Halloween is only 15 days away! I just brought my Halloween deco boxes out of the basement and will have to get that going, or this holiday will just run right by me. We don't really get trick-or-treaters where we live (when you live in your own valley with the next neighbor 1/2 mile down a dirt, very bumpy road, that just doesn't happen). And since I only have my last daughter in the house, and she's finishing up her Senior year of high school...well, Halloween just isn't the same as it once was. But I try to remember to keep it fun, at least.
What are you guys up to on that day? Do you decorate a lot, just a little, or not at all?
Plus, we live in the heart of the Bible Belt, which dampens the general excitement for the holiday, anyway.
Oh! And I'm suppose to tell you about today's read! Well, today's read looks absolutely adorable as a girl is forced to enter a witch's house. I have a feeling this one could be really well done if it takes the direction I'm hoping it will. But let's just dive in and see what it holds, shall we?
IN THE WITCH'S HOUSE
by Amy Houts
Illustrated by Berna Datema
Monarch Educational Services, LLC
Picture Book
Picture Book
pages 42
ages 5 to 8
Something strange is happening in the witch's house...
When a curious child steps inside, cobwebs swish, bones clatter, and mysterious sights await. Not everything is as it seems. With lyrical language, gentle suspense, and a cozy twist ending, This read-aloud favorite offers just the right mix of spooky and sweet. Perfect for autumn storytimes, family bedtime reading, or classroom fun,
In the Witch's House invites young readers into a not-so-scary tale where imagination takes center stage. Ideal for ages 5+, clean content, and full of magical charm without fear or fright.
When a curious child steps inside, cobwebs swish, bones clatter, and mysterious sights await. Not everything is as it seems. With lyrical language, gentle suspense, and a cozy twist ending, This read-aloud favorite offers just the right mix of spooky and sweet. Perfect for autumn storytimes, family bedtime reading, or classroom fun,
In the Witch's House invites young readers into a not-so-scary tale where imagination takes center stage. Ideal for ages 5+, clean content, and full of magical charm without fear or fright.
MY TIDBITS
Get ready for an adorable read with tons of spooky vibes and surprises, too.
A Dad announces that he's taking his daughter to the new neighbor's house, but she's not sure she wants to go. After all, it does look a bit spooky, and she is a little shy. When they get there, things are even darker and stranger than she expected. The front door creaks open with nobody answering, cobwebs hang in the corners, a snake dangles from the ceiling, and so many other things definitely hint that this is a dangerous witch's house. And then, Dad disappears. The little girl doesn't know what to do and soon races everywhere to find him. But before she can, she runs across the witch.
The author has done a marvelous play between spooky, over-active imaginations, and fun. The little girl's hesitation will, at first, have many readers wondering why she's so careful, but then, the tension starts to build, especially when she finds all sorts of things which scream witch and odd. It's impossible not to believe that the little girl was right in her first assumptions...and wonder why in the world the Dad isn't as hesitant, and then, he disappears! And yet, the book never crosses into scary. The illustrations bring everything across with enough lightness in the imagery and colors to make sure it doesn't grow dark. And when the witch appears...well, let's just say that any tension readers had will begin to switch gears. It's a lovely balance to make a fun read, which will keep readers in the pages and have them smiling by the end.
This is written in rhyme and flows well. The text is kept fairly short, making sure the tale rolls right along, but there's enough to build the atmosphere and girl's thoughts to draw in. This makes it a lovely read-aloud from group and smaller sittings. Add the detailed illustrations, which will have readers revisiting the scenes, and it's a wonderful, Halloween read from beginning to end.
And here they are...
When Amy Houts taught preschool at Head Start, dramatic play was a favorite of her students. She was inspired to write this book after one of their Halloween celebrations. Amy is the author of 100+ books for children for both faith-based and general market publishers. Amy’s faith-based books include bath books, Noah’s Ark and The Creation (Sunbeam/Bushel & Peck Books), God’s Earth is Something to Fight For (Sunbeam/ Bushel & Peck Books), and God’s Protection Covers Me (Beaming Books). Amy’s educational books include 60 retold tales for the series, Compass Children’s Classics. Her 10 nonfiction science early readers were published by Highlights. To find out more, visit her website: www.amyhouts.com.
Berna Datema is a Dutch children’s book author and illustrator. Born in Alkmaar, the Netherlands, she studied to become an art teacher in Amsterdam and went on to attend the Vogue Academy of Fashion Design. She worked as fashion designer for children’s clothes, specialized in prints and repeat pattern design. Berna’s first children’s book series, which featured a family of meerkats, were illustrated in watercolor and ink and published by C. de Vries-Brouwers in Antwerp. Along with writing and illustrating,
Berna designed digital materials for scrapbooking, working for international websites and shops. Berna took part in several inspiring courses by platforms Domestika, Lilla Rogers, and Skillshare, such as Editorial Illustrating and Illustrating for Children’s Books. Berna is member of childrensillustrators.com and SCBWI. Visit her website: https://www.bernadatema.com