Pumpkins, Scarecrows, and Costumes

Miss Smith and the Haunted Library
by Michael Garland

Miss Smith takes her class to the library one fall day to meet the librarian and hear spooky stories, and she takes her Incredible Storybook with her. The librarian, Ms. Creeper is not what the students expected, but she starts reading them a story from the storybook. Suddenly, the different characters from those stories appear in the library. The students are frightened at first, but soon they are having fun with the different characters. Then Ms. Creeper remembers that it is time for the seniors’ book club. Will they be able to get the characters back into the book and clean up the library before the seniors see?

The Biggest Pumpkin Ever
by Steven Kroll and illustrated by Jeni Bassett

One day two different mice see the same pumpkin and want it to grow very big. Clayton wants to win the grand prize at the pumpkin contest, while Desmond wants to make the biggest jack-o-lantern in the neighborhood. Clayton takes care of the pumpkin by watering it, using fertilizer, and giving it sugar water. The pumpkin keeps getting bigger and bigger. Then one night when it gets cold, both Clayton and Desmond run out to cover the pumpkin in blankets. They both see that having both taken care of the pumpkin is why the pumpkin is so big. Will Clayton and Desmond be able to share the pumpkin? Will the pumpkin win the contest or become a jack-o-lantern?

Waltz of the Scarecrows
by Constance W. McGeorge and illustrated by Mary Whyte

One day Sarah is awoken by the sound of her grandfather looking around in the attic. When he comes down stairs, she sees that he is carrying clothes. After breakfast, he tells her that the clothes will be used to make scarecrows. Sarah wonders why the scarecrows will be wearing dress clothes. Sarah’s grandparents explain that the people of the town once scared off the crows from their crops by wearing their best clothes during a party. After that, the people in the town starting putting those best clothes on their scarecrows to keep the crows away every year. Her grandfather also tells her that some people have seen the scarecrows having a waltz in their nice clothes. Sarah then sends an old party dress to her grandparents. Why do you think she does this?

Captain Nobody
by Dean Pitchford

With a superstar football playing brother Chris, Newt is used to not being noticed. Even his parents tend to ignore him as they conduct their everyday business. Then Newt’s brother is injured during the Big Game and goes into a coma. Newt’s friends, JJ and Cecil, talk him into dressing up as Captain Nobody for Halloween in some of his brother’s old clothes. Then as Captain Nobody, Newt starts helping people and feeling more confident about himself. But will Captain Nobody be able to help the person who needs it the most?

Some New Books for October

Sensational Human Body Science Projects
by Ann Benbow and Colin Mably and illustrated by Tom Labaff

This nonfiction book has ways to investigate how things about the human body. These things include how well you hear things, feel things, taste and smell things, how fast your reactions are, what the most common eye color is, and how finger prints are similar and different. There are ideas for science fair projects after each investigation. There is also a list of books and websites that could also be consulted for ideas for science fair projects and further information about health and the human body.

Ready for Anything!
by Keiko Kasza

Raccoon and Duck had planned to go on a picnic, but Raccoon no longer wants to go. He ask Duck what would happen if certain things, like being attacked by bees or get stuck in a storm occur. Both Duck and Raccoon agree that picnics can be dangerous, but duck asks what if they find butterflies instead of bees and there is a light breeze instead of a storm. They then decide to go on the picnic, but raccoon wants to be prepared for anything. Will they be able to have a picnic? Will that picnic go smoothly?

Peeny Butter Fudge
by Toni Morrison and Slade Morrison and illustrated by Joe Cepeda

Mom has to go and leaves grandma to watch the kids. Grandma and the kids have fun while following the schedule that their mom left for them. After lunch they all lay down for naptime followed by story time. Then they all have fun in the backyard. Next is snack time and then more time for playing doctor. Then grandma and the children do some dancing together and work on a puzzle. Before their mom comes home, grandma wants to make some Peeny Butter Fudge. What will Mom say when she gets home?

The Kingdom Keepers
by Ridley Pearson

Disney transforms Finn Whitman and four other children into holograms (or DHI forms) that were created to show people how to get around in the parks of Disneyworld. One night, though, Finn finds himself, in his holographic form (or is he?), inside the Magic Kingdom. Finn is told by Imagineer, Wayne that the Magic Kingdom is in danger. Maleficent, and other Disney characters, are called the Overtakers, and these Overtakers are plotting to destroy Disneyworld and maybe even more. Can Finn and the other kids defeat the Overtakers and save the park?

Scarecrows

Benito’s Sopaipillas/ Las Sopaipillas de Benito
by Ana Baca and illustrations by Anthony Accardo

A grandmother tells her granddaughter that she is going to show her how to make sopaipillas and that it will rain. Then she tells her a story about her great-grandfather, Benito. Benito’s family was in trouble, because there had been no rain and the crops were dying. Benito had taken water when it was not his turn to have water. As punishment, he had to plow up his neighbors’ fields. It was when he was plowing that he passed out, and when he woke up a scarecrow asked for his help in saving the crops. The scarecrow tells him how he can help make it rain. Will Benito be able to make it rain? Does it rain when the girl and her grandmother make sopaipillas? The book is written in both English and Spanish, and there is a recipe for sopaopillas in the back of the book in both English and Spanish.

Scarecrow!
by Valerie Littlewood

This nonfiction book goes over the purpose and the history of the scarecrow, which has been used since the time of ancient Egypt. It discusses the different types of birds that feed on the crops, the different scarecrows that farmers create, stories about scarecrows, and instructions on how to make your own scarecrow.

Farmer Ham
by Alec Sillifant and illustrated by Mike Spoor

The crows on Farmer Ham’s farm sit all day and eat his corn and are very happy. Farmer Ham tries to get rid of them, but they just come back again and call him “Silly Old Farmer Ham.” But was he really? One day Farmer Ham starts fishing some boots, a hat, a scarf, and a jacket and trousers out of the pond. The crows just laugh at him and call him “Silly Old Farmer Ham!” Then he takes these things with him into his barn. What do you think he is making? Do you think it could be used to scare the crows away?

Scarecrow
by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Lauren Stringer

Did you ever consider what a scarecrow’s “life” is really like, as he stands out there on his post in the field? Do you know what the birds think about him? Do you think he knows what is going on around him? Do you think he likes staying up on the pole and watching everything? This book has some insight into what a scarecrows life is like and what he might be thinking.

October is National Popcorn Poppin' Month

October is National Popcorn Poppin’ Month

The Popcorn Book
by Tomie DePaola


Tony and Tiny decide to have some popcorn after seeing a popcorn commercial on television. Their mother tells them it is in the refrigerator. They both wonder why she keeps the popcorn in the refrigerator. Tiny decides to look up the answer in a book and explains to his brother not only why the popcorn is stored in the refrigerator, but he also describes where popcorn came from, how it was made and used throughout history, and how much popcorn is eaten in the United States. Will they be able to successfully make popcorn? See for yourself how the popcorn turns out for the two boys. There is also two different ways of making popcorn listed at the end of the book.

Aliens for Lunch
by Jonathan Etra and Stephanie Spinner and illustrated by Steve Björkman

Richard and Henry decide to have a snack of popcorn one day, and out of the bag of popcorn pops a little alien named Aric that Richard had previously helped in Aliens for Breakfast. Aric once again needs their help. Aric’s home planet of Ganoob had sent a very special package on a cargo ship to the planet Threll, but that ship had been stolen by the Graxians. If the package is not recovered, the desserts of Threll will not taste good, and the people of Threll will then attack Earth and steal all of the desserts. Can Aric, Richard, and Henry get the package back, deliver it to Threll, and save all of the desserts on Earth?

Popcorn!
by Elaine Landau and illustrated by Brian Lies

This nonfiction book has lots of fun facts about popcorn, such as October is National Popcorn Popping Month, but the book also discusses how and where popcorn is grown, how it pops, the history of popcorn, and how popcorn is good for you. There are also suggestions to make your popcorn taste even better and lists of websites and other books that are about popcorn.

The Popcorn Dragon
by Jane Thayer and illustrated by Lisa McCue

Dexter finds out one day that he can blow smoke. The other animals see him blow smoke, but they find that they cannot blow smoke like Dexter. Dexter then shows off by blowing smoke rings and doing other tricks with the smoke. The other animals get jealous and decide they do not want to play with Dexter. Sadly, Dexter lay down in among some cornstalks. Can you guess what happens next? Will Dexter be able to get his friends back?