Hallowe’en is here – and we have some FANTASTICALLY spooky books for all ages, with witches, magic, pumpkins, and monsters and galore. There’s something for everyone! If you’d like to celebrate with some excellent hallowe’en reading, here’s what you can find in bookshops today.
We’ve just published Witchworld by Emma Fischel – the first volume in an exciting new series for 9+ year olds. Flo is a thoroughly modern witch girl – she has a spell stick, travels in her sky rider, and wouldn’t know a cauldron if she fell into one. But when her grandmother turns up on an actual broomstick, warning that ghouls are about to attack Witchworld, Flo realises that everything she’s been told about being a witch is just hocus pocus – and she soon finds herself involved in a thrilling adventure where old witchcraft and modern witchtech collide, with dramatic results…
With an ingeniously imaginative story from Emma, stunning cover artwork from Ottoline creator Chris Riddell, and a brilliantly bewitching new heroine in Flo, this is a fabulous foray into fantastical fiction for older readers – Sabrina with a smartphone! The Times have named it their Children’s Book of the Week, and described it as “fresh and fun”.
Here’s a look inside Witchworld:
For younger readers, Vulgar the Viking and the Spooky School by Odin Redbeard would make the perfect Hallowe’en read. Vulgar can’t wait for the school trip, to learn all about hunting and exploring and having adventures. But after a very VERY long walk and a tea of roasted slugs, Vulgar’s not so chipper. It’s getting dark, and he’s a bit spooked. There are trolls in these hills…
Here’s a look inside the book:
And for newly independent readers with a thirst for magic and mayhem, Hubble Bubble: The Super-Spooky Fright Night – the third young fiction title from Tracey Corderoy and Joe Berger, the creators of the highly-acclaimed Hubble picture books – will go down a treat. In this collection of three illustrated stories, Granny’s halloween party goes off with a bang, a birthday trip to a build-a-teddy factory careers out of control, and well, you can probably guess who magics up penguins at the local swimming pool!
Here’s a look inside The Super-Spooky Fright Night:
And, of course, the Hubble Bubble picture books would make EQUALLY suitable Hallowe’en reading – if you’ve not discovered the series before, start with Hubble Bubble, Granny Trouble, the very first story all about the little girl whose granny is (whisper it) a witch.
Here’s a look inside Hubble Bubble, Granny Trouble:
For young children who are still new to school, you can’t go wrong with Mouse’s First Night at Moonlight School by Simon Puttock and Ali Pye, a sublimely illustrated and gently reassuring new picture book. It’s Mouse’s first day at Miss Moon’s Moonlight School for the wee, small creatures of the night – but she’s a little shy. Wherever can she be? Inside the paint pots? On the tops of cupboards? Under a pile of special leaves?
Here’s a look inside the book:
And for very little ones, Wickle Woo has a Halloween party! by Jannie Ho would be absolutely ticket-boo. Designed for the smallest of hands, with wonderfully satisfying tabs and sliders, this robust, colourful board book will delight little readers again and again. You can read about some of Jannie’s fantastic Wickle Woo craft activities (and learn how to make your own!) here.
And, don’t forget – there are some fantastically spooky hallowe’en jigsaws, with artwork from lots of our books an apps, in our free jigsaw app, Nosy Crow Jigsaws! Here’s a quick preview of the app:
Happy Hallowe’en from all of us at Nosy Crow!
