.png)
.png)
.png)
From costumes to spooky reads — the library has everything kids need to have a happy Halloween
Halloween for children is a magical experience. It’s a time to dress up and be anything. Not to mention the treats are a nice addition. And this year the Garland County Library has families covered with Halloween costumes for ages 0-18, crafts, festive cake pans, events that are a total scream and of course scary good reads — all at no cost.
Youth Services Coordinators Brook Olsen and Jill Henson sat down with The Post to talk about the amusement hiding right around the corner.
Starting Oct. 1, the library will offer free costumes to children 0-18. No library card is required, and costumes can be kept or returned after use. Costumes will be available until they run out.
The stock currently sits at about 100, but between now and Oct. 1 costume donations are welcome from the community.
In addition to dressing the part, during the month of October the library's children's department will also have festive "take and make" crafts for children to bring home, a "Fish-O-Ween" event at Family Park with games and fishing, and of course frightening good reads.
Olsen and Henson gave a look into each of their top five favorite Halloween reads currently on the shelves in the children's department.
Olsen's Top Picks
Inside the Slidy Diner by Laurel Snyder
The Bath Monster by Colin Boyd
*Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
Pumpkin Trouble by Jan Thomas
Poultrygeist by Eric Geron
Of her top picks, Olsen said Room on the Broom is an all-time favorite.
This tale follows the story of a silly witch riding on her broom, picking up all the animals she sees on her way.
"Finally her broom can't take it and it breaks," Olsen said. "There's all sorts of things on it — she's also got her caldron — but instead of falling to pieces she decides to create a bigger, stronger broom that includes everyone on it — there's enough room on the broom for everybody.
"And I love that aspect of it because it's like there's enough love for everybody in this world; there's enough room for everybody in this world. It's about kindness and it's about overcoming obstacles and never giving up, and caring about others and their well-being. So it comes off as a witch book, but turns out it's really wholesome."
Henson's Top Picks
*I'm Not Afraid of this Haunted House by Laurie Friedman
The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky by Jory John
Turkey Trick or Treat by Wendi Silvano
Click, Clack, Boo! by Doreen Cronin
Snowmen at Halloween by Caralyn Buehner
Of her top picks, Henson said I'm Not Afraid of this Haunted House sits at number one.
Following the story of Simon Lester Henry Strauss, who is not afraid of this haunted house, Henson said this fun book full of rhyming and bravery. Well, for the most part.
"He and his friends visit the haunted house and his friends are terrified and he's just like 'I'm not afraid,' so he does all of the things that each room has; the squeaky floors and all the ghosts hanging down and stuff."
Strauss isn't afraid of anything, not even the the vampire feast and sucking beasts. It's not until Simon Lester Henry Strauss comes face-to-face with a...
spoiler alert
mouse, that he flees this haunted house.
"It's just a lot of fun and I try to read that one every year even though everyone almost knows it, but they love it too," Henson said.
Psst.. one more thing not to miss out on before leaving the library: The festive cake pans any library card holder can check out. The library makes it easy to concoct baked goods of the scarecrow, pumpkin, witch and goblin variety.