Ask a Librarian Pumpkin (Courtesy of CliffLandis)
When I was a kid, I was obsessed with scary stories. One of my favorites? Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark . Those illustrations haunt me to this day!
Scary stories can help us deal with our fears in a safe environment, and experience the adrenaline / excitement of those fears without being in any real danger. As a shy, reserved child, they served as an exciting outlet for me. I think Horror gets a bad rap - often dismissed as a lesser genre, purely there for our entertainment. In reality, the best scary stories offer many important life lessons:
- Don't talk to strangers
- Stay on the path
- Tell your parents where you're going
- Don't invite vampires into your home :)
Halloween is the perfect time to explore some spookier stories with your child, while they are already in that "it's only pretend" mindset of costumes, haunted houses, ghosts, and goblins. Here are two booklists sure to give a little shiver this season - or any time of year:
Options for little ones:
BKLYN Scary Board Books, Picture Books and Easy Readers
Older kids can test their bravery with the titles on this list:
BKLYN Scary Stories for Kids
*If you're unsure whether the story is a bit too scary, try reading together so that your child feels the comfort of your presence and has the opportunity to ask questions as you go. You know your child best. Reading should be an enjoyable experience, so if these titles do not seem appropriate for their personailty/preferences, I encourage you to try a different genre that suits them to ensure a continued love of reading!
Brooklyn Public Library also offers a variety of Halloween-related programs and events for kids of all ages. (Like lessons in levitation - see photos below). Click here to see the fantastic Halloween programs being offered at your local branch this year.
We hope you have a happy and safe Halloween, filled with tricks, treats, and of course, books!
This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.
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