Many schools require students to wear Halloween costumes that are book related. Some even ask children to bring along a book that matches his or her costume. This policy is a great way to promote reading and integrate Halloween into the curriculum, but it can also be a source of stress. What if a child wants to wear a Spider-man costume, but all of the Spider-man books have already been checked out to other patrons? You might try recommending a book about Marvel comics, arachnids, or even a biography about Tobey Maguire.
To be prepared for the last minute rush to find books to match costumes, we created a list of “books to match your costume.” These titles are just a starting point. If you use your imagination, you can find a book to match just about any costume.
So you want to be Minnie Mouse . . .
In addition to the obvious Disney choices such as Minnie’s Costume Party, you might also recommend a book about mice or Disney World.
Fiction:
- Abel’s Island by William Steig
- Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse by Leo Lionni
- Anatol by Eve Titus
- Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk
- The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
- A Nest for Celeste by Henry Cole
Nonfiction:
- About Rodents: A Guide for Children by Cathryn and John Sill
- Walt Disney: The Man Behind the Magic by Tamra Orr
So you want to be a crayon . . .
Drew Daywald’s bestseller The Day the Crayons Quit is a perfect match, but don’t limit yourself. There are many, many great children’s books about art and colors.
Fiction:
- Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger
- Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
- A Day with No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch
- Bad Day at Riverbend by Chris Van Allsburg (This book also matches cowboy costumes!)
- Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Nonfiction:
- What Happens at a Crayon Factory by Lisa M. Guidone
- The Science Book of Color by Neil Ardley
So you want to be the Statue of Liberty . . .
There are plenty of good books about the Statue of Liberty, and there are usually at least a few available on the shelf. However, you also might recommend a book about new immigrants, sculpture, or New York City.
Fiction:
- Lisa in New York by Anne Gutman and George Hallensleben
- Naming Liberty by Jane Yolen and Jim Burke
- A Picnic in October by Eve Bunting
Nonfiction:
- All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel by Dan Yaccarino
- How They Built the Statue of Liberty by Mary J. Shapiro
- The Story of the Statue of Liberty by Besty & Giulio Maestro
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Our guest blogger today is Rebecca Scotka. Rebecca is the Children’s and Young Adult Librarian at the East Lyme Public Library in Niantic, Connecticut.
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.
If you’d like to write a guest post for the ALSC Blog, please contact Mary Voors, ALSC Blog manager, at alscblog@gmail.com.