Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Halloween. Show all posts
Friday, October 31, 2014
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Mr. Pig's Spooky Story Picks--with a SIGNED BOOK GIVEAWAY!
It was a dark and foggy night. . .
Count Pigula floated into the room silently. His guests gathered by the fire for a haunted hour of spooky stories.
He pulled the first spooky book down off the Crooked Bookshelf and began. . .
“One morning I woke up sleepy,/ came downstairs to something creepy. Outside the window sat something freaky/ my eyes had never known.”
--The Crow by Alison Paul.
The Crow, A Not-So-Spooky Story by Alison Paul
Why it's a Pig pick: Alison Paul channels Edgar Allen Poe in this not-so-spooky tale of a child who spies something creepy out her window. Plus, the author was born on Halloween!
Ghost In The House by Ammi-Joan Paquette; illustrated by Adam Record
Why it's a Pig pick: Cute ghost + bouncing rhyme=perfect Halloween read aloud!
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds; illustrated by Peter Brown
Why it's a Pig pick: Aaron Reynolds puts the funny in spooky, and Peter Brown's gray-toned and orange spreads are perfection.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams; illustrated by Megan Lloyd
Why it's a Pig pick: As Halloween read-alouds go, there's perhaps none better. 'Clomp-clomp,' indeed!
Why it's a Pig pick: Marvelously creepy story meets Tony DiTerlizzi's moody masterful illustrations.
The Teeny-Tiny Woman by Paul Galdone
Why it's a Pig pick: As if a teeny-tiny woman weren't creepy enough? This one is hearing scary noises in the night.
The Spooky Box by Mark Gonyea
Why it's a Pig pick: A box that contains mysterious spooky things? I dare you not to open this book.
Need some spooky reading recommendations for the slightly older set? Don't worry. Mr. Pig has lots of those on the Crooked Bookshelf, too!
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Among the Dolls by William Sleator
Doll Bones by Holly Black
In The Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
A Tale Dark and Grim by Adam Gidwitz
The Witches by Roald Dahl
Count Pigula floated into the room silently. His guests gathered by the fire for a haunted hour of spooky stories.
He pulled the first spooky book down off the Crooked Bookshelf and began. . .
“One morning I woke up sleepy,/ came downstairs to something creepy. Outside the window sat something freaky/ my eyes had never known.”
--The Crow by Alison Paul.
Want the full list of what Mr. Pig is reading for his Haunted Halloween Story Hour? Check out his top picks from The Little Crooked Bookshelf.
TELL US YOUR FAVORITE SPOOKY STORY in the comments section below to win a SIGNED copy of SO YOU WANT TO CATCH BIGFOOT? by cottager Jamie Michalak!
The Crow, A Not-So-Spooky Story by Alison Paul
Why it's a Pig pick: Alison Paul channels Edgar Allen Poe in this not-so-spooky tale of a child who spies something creepy out her window. Plus, the author was born on Halloween!
Ghost In The House by Ammi-Joan Paquette; illustrated by Adam Record
Why it's a Pig pick: Cute ghost + bouncing rhyme=perfect Halloween read aloud!
Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds; illustrated by Peter Brown
Why it's a Pig pick: Aaron Reynolds puts the funny in spooky, and Peter Brown's gray-toned and orange spreads are perfection.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams; illustrated by Megan Lloyd
Why it's a Pig pick: As Halloween read-alouds go, there's perhaps none better. 'Clomp-clomp,' indeed!
The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt; illustrated by Tony DiTerlizzi
Romping Monsters, Stomping Monsters by Jane Yolen; illustrated by Kelly Murphy.
Why it's a Pig pick: Little monsters will want to get up, romp and stomp to Yolen's rhythmic text and Murphy's fetching creepy creatures.
Why it's a Pig pick: As if a teeny-tiny woman weren't creepy enough? This one is hearing scary noises in the night.
The Spooky Box by Mark Gonyea
Why it's a Pig pick: A box that contains mysterious spooky things? I dare you not to open this book.
Need some spooky reading recommendations for the slightly older set? Don't worry. Mr. Pig has lots of those on the Crooked Bookshelf, too!
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Among the Dolls by William Sleator
Doll Bones by Holly Black
In The Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
A Tale Dark and Grim by Adam Gidwitz
The Witches by Roald Dahl
Have a safe, spooky and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Love, Count Pigula
and the Crooked Cottagers:
Screamie Michalak
Anika Demise
Scara LaReau
&
Kristen Creepy
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Spooky Reading for a Spooky Day
We have a treat for you today, just in time for Halloween! Children's book author and super agent, Ammi-Joan Paquette, has dropped by the Cottage to share her five favorite spooky books. . . . For just those types of days, here are some of my favorite spooky reading titles:
WHEN THE SKY IS LIKE LACEby Elinor Lander Horwitz
Illustrated by Barbara Cooney
Viking, 2004
On a bimulous night, when the sky is like lace… So begins one of my very favorite read-alouds, just right for curling up tight with a cozy blanket, a steaming cup of hot chocolate, and your favorite reader tucked tight within your lap.
THE DARK
by Lemony Snicket
Illustrated by Jon Klaasen
Little, Brown, 2013
Who’s afraid of the dark? By turns spooky-scary and empowering, this picture book might be too much for the very youngest reader, but preschoolers and older will eat it up.
MY HAUNTED HOUSE
by Angie Sage
Katherine Tegen Books, 2008
This book launches a fabulous chapter book series, starring the irrepressible Araminta Spookie as she navigates a haunted house peopled with ghosts, haunted suits of armor, and a ghoulish surprise around every corner.
THERE’S A DEAD PERSON FOLLOWING MY SISTER AROUND
by Vivian Vande Velde
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008
This is a marvelous ghost story about a boy whose five-year-old sister has an imaginary friend… who turns out to be less imaginary and more… dead. By turns spooky and silly and moving, this is a great read that’s just right for a dark and stormy night.
DEEP AND DARK AND DANGEROUS
by Mary Downing Hahn
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008
It all begins with a creepy old photograph in the attic… soon Ali and her friends are swept in a mystery that is both ghostly—and potentially deadly. Thrills and chills abound in this beautifully written story!
What spooky delights are YOU pulling out of your bookshelves today? Happy reading!
-------------------------
And don't miss Ammi-Joan Paquette's own deliciously spooky tales -- GHOST IN THE HOUSE and RULES FOR GHOSTING!
GHOST IN THE HOUSEby Ammi-Joan Paquette
Illustrated by Adam Record
Candlewick Press, 2013
Peek-a BOO! It was a dark and spooky night. Wait! Did you hear that? It sounds like it might be something scary! What is it? Turn the page and find out. . . .
"The bouncy rhyme in this cumulative story is engaging, and the scariness level is just right for the very young. --The Horn Book
RULES FOR GHOSTING
by A.J. Paquette
Walker/Bloomsbury, 2013
The ghostly adventures of twelve-year-old Dahlia, along with her new living friends Oliver and Poppy, as they dodge a creepy Ghosterminator, a town official with devious plans, and set about solving the mystery of Dahlia's death before it's too late.
"As Dahlia and Oliver search for answers, surprising plot developments will keep readers re-evaluating the clues until the story's thrilling conclusion. Paquette's high-spirited tale featuring a benign, good-natured ghost offers readers an imaginative, intriguing mystery." --Kirkus
When she is not on the phone, answering email, or writing, you will most likely find Joan curled up with a book. Or baking something delicious. Or talking about something delicious she’s baked. Really, after books and food, what else is there worth saying?
For more about Ammi-Joan, visit her website: http://ajpaquette.com/
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