Books That Will Fright and Delight!

We have selected our favorite books for this creepy season! We hope you enjoy our suggestions.

The Ghosts of Tupelo Landing by Sheila Turnage. Kathy Dawson Books, 2014.

Image from Amazon

Miss Mo LoBeau may be the most charming southern detective I have encountered! This book is the sequel to Turnage's Three Times Lucky, Mo's introductory story and equally amazing book. Mo is one half of the Desperado Detective Agency, along with her pal Dale. Together they tackle a possibly haunted inn, the new kid in town, and all the other every day problems a sixth-grade has to deal with. This book is so spectacular, I could not put it down!

The Game of Shadows by Hervé Tullet.  Phaidon Press Limited, 2013.

Image from eslite.com

This time of year leads us to think about what may be hiding in the shadows. Tullet's board book takes an interesting look at light and dark, and invites readers to play with the pages! Grab a flashlight, shut the curtains, and investigate the wonderful cut-outs that adorn each page. You may find that some shadows are worth exploring.




Ghosts in the House! by Kazuno Kohara. Square Fish, 2008.

Image from Amazon.

When a young girl moves into the big house at the edge of town, she discovers a spooky problem: her house is haunted! She takes a witty and unexpected tactic to deal with her specters. Her approach will have younger readers delighted with this ghost story.




Guys Read: Thriller edited by Jon Scieszka. Walden Pond Press, 2011.

Image from Goodreads.

Jon Scieszka is the founder of Guys Read, a group that encourages boys to read. In the second book of the Guys Read library, Scieszka has compiled ten stories that will make you squirm and shriek until the very end. 

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. HarperCollins, 2008.

Image from Goodreads.

This Newbery award winner begins with a murder, and ends with readers wanting more. Nobody Owens, or Bod for short, is orphaned and taken in by the inhabitants of the local graveyard. His new ghostly family teach him the way of the world, both now and as it was during their own lives. Bod has to try and make his way in the human world and leave the ghosts of his past behind. This book is now available as a graphic novel, as well.

 


If you are looking for some spooky series to read, we have you covered! Take your pick of over 70 Goosebumps books by R.L. Stine, the Creepover series by P.J. Night, or the Poison Apple books. Ask your librarian for more recommendations.


If you are looking for spooktacular ways to celebrate the season, we will be hosting several programs!

Trail Tale:
The Grafton-Midview Public Library and the Lorain County Metroparks are collaborating to bring you a new way to share reading and nature with your families!
All week long you can find pages from Click, Clack, Boo: A Tricky Treat by Doreen Cronin along the Beech-Maple Trail at Indian Hollow Reservation to read while you hike. Once you finish the hike, head to the Grafton-Midview Public Library and tell your librarians your favorite part of the story for a prize. Registration is not required.

If you would like to get extra wear out of your costumes, we will be hosting a Spooky Stroll to hike and read the Trail Tale at Indian Hollow from 1-2 PM on Saturday, October 25th.

The Great Pup-kin:
Join GMPL for a howlin' good time at this 4th annual event. Bring your dog in a costume for a chance to win doggone good prizes. Dog rescue groups promoting National Dog Adoption month. Adoptable dogs will be available. Meet your new best friend. Professional photographer Laura Bower will be on hand to take pictures during this event. Door Prizes, doggy goody bags and much more. Registration is required.

Monster Mash:
*Please note: we will not be having our regularly scheduled storytimes the week of Halloween. Join us on Wednesday, October 29th from 6:30-7:30 PM for a fun-filled night of stories, games, and creepy snacks. We'll monster mash at this Halloween bash. Coming in costumes would be wise, you don't want to be caught without a disguise! 

Winter Reading With Your Family: Littles

We love to share our favorite titles here at the gmplkids blog and it just so happens that we also think that winter is the very best time for sharing books with your family and friends. What other season allows for steamy hot chocolate, cozy, wooly socks and warm couch snuggles to be enjoyed together while reading a book? 

This is also a golden opportunity to tell you about our newest reading program being piloted this upcoming January, called simply our "Winter Reading Program". From January 19th through February 28th you can read or listen to any book and fill out an entry form (available on our website at gmplibrary.org or at the library) to be entered into weekly gift card drawings. No registration is required and anyone five years or older can participate ! So this January, grab one of the wonderful titles we have suggested below or a favorite from your home bookshelf and get cozy. 

To celebrate winter reading, we will be sharing some titles that are personal favorites here in the Grafton-Midview Public Library Children's Department. Throughout the next couple weeks keep your eyes peeled for more winter reading recommendations as part of our "Winter Reading With Your Family" series. Today we will share great choices to read with the littlest ones in your family. Babies will enjoy the adorable board books below while preschoolers and kindergarteners will enjoy the many beautiful and entertaining picture books.  I'm sure that even older children and adults will agree to a fireside read-aloud of Extra Yarn or Let it Snow, though.  Happy reading!




Board Books: 
 
That’s Not My Polar Bear by Fiona Watt 
 

Three Little Kittens Illustrated by Tanya Linch

Winter Friends by Carl R. Same II and Jean Stoick

In My Den by Sara Gillingham and Lorena Siminovich 

 

Busy Penguins by John Schindel and Jonathan Chester

Snuggle Wuggle by Jonathan London

Picture Books: 

Waiting for Winter by Sebastian Meschenmoser

Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep by Maureen Wright

Flannel Kisses by Linda Crotta Brennan

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett  

The Three Snow Bears by Jan Brett

One Cool Friend by Toni Buzzeo 

The First Day of Winter by Denise Fleming

When Winter Comes by Nancy Van Laan 

Little Fern's First Winter by Jane Simmons 

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen 

 

Snowballs by Lois Ehlert

 

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton

Let it Snow by Holly Hobbie

In Memory of Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela, without a doubt one of the greatest people to live in recent memory, sadly passed away yesterday at the age of 95. Mandela fought to end the system of apartheid, or separation of blacks and whites,  in South Africa and later served 27 years in prison for his activist efforts. He went on to become the country's first black President and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. Today flags across the world, including those in the United States and flags outside of Buckingham Palace, England will fly at half-staff to mourn and celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela.

Such an important world leader will surely be remembered for many years to come, and luckily there are some wonderful reading choices available so that even the littlest ones can be touched by this role model. 

 Nelson Mandela By Kadir Nelson. Katherine Tegen Books, 2013. 

A lovely picture book biography suited for preschoolers through fifth grade, brimming with gorgeous illustrations by award-winning artist and author Kadir Nelson. This would be a great introduction for young readers to Mandela's heroic life.









 

Long Walk to Freedom Abridged by Chris van Wyk, illustrated by Paddy Bouma. Flashpoint, 2009. 

Adapted from Mandela's best-selling autobiography for grade-school readers, this title covers his childhood, education and the events that led him to becoming one of the world's most important activists. Complete with full-page color paintings, this title focuses primarily on his early life in South Africa. 




Nelson Mandela by Laaren Brown and Lenny Hort. DK Children, 2006.

A detailed biography for middle school students and older, this title has a plethora of interesting historical photographs depicting Mandela at various stages in his life, activists during apartheid, and political figures. 











Nelson Mandela: The Authorized Comic Book  by The Nelson Mandela Foundation, illustrated by Umlando Wezithombe. W. W. Norton & Company, 2009. 


This graphic novel is suitable for a wide variety of ages and is both educational and inspirational. A great way to introduce Mandela and his meaningful life and work to a reluctant reader who may shy away from a tradtional chapter book.

Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales edited by Marguerite Gordon. Illustrated by various artists. W. W. Norton & Company, 2007. 

A great choice for school-age readers, this title is a wonderful selection of 32 African foktales compiled by Nelson Mandela and begins with a foreword by the leader himself. Many stories have their origins in South Africa while some come from other African countries such as Zimbabwe and Botswana.  The book also showcases 18 mostly South African iillustrators. A very special way to learn more about this great man and his country.




Share one of these books today with your children to celebrate a very important global leader who will surely inspire generations to come. He showed the world what a huge difference one person can make. 

 Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

 July 18, 1918 -  December 5, 2013