Autumn is a time for hay rides, raking leaves, picking apples and pumpkins, and a time when the monsters, goblins and ghouls come out. From monsters under the bed to wicked witches, children have a wide variety of fears and fascinations that may arise during this time of year. Reading books about the scary and unfamiliar help to comfort children and may alleviate any fears they may have. Here are some awesome not-so-scary books to share with your little ones.
In Go Away Big Green Monster a monster appears, bit by bit, on each page — first two big yellow eyes, then a bluish greenish nose, and so on, growing until the monster is complete. Then when the reader is ready to show the monster who’s in charge, they’ll turn the remaining pages and watch him disappear bit by bit. This creative book helps children chase away their nighttime fears in an ingenious way.
Love Monster has gone through his bedtime routine, but he’s still awake, and the harder he tries to sleep, the later and darker and spookier it gets. After hearing some scary sounds and imagining something hungry with “terrible twisterly toenails” and great big teeth, Love Monster finds that if you are brave enough to face what you are afraid of, that you find out that there is nothing to be scared of after all. You can also check out this title as eAudio on Hoopla.
Even monsters are picky eaters. In this book by Barbara Hicks we find out that monsters prefer snacking on tractors and tender trailer bits rather than broccoli or artichokes or greens. In the final pages, two picnicking monsters are revealed to be a pair of children, munching not on maple trees but on—wait for it—broccoli florets. Ending with another helping, please.
If you ever wondered what odd concoctions were inside of a witch’s kitchen, here is your chance to find out. You can peek inside the different items in the witch’s kitchen and either shriek or smile while using the two-way flaps. At the end of the book we get to meet a not so scary witch.
Leonardo is a Terrible Monster because he is not very scary. He doesn’t have 1642 teeth like Tony and he’s not just plain weird like Hector and even though he tries hard to be scary he just isn’t. After doing some research in order to find the most scaredy-cat kid in the world, he finds Sam. Leonardo tries to scare the Tuna Salad out of him. In the end Leonardo decides to be a wonderful friend instead of a terrible monster. You can also check out this title as eAudio on Hoopla or as video on Hoopla.