When I was a kid, I had a favorite book for every holiday. I wanted to pass on some new favorites to my girls, so I asked Mayma Raphael, a Westchester resident who wrote children’s book I Love the Skin I’m In, to tell us her five favorite Halloween books. Each book embodies the Halloween spirit without being too scary.
Moonlight: The Halloween Cat, by Cynthia Rylant and Melissa Sweet, is a soothing tale of a cat who takes a walk on Halloween night. The book is perfect for the youngest in your family.
By the Light of the Halloween Moon, by Caroline Stutson and Kevin Hawkes, is a toe tapping rhythmic book that begins with a little girl dangling her legs from a bridge that hides all kinds of Halloween creatures. The book is just scary enough to entice and the silly illustrations ensure that they’ll be able to sleep that night. For ages 6 and up.
Scaredy-Cat Splat! by Rob Scotton, is a book about the scaredy cat in all of us. Poor Scaredy-Cat wants to be scary but he gets scared over the littlest things. But when he accidentally scares his class, he gets his wish! For ages 3 and up.
What Was That!, by Geda Bradley Mathew and Normand Chartier, is a classic story about the creaks, squeaks and bumps in the night. I’m always telling my daughters that bugs and mice are more afraid of us than we are of them and that’s exactly what happens in this funny book. For all ages.
Andy Shane and the Pumpkin Trick, by Jennifer Richard Jacobson and Abby Carter, is about a boy who has a plan to catch some pumpkin smashers. For ages 5 and up.
Mayma Raphael’s book, I Love the Skin I’m In, was inspired by her daughter who asked her questions about her skin color. This lovely, rhythmic book, explains to kids that no matter what a person looks like, we are all more alike than different.
