Happy Halloween, Punnyboppers! For this episode of Mini Media Mogul, Sarina and I have picked out three picture books perfect for the season.

Over in the Hollow

By Rebecca Dickinson, Illustrated by Stephan Britt (Chronicle Books, 2009)

Do you know the classic rhyme "Over in the Meadow?" That’s what inspired Over in the Hollow - it has the same rhyme scheme and children-echo-their-parents format, but with a Halloween twist. The characters in the book are a mother and daughter spider ("'Spin,' hums the mother/'I spin,' hums the one"), a mummy dad and his kids, plus families of owls, vampires, bats, witches, and so on. Appropriately for the holiday, this counting book goes up to the number thirteen.

The illustrations in this one are busy and energetic -cluttered, even, but still cute. It's nice to have a book that not only mentions mommies and daddies, but also grandparents and an aunt and uncle. It’s also easy to sing along with if you know the melody of the original.

Mouse's First Halloween

By Lauren Thompson, illustrated by Buket Erdogen (Simon & Schuster, 2000)

This is one of Sarina's favorites all year round. It's one of the "Mouse's First" series, which follow a curious young mouse on his brave adventures. In this one, he creeps around the house and hears all sorts of strange noises. "Eek!" he squeaks each time. "What could it be?" Children are given little clues in the pictures to help them guess what's coming. Then Mouse finds out what's making the noise - kittens, falling leaves, Trick or Treaters - and declares each time, "That's all. Not so scary after all."

The illustrations are richly painted, though sometimes just a bit hard to decipher because of the dark palettes. And the only part of the story that surprised me was the very first discovery: "Swooping bats! That's all. Not so scary after all." I don't know about you, but I find a bunch of swooping bats pretty scary.

My daughter had this book memorized after just a few readings, and she would giggle with delight every "Eek!" and smile for every sound effect. I'd recommend it for younger kids than the book suggests; it was perfect for my two-year-old.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

By Linda Williams, illustrated by Meghan Lloyd (HarperCollins, 1988)

In this long-loved story, a spunky little old lady is on her way home through the woods when a pair of shoes comes to life and begins following her. "Get out of my way!" she tells the shoes. "I'm not afraid of you." The shoes follow her anyway, and then comes a pair of pants - and a shirt, gloves, shirt, and so on. Each new item has its own sound ("wiggle wiggle," "nod nod," "shake shake"), and each time something new arises, the little old lady again proclaims she is not afraid of it.

The final object is a floating pumpkin head... which causes her to run into her house (even though she is NOT AFRAID… liar, liar, pants on fire). They're all pretty bummed that she refuses to be afraid, until she comes up with a solution: they can form themselves into a scarecrow and scare the birds away from her garden.

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything is a great book for toddlers and young kids, who will enjoy echoing and acting out the sounds, and will appreciate that the illustrations really aren't scary. You can even get it in a book-and-CD combo format.

Do you have a favorite Halloween read for kids? Share it in the comments!

Jenna Glatzer (www.jennaglatzer.com) is the author of 19 books. Her most recent collaboration is Unthinkable with Scott Rigsby, the first double-amputee to finish the world-famous Hawaiian Ironman triathlon. Jenna lives with her two-year-old daughter in New York. - Jenna Glatzer

I cannot help but excerpt the same brilliant passage everyone else undoubtedly will in referencing this interview.

What do you say to parents who think the Wild Things film may be too scary?

Sendak: I would tell them to go to hell. That's a question I will not tolerate.

Because kids can handle it?

Sendak: If they can't handle it, go home. Or wet your pants. Do whatever you like. But it's not a question that can be answered.

Jonze also quite elegantly describes why this is not necessarily a relevant question, which also explains why young children really should probably not see this movie. "[The studio] thought I was making a children's film and I thought I was making a film about childhood," he said. "I mean, I think it's a film - I want children to see it, and it's not like I made it not for children, and it'll be on the video shelf under CHILDREN'S, but I didn't come at it that way. I came at it from the inside out as opposed to the outside in. In the end, though, the studio let us make the movie we wanted to make."

Read the full interview on the Newsweek website. [Via Daddytypes] - Jeremiah

Chouette Publishing released a new series of Caillou books based on the Caillou television show earlier this year, offering the same simple drawings, uncluttered conversations, and practical lessons as the show in four different formats - lift-the-flap books (My First Vacation), a single-volume collection of stories (My Book of Great Adventures), a boxed set of five small hardcover stories, and a puzzle/board book (ABC Train).

Although these books are intended primarily for preschoolers, ABC Train would be fun for younger toddlers learning their ABCs and how to to assemble simple puzzles. The book is an extra thick board book with pop-out puzzle pieces that fit in alphabetical order, with an animal associated with each letter (jaguar for J, koala for K). The pieces fit together easily and store securely in the book. It's labeled as not intended for kids under three (maybe the choking hazard would come from puzzle pieces falling apart when chewed?) so use your discretion and parenting judgment here.

My First Vacation is a great book for helping kids grapple with the concept of taking a plane ride. As long as your child doesn't expect to get to meet the pilot and sit in the cockpit, they'll get something worthwhile from this book in advance of, or in the act of, taking a trip.

The Caillou Boxed Set, My Book of Great Adventures, and My First Vacation are clearly aimed towards the preschool set. These books teach a small life lesson in each story. Children who enjoy the quiet, gentle Caillou show will enjoy these books!

- Jeremiah

It's Banned Book Week this week, when the American Library Association and readers everywhere point out that we live in a free society yet randomly restrict children's access to books they want to read. Reading is dangerous, you know. So close your eyes, because we're about to share four items on book banning that you probably shouldn't see.

1. The Most Banned Books of 2008

1. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. 
Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group. I can say from experience this is a very good book! We got it for Z when she was three.


2. His Dark Materials trilogy, by Philip Pullman. Reasons: political viewpoint, religious viewpoint, and violence


3. TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Lauren Myracle. Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group


4. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz. 
Reasons: occult/satanism, religious viewpoint, and violence


5. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya. 
Reasons: occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, and violence


6. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky. Reasons: drugs, homosexuality, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, suicide, and unsuited to age group


7. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar. 
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group


8. Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen. Reasons: homosexuality and unsuited to age group


9. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini. Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, and unsuited to age group


10. Flashcards of My Life, by Charise Mericle Harper. 
Reasons: sexually explicit and unsuited to age group

2. The Geography of Book Bans and Challenges, 2007-2009

The ALA has put together a handy map showing reported incidents of book banning at schools and public libraries. They estimate this is just a fraction of the actual bans that occur, but it's pretty interesting to look at your state or even city and see that something had been banned and you didn't even know it.

3. Excerpt from the ALA's "Free Access to Libraries for Minors"

Libraries should not limit the selection and development of library resources simply because minors will have access to them. Institutional self-censorship diminishes the credibility of the library in the community, and restricts access for all library users.

Children and young adults unquestionably possess First Amendment rights, including the right to receive information through the library in print, nonprint, or digital format. Constitutionally protected speech cannot be suppressed solely to protect children or young adults from ideas or images a legislative body believes to be unsuitable for them. Librarians and library governing bodies should not resort to age restrictions in an effort to avoid actual or anticipated objections, because only a court of law can determine whether material is not constitutionally protected.

The mission, goals, and objectives of libraries cannot authorize librarians or library governing bodies to assume, abrogate, or overrule the rights and responsibilities of parents and guardians. As Libraries: An American Value states, “We affirm the responsibility and the right of all parents and guardians to guide their own children's use of the library and its resources and services.” Librarians and library governing bodies cannot assume the role of parents or the functions of parental authority in the private relationship between parent and child. Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that only parents and guardians have the right and the responsibility to determine their children's - and only their children’s - access to library resources. Parents and guardians who do not want their children to have access to specific library services, materials, or facilities should so advise their children.

If that doesn't get you going, here's a video of some puppets banning books. Even puppets are getting into it now!

4. Puppet Book Banning

Happy Banned Book Week. Why not read a banned book today? - Jennifer

Hello, ZRecs readers! I’m a long-time fan of the ZRecs Network, and recently asked if I could come on board as a reviewer. Some crazy person (Jeremiah) said okay. So here I am!

I live with one opinionated two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Sarina. She and I both love books and music, so that’s mostly what we’ll be reviewing around here. Sarina is a fan of volcanoes, songs about the rain, hiding from Wiffy the Skunk Ghost, and broccoli (I know, she’s weird). I am the author of a whole bunch of books on topics ranging from Marilyn Monroe to bullying, which you can read about on my website if you are so inclined.

I'll be rotating my review roundups among various types of kids' media every two weeks. This time, books. Next time, music!

[And no, that tattoo does not belong to Jenna, despite her extreme love of books. It belongs to her. - Ed.]

Thanks for caring about what we think. Here are our four picks this week, ranked from our very favorite downward.

The Delicious Bug

By Janet Perlman

This is the book we grabbed out of our review box first, and it turns out that there was a good reason we were so attracted to it: It’s full of awesome.

This story is about two chameleon friends who catch the same bug at the same moment. They first argue politely about which one should let go, but soon politeness turns to anger and name-calling. (“Shlobberface!” “Shkunk cabbage!” They do still have a bug stuck on their tongues, hence the speech impediment). They irritate all the animals around them, and almost wind up as two crocodiles’ lunch before they see the error of their ways and realize that their friendship is more important than a bug - no matter how delicious.

The Delicious Bug is satisfying on so many levels. There are worthwhile lessons here about sharing, friendship, helping those less fortunate, and selflessness, and the book takes the message one step further when the chameleons make amends to the animals they annoyed. All this in just 32 pages! But what makes it even better is that it’s really funny, both in text and illustrations. Turns out it’s an adaptation of the author’s award-winning short animated film "Dinner For Two." (I watched a preview. The book is better.)

If you’re the kind of parent who likes to act out books, complete with funny voices and sound effects, this one will be a treat. Sarina now frequently asks for “my bug book.” You can get a Delicious Bug of your own on Amazon at a nice discount.

Flip, Flap, Fly! A Book for Babies Everywhere

By Phyllis Root, illustrated by David Walker

We love the sing-song rhymes in Flip, Flap, Fly! Each four-page layout is a peek into a mama and baby pair learning a new skill. A baby otter is learning to slide, a baby fish is learning to swim, a baby bird is learning to fly. And the added bonus is that the red-headed baby boy is learning to kiss - leading to the line “So the mama and the baby child kiss like this...” Seriously, thank you, author Phyllis. You wrote that just so I’d have an excuse to get Sarina to kiss me, didn’t you?

The colors are warm, and the illustrations are simple and friendly. A sweet pick for any mom and baby or young toddler. You can pick it up on Amazon for 25% off the cover price.

Spoon

Written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Scott Magoon

Spoon is a book about Spoon, who is… well, a little boy spoon. He lives with his extended family, which includes ladles, measuring spoons, wooden spoons, and so on. (Poor Spork looks awfully uncomfortable in the family photo.) His great-grandmother was the famous one who ran away with the dish in the Mother Goose tale.

In this story, Spoon feels a bit jealous about his friends’ ability to do cool stuff - like how Knife can cut, and Fork can go just about anywhere. And people always think the Chopsticks are so exotic. But, his mother reminds him, his friends are probably thinking about how cool it would be to do the things he can do - like dive headfirst into a bowl of ice cream or relax in a hot cup of tea.

It’s a fun twist on the “there’s something special about each of us” theme, and there are funny details in the illustrations that will make you want to read it again to make sure you’ve caught them all.

Seymour and Henry

By Kim Lewis

I’m not sure I get the moral of Seymour and Henry. It’s a book about two ducklings who don’t want to stop playing when their mother tells them it’s time to come home. Instead, they run away from her. They hop on a log, scamper around a rock, tumble down a hill, and hide in a flowerpot and under some leaves, and they wait for their mom to find them. They wait and wait, and it starts raining.

This frightens them enough to run back to find their mother... who is still just sitting in the same spot, unfazed. She never bothered to go looking for them. When they find her, she doesn’t admonish them for running away, she doesn’t give them any warnings, she doesn’t express that she’s so glad they’re okay.

In short, she should be arrested for child neglect. Well, aside from the fact that they’re DUCKS and they live in water and rain should not be a problem.

So, she just tells them to “hop on for a ride,” and she flies them into a... building? A treehouse? I don’t know, but they’re in some kind of structure with a blanket at the end.

The illustrations are sweet and gentle - the ducks are drawn as stuffed animals with clothes on, which is a little strange in a pond... but nice drawings nonetheless.

It’s a cute enough book for very young ones, but I think it would require some good explanations for those 2 and up. You can find Seymour and Henry on Amazon, too. - Jenna Glatzer

As a middle-school teacher, I use Jerry Spinelli's young-adult novels every year. They are engaging and accessible and make for entertaining read-alouds. My Jerry Spinelli collection is a go-to resource for class discussions of themes including (but not limited to) bullying, true friendship, loneliness, abandonment, hope, reconciliation, courage and even the Holocaust. He's a skillful storyteller who dreams up memorable characters. He writes YA fiction that is really, really good, but that - for me - generally lacks that intangible spark that infuses stories with greatness.

Smiles to Go feels like classic Spinelli, chock full of compassionate, quirky characters, nuggets of wisdom acquired as one passes through life's trials, friendship found in unexpected places, and a dose of teen angst for good measure. Will Tuppence is a ninth grader who begins to deal with the transience of his own existence when he learns that a proton has died. This event, for Will, carries so much significance that he creates a new calendar beginning with PD1 - the day he hears of the proton's death.

Will is a physics buff who dreams of becoming an astronomer. He craves predictability, regularity, and as a champion chess player, he tries to stay several steps ahead in the game of life, as well. Antagonized to no end by his younger sister, Will finds happiness in his routines: skateboarding, stargazing, and Saturday night Monopoly games with his best friends, Mi-Su and BT. When Will falls for Mi-Su, he analyzes her every move, word and gesture for clues about her feelings. Unable to live in the moment, he plans meticulously for a future that he believes he can direct. As he comes to recognize the futility of his attempts at control, his grip grows even tighter until an accident changes everything.

Once again, Jerry Spinelli has crafted a compelling story. It's sweet and relatable and, while it isn’t a must-read, it is a solid young-adult novel that may inspire readers to examine their relationships a bit more closely - and, in so doing, to find the unexpected waiting just beneath the surface.

Erica Fry is a middle-school teacher in Brooklyn, NY. - Erica