October is an exciting month for kids with hayrides, decorating pumpkins, and choosing the perfect Halloween costume. Will they trick or treat around the neighborhood or attend one of the many fun Halloween parties be given? Many parents like to take their children to area senior centers or assisted living facilities, so the residents can enjoy seeing them in their costumes. However you spend the day/evening, be safe and create a kind and fun-filled day for everyone.

Reading spooky books or making delicious Halloween themed snacks can also be fun, especially if the weather decides not to cooperate with the best laid plans of parents and children. We’ve found some fun fall books, and age appropriately spooky books, plus some recipe books to help you get in the swing of the fall season.

Enjoy!

Scary, Scary Halloween by Eve Bunting with illustrations by Jan Brett – Fun rhymes about Halloween your little ones will love, and detailed illustrations only Jan Brett could create. For ages 2-6

The Halloween Tree by Susan Montanari – Instead of becoming a beautiful Christmas tree, this tree grew into a gnarly snarky tree that doesn’t like lights or decorations. Can the children help this tree feel special at Halloween? For ages 3-6

In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz – This is a Level Two I Can Read Book for kids who want to read on their own, but may still need a little help. Illustrated by Victor Rivera with silly and spooky artwork sure to please your child. These stories are inspired by traditional folktales. For ages 5 and up

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: Three Books to Chill your Bones by Alvin Schwartz – It’s like sitting around a campfire telling scary stories without the smoke and mosquitoes. Your kids will enjoy these spooky and sometimes funny tales. For ages 7 and up

Short and Shivery: A Scary Halloween Book for Kids by Robert D. San Souci – Ghosts, monsters, ghouls, and just the right amount of Halloween horror for this age group. For ages 8-12

Escape Room by Maren Stoffels – Teens go out for a fun night at an escape room and find themselves caught in a real struggle with the Game Master. Can they escape? For ages 11 and up

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen by Shea Ernshaw –  this is a companion novel to Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas. Sally Skellington is the new Pumpkin Queen, but being the Queen of Halloween Town isn’t what she imagined. Sally and Zero discover a hidden doorway to Dream Town and walk into a series of sinister events. Can they escape, reunite with Jack, and save the town she loves? For ages 15 and up

Halloween Activity Book by Live and Play Studio – Recipes, crafts, and games for Halloween family fun. For ages 6 and up

The Nightmare Before Dinner : Recipes to Die for: The Beetle House Cookbook  by Zach Neil – Recipes from the famous Beetle House Halloween-inspired restaurant with locations in New York and Los Angeles. Enjoy 60 recipes created by Chef Zach Neil inspired by the works of Tim Burton and all things scary. For families of all ages

Food to Die For by Amy Bruni – Ghost hunter, Amy Bruni takes you around the world in search of stories and recipes from spooky places – mysterious hotels, ghost towns, and possessed pubs. For families with older children and Young Adults