Hallobooks (The Thursday Three)

These are books I feel compelled to read each and every October/Halloween. If you can get your hands on a copy of any of them I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

The Thursday Three

Favorite Halloween Books


Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Series by Alvin Schwartz, 1981, 1984, 1991.

This is a three volume set and includes the titles Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones. Each book contains various urban legends, both of the scary and funny sort, just perfect for this time of year. One of my favorites is the story Harold, found in SS3. I use to read this one to some of my classes. Each day in October, for about 15 minutes after lunch, I would read or tell a spooky or spooky, but funny story. Harold was always one of the most well liked. Unfortunately, it also caused at least one boy to nix his mother's ideas for having a decorative scarecrow in her yard. Do you remember Harold, Issac?

Ghosts Along the Cumberland by Williams Lynwood Montell, 1975.

This one I remember from high school. And, as a Tennessean who only lived a hop, skip, and jump from the Cumberland River, I could relate to the lore found within its pages. The fact that John owned a copy of the book made him all the more cool to me when we started dating.

Halloween by Jerry Seinfeld, 2002.

This one somehow found its way into my collection when I was an elementary school librarian. I would read it each year to 4th and 5th graders but much of the humor was lost on them. They just couldn't relate to plastic masks with the two little nose holes and rubberband held in place by a cheap staple or the orange peanut-shaped candies that many elderly people would give away. But, as a child of the 1970s, I could most assuredly relate. I also lucked up and found a bunch for sale a few years ago at a Dollar General store for a buck each. Hardcover editions, at that! I cleaned them out and that's what trick-or-treaters who came to my door received that year, in addition to the black and orange pumpkin straws, of course. If you grew up during the 60s and/or 70s you'll want to be sure to read this one. And, of course, it's Jerry Seinfeld. How can it not be funny?

Happy Halloween Reading, Ya'll!

The Thursday Three - A Few Good Reads

In honor of the start of another school year ...

The Thursday Three

My Favorite Kate DiCamillo Books.

1. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the story of a mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread - If the title doesn’t entice you, then let me just beg. Please, please, please read this story. I know you’ll love it. And if you’ve not read the book but have seen the animated film based on it, consider yourself ripped off. What a tragedy!

The fact that the book is comprised of more than 50 short chapters makes it a great one to read aloud at night to children.

I read this to several classes one year when I was librarian at the elementary school, including Ren’s class. She loved it so very much that I bought her her own copy for a Valentine’s Day gift that year.

Oh, and Despereaux was the 2004 Newbery Medal winner. That means it was the best in children’s literature for that year. Now you know you just HAVE to read it!



2. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - Edward is a very proud china rabbit who is deeply loved by the little girl who owns him. Sadly, he is too vain to even appreciate this love - until he is lost. This book chronicles the change Edward goes through during his time apart from Abilene. A bonus for us Tennesseans, the book starts out set in Memphis.

I remember trying to get Ren to read this one night when she was all attitude and not wanting to read. So I said I would read it aloud to her. I told her she HAD to listen to me read the first two chapters and after that she could leave and go to her bedroom. Upon finishing chapter two she said, “Keep reading.” Ahhhh!

3. The Magician’s Elephant - Orphan Peter Augustus Duchene has just one question he wants answered...Is his sister still alive? So, when he sees a fortuneteller’s tent set up in the market square he knows what he must do. The answer he receives sets off an impossible chain of events.

I just read this one this past school year. Another great story by Kate.

Happy Reading!

A Many-Colored Day

Today, the birthday of Dr. Seuss was celebrated throughout the country. Okay, in all probability this was only observed in large, daily-housing facilities for people under the ages of 10. In school houses across America children were chowing down to a breakfast of green eggs and ham to commemorate the 106th birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel. Don't think about that too literally or you may become nauseous.

John-Heath and I got a head start on this yesterday evening when he proclaimed, "We learned about Dr. Seuss today." So we drug out a copy of Green Eggs and Ham on which to feast. His favorite part, of course, was the mention of the train. A train! A train! A train! A train! Could you, would you, on a train?

Today, at his pre-school they had the obligatory GE & H meal. Tonight at home we had meatloaf (that doesn't really have anything to do with the story). This was followed by the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas, a bath and 4 Dr. Seuss stories (3 read by me and 1 by John).

Here's a little librarian's trivia for you...the idea for Green Eggs and Ham came about when Dr. Seuss was challenged by his friend and editor, Bennett Cerf, to write a book with fewer than 50 words.

I didn't ask Ren how her school observed this special day. Hmmm. I'll have to do that tomorrow. I'm sure she'll have loads of stories to share.

Say!

I like Green eggs and ham!

I do! I like them, Sam-I-am!

And I would eat them in a boat.

And I would eat them with a goat...

Fe Fi Fo Fum

I have what one would call an addictive personality. I can watch the same show or listen to the same song over and over again until I just get sick of it. So, it's a good thing I've never felt a desire to drink or worse.


I suppose my children have inherited this trait from me. Ren will go through periods where she will watch the same television series over and over. Little House on the Prairie came first, then Reba, Seinfeld, I Love Lucy and now Desperate Housewives. John-Heath watches Spongebob Squarepants like it's going out of style.


And, like all children I suppose, they have their favorite bedtime story they want told again and
again.

Our children have always enjoyed being read to. They also enjoy being told stories too.

With Ren, the story she most requested was one about an old, thought-to-be haunted house near the local grade school. I would always have to put Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck in as characters and her favorite part was when the door would screeeeeeetch open and something would jump out. Ren has always enjoyed this genre. She was no older than 5 when she first saw Sleepy Hollow.


John-Heath is also into the classics, though he does not enjoy being scared. His usual request is my simple little version of Jack and the Beanstalk. He is quick to point out when I change or omit something in the story. Did mother throw the beans out the window or door?

Fe Fi Fo Fum

I smell the blood of an Englishman

Be he alive or be he dead

I'll grind his bones to make my bread