Wednesday 20 October 2021

Spooky reads

We're just a short time away from the spookiest evening of the year, Halloween! What better way to herald in All Hallows' Eve than with our pick of Halloween picture books:

Pick a Pumpkin 
by Patricia Toht, illustrated by Jarvis


Then cart it home, scoop out the insides, carve a scary face, and finally light a candle inside, transforming it into a one-of-a-kind, glowing jack-o’-lantern...

It’s Halloween! Which means it's time to dangle cobwebs and bats from the windows, put on costumes, and – most important of all – visit the pumpkin patch and pick out that perfect pumpkin!

With warm, autumnal art, this is the perfect book to share by flickering candlelight on the spookiest night of the year.

Click here to download our Pick a Pumpkin activity sheets!

Watch our trailer pumpkin-filled trailer below:


Witch in Training
by Michelle Robinson and illustrated by Briony May Smith


Betty is brewing her first ever potion! And potions need ingredients – ingredients that can only be found in the WILD. So Betty, with her mum by her side, soars off into the magical, moonlight night to bravely gather her wicked and wonderful supplies: vampire fangs, fairy dust, werewolf whiskers, and more. The only problem is, she might have to come face-to-face with a few monsters – a few treacherous monsters! – along the way...

With rollicking read-aloud rhymes from Michelle Robinson, and spellbinding art from Briony May Smith, this is a funny, edge-of-your-broomstick adventure for aspiring witches and wizards everywhere.

Beast Feast

by Emma Yarlett



Beast has found a tasty dinner, and he's written to all his friends to invite them to a feast. Unfortunately, Dinner is a child who very much does not want to be eaten. As Beast's friends send their instructions for cooking Dinner, is there any way Dinner can convince Beast to change his menu? A vibrant and charming interactive book with hilarious letters to open.

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost
by Flavia Z. Drago


THE WINNER OF THE KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE 2021

"A great story about making friends by being yourself and the illustrations are a constant visual delight" Malorie Blackman

Gustavo is a ghost. He is good at doing all sorts of paranormal things, like walking through walls, making objects fly and glowing in the dark. And he loves playing beautiful music on his violin. But Gustavo also has a problem. He is SHY. Which means some things are harder for him to do, like getting in a line to buy eye-scream or talking to the other monsters. But Gustavo longs to be a part of something, he longs to be seen. More than anything, he wants to make a friend. So, plucking up all his courage, he sends a very special letter: “Dear Monsters, I would like to invite you to my violin concert at the Day of the Dead party…”

You can read our Q&A with Flavia here and download our activity sheets here!

 Monsters Play... Counting!

by Flavia Z. Drago



Eat like a monster! Eat like Simone. Simone has ONE TONGUE for licking tasty cones.

Count from 1-10 with ten funny and flamboyant monsters! As little ones discover one tongue, two ears – and a lively monster with three eyes! – they'll be inspired to shake and move, and learn the names for their different body parts, too.

With monstrously bright and bold illustrations, rhyming words, and a sturdy feel, this interactive board book is the perfect gift for a new arrival, and a stylish addition to a toddler’s first library. A first counting book has never been wilder or such fun!

 Monsters Play... Peekaboo!

by Flavia Z. Drago


Hidden beneath seven flaps, seven silly monsters are waiting to be discovered! Arh-wooh! It's Winston the hairy werewolf. Clackety clack! That must be Mr Bones, the handsome skeleton. Little ones will love making the noises, lifting the flaps, and of course – shouting PEEK-A-BOO! – in this interactive board book full of surprises.

With monstrously bright and bold illustrations, read-aloud sounds, and a sturdy feel, this is the perfect gift for a new arrival, and a stylish addition to a toddler’s first library. A first game of peek-a-boo has never been wilder or such fun!

Monster Food
by Daisy Hirst


Some monsters eat peaches, some monsters eat pears, and then there are monsters who only eat chairs. Some monsters like noodles, some monsters like stew but this little monster is eating a shoe. Daisy Hirst's adorable, cheeky monsters are guaranteed to make little children chuckle! For picky eaters, I-like-everything eaters and I-might-have-liked-it-yesterday-but-I-don't-like-it-today eaters alike!

Monster Clothes
by Daisy Hirst


When monsters get up in the morning, they have to find something to wear. Simon wears socks, Darrell puts on a dress and Terrence tries on a tomato. Meanwhile, Cassie is wearing cars and Lester has the latest fashion – leaves! Daisy's adorable, cheeky little monsters try all sorts of hilarious combinations of clothes that little children won't be able to resist.

All of our Halloween books are available from all good booksellers!