Monster Stories and Other Scary Tales for Halloween

The Monsterator by Keith Graves Edgar, the poor little rich boy, is looking for spooky fun and adventure when he comes across a Monsterator Machine. For one thin dime, he can become a monster and what fun he has once he is transformed. Alas, when Halloween is over, the machine has disappeared and Edgar remains a monster for the rest of his life. The book includes a flip book a the end where they can make their own monstrous creatures, exchanging the heads, feet and mid-sections to make original hideous creations. The cover showing Edgar along with a monstrous shadow is appealing, especially at this time of year, and the book lives up to this initial attraction. I know two boys who would listen to this story every day if  they could!
Love Monster by Rachel Bright A classic love story; a classic tale of not fitting in; a scary hairy monster who just needs a friend or two. Bright uses a technique called solar etching to illustrate this story of love for the monster who is not cute, cuddly or fluffy. After hunting for someone to love him, Monster decides to go home and low and behold, there is a second monster there waiting just for him. Hmmm, is this telling us that we find what we are looking for if we will just return home? Or is it telling us that you have to be a monster to love a monster? Or is it telling us that everyone has a mate, if we look long and hard enough? Oh, well, maybe it is just saying that everyone needs someone to love him. Go out and find your monster!
Ninja! By Arree Chung Big brother sneaks around the house following Ninja rules to obtain his objective of stealing baby sister’s cookies. “A ninja sneaks, creeps, tumbles, hides, and is fast on his feet.” And he almost accomplishes his mission, but at the last minute, baby sister gives him away. In a brilliant move, big brother decides to indoctrinate baby sister into the way of the Ninja. Now, two ninjas sneak, creak, tumble and hide. Any big brother who has ever been thwarted in his attempts to steal a younger sibling’s cookies will enjoy this tale.
The Zoo Box by Ariel Cohn, illustrated by Aron Nels Steinke Written in comic book style, this tells the story of Erika and Patrick left on their own for the first time while Mom and Dad enjoy an evening out. What could go wrong? When they find a magic box in the attic, Patrick can’t resist opening it, releasing a hoard of animals who chase them right into the zoo. But, wait, this zoo is different, the “animals” in the cages are all human and there before them is their house, surrounded by a fence and camera-carrying animals waiting to see the human children. Magically, they are able to get the animals back in the box and when Mom and Dad return, both Patrick and Erika appear to be sleeping soundly in their beds. Slightly longer than most picture books, this will appeal to the just starting to read on their own set.
Julia’s House for Lost Creatures by Ben Hatke From the author of the Zita the spacegirl series comes his first picture book. Julia lives in a lonely house all by herself. She makes a sign and opens her home to a host of weird and sloppy creatures. Julia finds herself in the role of cook, maid and house-cleaner, so she makes another sign: a chore chart. Now, everyone has a job and life is more comfortable. One more problem arises and Julia also solves this with a sign. Resourceful, competent and caring, Julia embodies the character traits we want to see in books so both boys and girls can see that girls are active problem-solving people too! It doesn’t surprise me that Hatke has a houseful of daughters!