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Books to Turn Halloween Fear into Halloween Fun!

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Many small children don’t find Halloween fun at all! The masks, the jumping out surprises and all the ghosts, vampires & scary looking pumpkins can be too many surprises for little trick-or-treaters. Below are several stories that can help kids turn their Halloween fears into Halloween fun. If Arthur & Scaredy Squirrel can do it, so can your child! “It can be fun to be scared, as many of us will recall from Halloweens past. But if we think back, we’ll probably agree that there were two things that made it possible for that scariness to be fun. First, that we knew we were safe because someone we loved was nearby. Second, we knew that whatever was scaring us was only pretend.” ~Fred Rogers Smart words from Mr. Rogers! #IndyPLKids Last Updated: October 2023

The Indianapolis Public Library

10 items

Grumpy Monkey Don't Be Scared
Lang, Suzanne,
The jungle looks and sounds very different at night! When a pair of glowing eyes in the pitch-dark appears, is it a reason to fear, or time to make a new friend!
Book, 2023New York : Random House Studio, [2023] — J P LAN
Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears a Boo!
Bradford, Wade,
Horton hears a little boo and is not sure what to do!
Book, 2023New York : Random House Children's Books, 2023. — J P BRA
Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween
[a Safety Guide for Scaredies]
Watt, Mélanie, 1975-
Silly tips for a fun-not-scary Halloween from a little anxiety expert.
Book, 2013Toronto ; Tonawanda, NY : Kids Can Press, [2013] — J P WAT
Arthur's Halloween
Brown, Marc Tolon
Even big brothers like Arthur can get a little spooked on Halloween!
Book, 1982Boston : Little, Brown, [1982] — J P BRO
Go Away, Big Green Monster!
Emberley, Ed
A wonderful interactive story during which your child can yell "Go away, big green monster!" to make each scary monster part, like big teeth, magically disappear!
Book, 1992Boston : Little, Brown, [1992] — J P EMB
Humbug Witch
Balian, Lorna
A scary looking little witch dresses up in reverse...removing her pointy hat, her pointy shoes and her pointy nose one-step-at-a-time until all that is left is a friendly little girl.
Book, 1992Watertown, Wisc. : Humbug Books, 1992. — J P BAL
Me and My Dragon
Scared of Halloween
Biedrzycki, David
A pet dragon is terrified of all the scary Halloween creatures like mummies and zombies and werewolves. His friend tries suggesting costumes but none of them work, especially when the dragon sees his own zombie reflection and lights himself on fire!…
Book, 2013Watertown, Mass. : Charlesbridge, [2013] — J P BIE
Boo, Bunny!
Galbraith, Kathryn Osebold
One bunny quivers and one bunny shivers but they double their courage on Halloween night when they face their fears together!
Book, 2008Orlando, Fla. : Harcourt, [2008] — J P GAL
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything
Williams, Linda, 1948-
An old woman is determined to be brave even when she is followed by scary things through a dark woods - a story full of wonderful sounds to make to heighten the tension - clomp, clomp, wiggle, wiggle, shake, shake, knock, knock!
Book, 1986New York : HarperCollins : Trumpet Club, [1986] — J P WIL
Never Say Boo!
Pulver, Robin
At Gordon's new school he is the only ghost. His first day does not go well! He scares the other kids and his teacher too! When his quick thinking and ghosty talent saves the day he is accepted as the new friend he always wanted to be.
Book, 2009New York : Holiday House, 2009. — J P PUL

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