brilliant hues that echo the colors of fall and the darkness of night.

Celebrate Halloween with Pumpkins, Costumes, and Candy: is part of National Geographic’s Holidays Around the World series of nonfiction books. The book, by Deborah Heiligman, uses color photographs of children celebrating fall and Halloween in several different countries to illustrate the story of Halloween, its history and celebration. An afterword provides directions for a Halloween game, information about The Day of the Dead, a recipe for a Spooky Graveyard cake, a glossary, a map showing where the photographs were taken, a one-page essay by scholar Jack Santino, and recommended books and Web sites for readers eager to learn more about Halloween.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid Of Anything: I’m pretty sure I had this book memorized before I could even read, and I distinctly remember carving a jack-o’-lantern with moon-shaped ears as a kid. This fun little book continually adds spooky spectacles in sequence and teaches children that sometimes things aren’t as scary as they seem.

Do you have favorite books you read to your children during this time of the year? If so what are they?