THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman

Grade 5-8 readers love ghost stories! What could be "ghosty-er" than being raised by ghosts! "Nobody" is the main character of The Graveyard Book and is raised by an abandoned graveyard full of ghosts from the time he crawls into the graveyard escaping his family's murderer until he eventually confronts the man as a teen. There is even a character who is neither living nor dead who is able to walk among the living and make sure he has food, books, and clothes, even though they aren't what normal kids wear. As Nobody grows he comes in contact with real people and eventually he must escape the villain who discovers him living among the friendly ghosts. This book is scary without being gruesome and has all the elements of suspense to keep you wanting to turn the page. The Graveyard Book won the Newbery Award in 2009 and can be found at J GAI.

ALIENS ARE COMING! by Meghan McCarthy

Few kids today are familiar with the famous War of the Worlds radio broadcast that terrified the nation back in 1938. But on that Halloween eve, many Americans did indeed panic when they tuned in to hear their favorite radio program and instead heard Orson Welles’ realistic radio play warning that Martians had landed on earth and were taking over. McCarthy’s picture book explains to today’s tech-savvy and sophisticated youngsters how so many Americans could be duped by a simple radio performance adapted from the H. G. Wells’ novel. This is a perfect nonfiction selection to read on the 75th anniversary of the real event; the text is brief and the illustrations include googly-eyed slimy aliens that are more funny than frightening. Find this book in the Juvenile Nonfiction section at J 791.447 MCC.

I HAD A FAVORITE DRESS by Boni Ashburn

What to do when a child’s favorite dress grows too short?  Make it a shirt, of course!  That is exactly what the mom in this fun tale does.  She even goes a few steps further as the sleeves become too tight, dress codes at school change, and the weather becomes cooler.  Children can watch as this little girl and her mom snip and sew a beloved dress into all sorts of different designs and accessories.  Combined with Julia Denos’ whimsical and bright illustrations, this story makes for a cute family read.  I Had a Favorite Dress can be found in the Easy Section under E ASH.

THE BOY OF A THOUSAND FACES by Brian Selznick

Alonzo King was born on Halloween. His dream is to become The Boy of a Thousand Faces. He loves monsters and is a walking encyclopedia on horror movies. Unfortunately, he lives in a town where no one believes in monsters. That is until The Beast arrives. Now everyone is asking for his advice on tracking him down. A quick read about following your dreams. For ages 8 years and up and can be found in the Juvenile Section of the library under J SEL.

THE DOT by Peter H. Reynolds

For little Vashti, art class is no fun. She thinks she can't draw. But one very wise art teacher knows just how to encourage Vashti, and in no time Vashti is cranking out masterpiece after masterpiece. Vashti is even able to share her her new talent and encourage other children who think they can't draw. What is her teacher's secret encouragement? Read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds and find out! 
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