Monday, October 26, 2009

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?

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