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Books teach kids to make their own ghoulish fun

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Halloween is coming and reading a spooky book is one nighttime activity that isn't bad for your teeth! Here are some books that are sure to give you a laugh or a shiver and help build anticipation for Halloween celebrations.

For small children, “In the Haunted House,” written by Eve Bunting, is a fun introduction to spooky play. The thoughtful illustrations by Susan Meddaugh contain a hidden picture that lets the child see the truth behind the pretend haunted house.

One game that might help young children have courage in the face of spooks is to let them pop out of a doorway and say “Boo!” You can pretend to be surprised and let them know it isn't scary at the same time. If they seem undaunted by this, you can pop out and say “Boo” to test the waters. Are they scared or uncomfortable? If so, let them do the popping for now.

An old favorite for Halloween is “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything.” Written by Linda Williams and illustrated by Megan Lloyd, this story follows an old woman's walk in the dark and spooky woods while she encounters noisy items of clothing floating in the air. There is a twist at the end to wrap all of it together and it's fun along the way with noises to imitate while you are reading the book.

You can make a skit with this story. Gather all the clothing items from the book and a plastic or orange paper pumpkin. Play out the story for grandparents or any other small group.

“On Halloween Night,” by Harriet Ziefert, is about a girl named Emily who dresses for Halloween with a hodgepodge of items given to her by well meaning relatives. It is told in poetic verse and you feel like you really like Emily by the end of the story. The pictures by Renée Andriani are sweet and spooky at the same time.

Make a costume out of items found around your house or from a local thrift shop. Try coming up with different costumes to play with. They can be great sparks for imagination before, during and after this holiday.

“The Halloween Book of Facts and Fun” is full of information about Halloween - how it started, all about jack-o-lanterns, even a chapter on “El dia de los Muertos,” the holiday in Mexico that celebrates the dead. It has a chapter on safety tips and another one with plans for putting on a Halloween party. This book was written by Wendie Old and illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye.

You can have fun with this book leading up to the big day. Read a riddle from the riddle chapter at dinner and let everyone take a turn coming up with an answer. The person who comes closest to guessing the real answer gets to read the next riddle at dinner the next day.

One nutritious treat you can enjoy for Halloween is to bake a real pumpkin. Take a pie pumpkin, cut open the top and dig out the seeds for roasting; put a little water inside the pumpkin, place the top back on, and bake it for an hour and a half at 350 degrees. Enjoy the steamy vegetable instead of carrots or squash. You can even save some to make a pie.

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