Lola Loves Stories (by Anna McQuinn)

Summary of Lola Loves Stories: 

On Saturdays, Lola’s daddy takes her to the library.  Lola always finds and checks out some excellent books.   Each day, her parents read her one of the library books, prompting imagination and adventure!  After reading a book about a fairy princess with her daddy, “Lola wars a fancy dress and sparkly crown.”  She spends her daypretending she is a “fabulous fairy princess.”  The next day, her mommy reads to her about an amazing journey. As a result, Lola takes her friends (stuffed animals), on exciting trips to foreign lands like Paris and Lagos.  

Sometimes she acts out her imaginative explorations with friends, like taking care of babies with Ben and running through "the jungle" with Orla.  On Friday, her daddy creates an original story about magic shoes.   Lola has her own magical shoe experience--all the way to library!  Stories and books fuel Lola’s brain and send her on amazing adventures. 

Evaluation: 
I love Lola Loves Stories by Anna McQuinn!   The book reminds me of the power of books and storytelling.  Lola has a richer and fuller life because of the books she experiences from her weekly trips to the library.  

Both her parents are actively involved in reading to her and fostering her imagination. Rosalind Beardshaw’s adorable illustrations depict the text beautifully.   They show her parents interacting and reading with her as well as her imaginative exploits.  Lola Loves Stories is ideal for ages 2-7.  

Best Halloween Picture Books for Preschool to Primary Grades

These books can be enjoyed by all ages, but they were chosen as ones that would be especially pleasing to preschool aged children (ages 0-6).

Mouse’s First Halloween (ages 1-6) by Lauren Thompson (fiction)
I adore this book’s free verse poetic form and captivating illustrations!  On Halloween night, a little mouse hears an assortment of sounds outside around the farm where he lives.  On the next page, the source of the sound is revealed, which are things like a scarecrow, kittens, falling apples, a jack-o-lantern, and so forth.  This book is perfect for practicing predicting skills.  After each sound (onomatopoeia), children can guess, using the visual and auditory clues, what they think it is.  Of course, there is a great use of onomatopoeia (sound words), so identify them together and differentiate them from the other words.  Also, there are repetitive words and phrases at predictable places that children can recite along with or in place of the adult reader.  All the images are welcoming and amiable.  Children will want to read this one over and over.  This book is my number one pick! 

Sweets and Treats (ages 0-5) by Tony Trent Parker (poetry)
Using a snappy, rhyming verse, the joy of dressing up on Halloween is depicted.  Full-color photographs of children ages 1-5 accompany each quatrain of poetry describing the costume or the holiday.  Children are dressed in many holiday favorites like a pirate, a princess, a firefighter, and a clown.  In addition, smaller pictures of other Halloween favorites, such as cookies, candy corn, and jack-o-lanterns are highlighted.  While reading, younger children can guess the costume while older children can identify rhyming words or talk about their favorite costumes.

Moonlight: The Halloween Cat (ages 1-7) by Cynthia Rylant (fiction)
The enchantment of Halloween night is captured though the eyes of a lovable Halloween cat.  As she wanders through the night, she sees animals (owls, rabbits, bats, and raccoons), children trick or treating, the wonders of nature (full moon and stars reflecting in the water), and jack-o-lanterns.  Relate the cat’s experience walking around at night to the audience’s (children’s) experience.  They can share which of those night wonders they have observed (and maybe some others that are not mentioned in the book) on Halloween or any other night they have been outside.  The luminous illustrations induce a soothing and friendly view of the night and the holiday.  Also, introduce or reinforce the concept of personification (the cat, the pumpkins that smile at her, and the straw laps that welcome her).  Finally, highlight that the point of view is of a cat.  Invite them to ponder why the author used a cat to tell the story. 

Halloween Night (ages 2-7) by Elizabeth Hatch (fiction)
This book is cumulative tale, following the same format as The House that Jack Built, which takes place on Halloween night. The collective chain of events begin with a friendly jack-o-lantern and mouse, but a bat, an owl, a cat, a child dressed as a ghost, and a dog all interact to bring the tale back to the mouse and jack-o-lantern enjoying a treat together. The whimsical and bright illustrations along with the rhyming and amusing text are sure to capture preschool readers’ attention.  This story can also be used to make predictions, especially in the downward action of the climax (when the child trips) and discuss the concept of cause & effect.  If you like this type of book, also check out This is the Pumpkin by Abby Levine. 

Pumpkin Eye (ages 4-8) by Denise Fleming
I have a little apprehension on this story, but it is because I am ultra sensitive to scary images.  I try to avoid them, especially at Halloween, because I do not want my children to associate the holiday with evil.  Overall, I really love the poetic, rhyming text with a fun repetition, “Trick or Treat—pounding feet.”  The pictures are bright, blurry images of Halloween night—jack-o-lanterns, children in costumes, black cats, and so forth.  Some of the costumes look a little to realistic, like the witch and the skeleton.  This book is worth reading, but I’d suggest you examine it in advance (especially for younger children) to make sure you feel comfortable with it. 

Best Books about Halloween (Fiction)

Halloween Day (ages 3-9) by Anne Rockwell (realistic fiction)

The focus of this book is imagination, pretend play, and dressing up.  A little girl is excited about going to school because everyone will be wearing Halloween costumes.  Several of the children from class are highlighted with their costumes and a picture showing where their inspiration for it came from, such as book, a field trip, a painting, a rodeo, and so forth.  After a costume procession, the children celebrate with Halloween goodies like jack-o-lantern cupcakes and apple cider.  You can invite your children to imagine what they could be from various books you have read and activities you have participated in together.  It is also an opportunity to discuss how people (artists, inventors, writers, and engineers) are inspired.  The pictures are friendly and colorful. 

And Then Comes Halloween (ages 4-10) by Tom Brenner (realistic fiction)

The pictures are a noteworthy and creative mix of cut out layered paper for the characters and setting along with paints for texture which offers a unique two dimensional look to many of the figures on the page.  Both characters and setting are benign and friendly.  The story itself, written in free verse poetic form, describes fall, the making of Halloween decorations, and going trick or treating.  There are numerous sound devices to identify and discuss together, such as alliteration (“creeps closer”), assonance (“seep into green leaves”), and consonance (“still in husks all crinkly”). It is a great read out loud book with the focus on celebrating the holiday with fun, family activities and seasonal traditions.  This narrative superbly captures the build up and excitement of trick-or-treating on Halloween night.  I love how the story ends with the little girl imagining what she will be next year.   I, too, remember beginning to think about what I would be for the next Halloween before all my candy was even eaten! 

Jeoffry’s Halloween (ages 6-11) by Mary Bryant Bailey (fantasy fiction)

Jeoffry (a cat) along with his dog companion follow a pair of costumed trick or treaters through a rural area.  Told through the cat’s perspective, the book is written in lively poetic form.   The illustrations are in soft autumn hues that portray a dream-life tone.  Jeoffry’s Halloween is in large part an imaginative one.  For instance, he hears “ghostly wings beat[ing] in the mist” but from the text and pictures it is clear he is really seeing huddled geese in the pond.  There are wonderful sound devices like alliteration (“bristly bandits in a brawl”) as well as rhyme.  This book is a magical and mesmerizing tale to be enjoyed by all ages. 

* The books above have children dressed as witches, ghosts, and other mythical figures, but all the pictures are playful (not at all malevolent or fiendish).