Children’s Books

Monster Mash by David Catrow

From Amazon.com:  The “Monster Mash” was a graveyard smash–and now it’s a picture book by David Catrow!

The “Monster Mash” gets Wolf Man, zombies, and other monsters to dance and party in this catchy, classic song. Dracula rises out of his coffin, vampires feast in the master bedroom, and the ghouls get a jolt from Boris’s electrodes.

This “graveyard smash” caught on in a flash, and it became the hit of the land. The song, written in 1962 by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and Lenny Capizzi, has gone on to sell over 4 million copies. Fifty years later, David Catrow takes it to new heights as a picture book, with his fun and wacky illustrations that are sure to get kids singing and “mashing” along.

The 13 Nights of Halloween by Guy Vasilovich

From Amazon.com:  On the first night of Halloween, what does your mummy give you? A bright, shiny Skeleton Key, of course!

In fact, for each of the thirteen nights leading up to the big night, your mummy is ready with gifts that include everything from singing skulls to demons dancing to icky eyeballs. The spookier and slimier, the better!

From debut author-illustrator Guy Vasilovich comes a picture book that is sure to inspire even the youngest readers to start the creepy countdown to Halloween. Sing along to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as you get ready for the scariest—and silliest—night of the year.

Skeleton Cat by Kristyn Crow

From Amazon.com:  A spooky Halloween read-aloud guaranteed to tickle the smallest funny bones!
After nine lives, Skeleton Cat is back for his tenth. And he has big dreams: to be a drummer. So he rattles and shakes his way through town to find the perfect band. And this phantom cat cause quite a hilarious scene.
Kristyn Crow’s punchy beat, rollicking action, and clever rhyme paired with Dan Krall’s ghoulishly charming art makes Skeleton Cat a perfect, catchy read-aloud for all ages.

The Big Dinosaur Dig by Esther Ripley

From Amazon.com:  Travel to the Sahara Desert with Josh Smith, real-life archeologist, as he and his crew of intrepid dinosaur hunters face fierce sandstorms, long hours of difficult work, and, finally, the joy of discovering a new species of dinosaur!

Incredible Sharks by Simon Seymour

From Amazon.com:  Some sharks can bite 300 times harder than a person and can hear prey in the water from 3,000 feet away. Find out more about these impressive hunters, from the tiny pygmy shark to the giant whale shark.

Volcanoes! Mountains of Fire by Eric Arnold

From Amazon.com:  A volcano could be called a sleeping mountain–that is, until it wakes up! What is it like to witness the eruption of one of nature’s majestic time bombs? Young readers can learn what makes volcanoes “tick,” and read about some of the most famous eruptions in history.

Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner

From Amazon.com:  A Race Against Time Little Willy’s grandfather is sick, and it’s up to Willy to save their farm from tax collectors. Their only hope is the prize money from the National Dogsled Race. But a lot of other people want to win the race, too, including Stone Fox, who has never lost a race in his life. Do Willy and his dog Searchlight stand a chance against the toughest racers around? Can they win the race to save the farm — and Grandfather — before it’s too late?

Drake And Josh: Chapter Book: Surprise! by Laurie McElroy

From Amazon.com:  Drake Bell and Josh Peck are as different as two kids can be– the only things they share are their families and their room!
Based on two episodes:
JOSH MEETS OPRAH
Josh is jazzed at the prospect of meeting his TV idol when Drake gets tickets to “Oprah” for his birthday, but delight turns to dismay in the studio parking lot.
VICIOUS TIBERIUS
When their neighbor, Mrs. Hayfer, needs a house sitter for the weekend, it’s the boys to the rescue, but all doesn’t go according to plan when they meet Tiberius, a vicious dog with an appetite for . . . Drake and Josh?!

Splendors and Glooms by Laura Amy Schlitz

The master puppeteer, Gaspare Grisini, is so expert at manipulating his stringed puppets that they appear alive. Clara Wintermute, the only child of a wealthy doctor, is spellbound by Grisini’s act and invites him to entertain at her birthday party. Seeing his chance to make a fortune, Grisini accepts and makes a splendidly gaudy entrance with caravan, puppets, and his two orphaned assistants.
Lizzie Rose and Parsefall are dazzled by the Wintermute home. Clara seems to have everything they lack — adoring parents, warmth, and plenty to eat. In fact, Clara’s life is shadowed by grief, guilt, and secrets. When Clara vanishes that night, suspicion of kidnapping falls upon the puppeteer and, by association, Lizzie Rose and Parsefall.
As they seek to puzzle out Clara’s whereabouts, Lizzie and Parse uncover Grisini’s criminal past and wake up to his evil intentions. Fleeing London, they find themselves caught in a trap set by Grisini’s ancient rival, a witch with a deadly inheritance to shed before it’s too late.
Newbery Medal winner Laura Amy Schlitz’s Victorian gothic is a rich banquet of dark comedy, scorching magic, and the brilliant and bewitching storytelling that is her trademark.

Big Bad Ironclad by Nathan Hale

Each of the books in Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales has elements of the strange but true and is presented in an engaging, funny format, highlighting the larger-than-life characters that pop up in real history. Big Bad Ironclad! covers the history of the amazing ironclad steam warships used in the Civil War.
From the ship’s inventor, who had a history of blowing things up and only 100 days to complete his project, to the mischievous William Cushing, who pranked his way through the whole war, this book is filled with surprisingly true facts and funny, brave characters that modern readers will easily relate to.