Halloween Books for Kids

I am kind of a holiday fanatic in general, and I grew up in a family where holidays were really celebrated. I have always wanted to carry on that tradition into my family and with my nieces and nephews... I don't get to do it as often as i'd like at the moment, but this year I am sending a little Halloween surprise to my 2 1/2 year old nephew. These REALLY cute bat PJ's i found on GAP kids and some Halloween books! 

1. Really who didn't grow up with Clifford? I loved that Big Red Dog and the halloween books were always my favorite. Especially, Cliffords first Halloween since he was cute tiny puppy at the time! Kids are bound to enjoy these books.

1. B&N, GR

2. B&N, GR

3. B&N, GR

2. Honestly, Angelina Ballerina started after my childhood, but I know she is a popular fictional figure and that young girls adore her. Since, most of these books are gender - neutral, I thought I'd add a more girlier book to the mix. Plus the illustrations look really pretty

B&N, GR

3. Black cats are a staple to Halloween, and it is fun to see a book centered around a Black Cat, that is scared or being scary. 

B&N, GR

4. Kid friendly Halloween Poems?! Say No More!

B&N, GR

5. You are bound to get your kids laughing with a trick or treating dinosaur!

B&N, GR

6. Phineas and Ferb have made a huge splash the past few years and have become beloved from kids to adults. I can bet that this Haunted Hayride will be full of fun and mischief.

B&N, GR

7. I am MOST excited about Halloween Night on this list, since it is the Halloween version of the 'Twas the night before Christmas and even a Monster Mash party!

B&N, GR

8. Arthur's Halloween is the perfect combo of fun and creepy. No, really the giant house on the hill.. SCARED me.

B&N, GR

9. Happy Halloween has 3 Berenstain Bears Halloween stories in them. Trick or Treat, Ghost Woods and Ghost Parade. Also, Berenstain Bears are always a good read for the vintage feel and wholesome lessons.

B&N, GR

Top Ten Tuesday: Best and Worst Series Endings

Best

This book and the ending made me LOVE the series! Totally had a book hangover from this one!

Talk about getting all your questions answered. I just didn't want it to end though!

Aw, Never have I cried SO much, from the perfection of the ending, the closure I was getting and from the sadness that an era was over.

Although, I totally WISH there was a 5th book, I was very happy with the ending to the Twilight Series.

Worst

AH! My feelings were totally toyed with the whole series and then to end it that way, was SUCH a betrayal!

Not the WORST ending, but still disappointed.

I didn't love Hunger Games but grew attached reading Catching Fire and Mockingjay was going to be my happy resolution and all the ending did was make me furious!

GAH! LOVED Elixir and wanted SOOOO much from this series and man oh man did this series let me down. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Turn-offs

here.

1. Political Slamming

Esp. when it is not essential to the books plot line. This instantly puts me in a foul mood.

2. Animal or Elderly Cruelty

It makes me SO unbelievably sad and angered and when it is in a book I can't handle it

3. No Love Connection

Not necessarily instalove, but when characters are forced to be together.. yet I don't feel the love and chemistry between them. How am I suppose to believe in it then?

4. Bad Covers

Superficial? Yes. But Ugly cover... chances are I won't read your book. Unless recommended to me.

5. When a Series Is Repetitive

And what I mean by that is, when I begin to read a book and you CONTINUOUSLY refresh me on what happened in the previous book. A little reminder is okay.. a summaries worth.. not so much! I am looking at you Richelle Mead! (although, I still love her books)

6. Quick Endings

Meaning.. I have read and received a lot of information, I am loving it and fully absorbed in the story, but I want answers too. Low and behold there is 20 pages left to the ending... and I think "no... please don't do this to me" and they do! They wrap up the past 250 pages of greatness into 20 pages and leave me fuming mad!

7. Predictability

Really, how annoying is it when you can see exactly where the plot line is going.

8. Overly Forgiving Characters!

This drives me bonkers! When there is a shitty friend and they get in a fight or whatever and then two pages later they have made up! No, that person sucks! DITCH THEM! Ala Mia and Lily. 

9. Blow-ups over Nothing

I hate hate hate when a character makes a mistake or there is a misunderstanding and the other characters. the presumed victim. Gets all judgy and doesn't listen and creates this big fight over something usually not THAT important. 

10. Vulgarity

Look, I can be vulgar, I can have a naughty sense of humor... but sometimes it is too much, like there is trying to be a shock factor. Especially, when the book is YA. Nope, I don't wanted to read about "fucking a guy and making him cum" consistently. I didn't even like typing that on here. This reason and reason #1 are why i stopped reading The Jessica Darling series. It just makes me cringe!

Take A Bow

Summary:

"From the fantastic author of The Lonely Hearts Club and Prom & Prejudice comes a story of all the drama and comedy of four friends who grow into themselves at a performing arts high school.
Emme, Sophie, Ethan, and Carter are seniors at a performing arts school, getting ready for their Senior Showcase recital, where the pressure is on to appeal to colleges, dance academies, and professionals in show business. For Sophie, a singer, it's been great to be friends with Emme, who composes songs for her, and to date Carter, soap opera heartthrob who gets plenty of press coverage. Emme and Ethan have been in a band together through all four years of school, but wonder if they could be more than just friends and bandmates. Carter has been acting since he was a baby, and isn't sure how to admit that he'd rather paint than perform. The Senior Showcase is going to make or break each of the four, in a funny, touching, spectacular finale that only Elizabeth Eulberg could perform."

I found Take A Bow to be a cute and easy read, but the plot and concept were really nothing new or exciting. With that being said, I am a fan of books or movies with Performing Arts School themes. They are fun and give me an inspirational feeling. Just this one wasn't that original.

We follow several characters, but we primarily follow Emme and how she is involved or influences the other characters lives. Emme is a like-able character and so is Carter. They just have an ease about them, that makes then read-able. Ethan, although I liked him, he was annoying at times and I didn't find his and Emme connection to be anything more than friendship. I really wanted to know about his demons and background. In fact I really wanted to know more of everyones background. I wanted more depth from the characters.

Fun, Cute, Easy and Creatively Inspiring.

Not Original and at times Confusing.

Although, I was interested in reading the book and the story, it definitely felt more juvenile and at times the story rushed or jumped and I would be confused about what just happened and would have to go back and re-read real quick. I also, wish the story had a stronger story for Carter, since he is who we are 1st introduced to in the book. Overall, a nice, quick read.

Top Ten Tuesday: Best Sequels

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2.

(ok not technically a sequel, but my favorite of  the series)

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Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Dance The Moon Down

My Life Next Door