October is a time of the year when little ones are eager to have fun at a pumpkin patch, help carve Jack O’ Lanterns, and tell you with great enthusiasm what character they want to dress up as for Halloween. All in preparation for a holiday that creates imaginative worlds and ideas for children to have some spookiness in a fun manner.
Halloween can be so thrilling for young children, as it brings out a creative outlet for everyone as costumes are prepared, houses and windows are decorated, and theme-inspired treats are prepared with the assistance of tiny chefs. This creativity has inspired many authors to tell delightfully curious and spooky tales for Halloween season. The five books below will keep your little ones’ imaginations busy during story time this fall.
By reading, you are also helping children to:
Use the “Spooky Meter” below to check if each book is right for your audience:
Level 1 – Not one bit spooky
Level 2 – Very mildly spooky
Level 3 – A few spooky themes
1. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie BrownBy Kara McMahon and Charles M. Schulz
Ages: 3 and up
Spooky Level: 1
This great classic introduces young children to the beloved group of cartoon characters who share a great anticipation for the Halloween season with joy and an untraditional way of celebrating. There’s fun and a bit of mischief in the process.
2. Scary, Scary HalloweenBy Eve Bunting
Ages: 4 and up
Spooky level: 3
A great way to practice linguistic skills such as rhyming, alliteration, and imaginative storytelling. The book tells the Halloween story in a mysterious and beautifully presented manner that creates a sense of expectation about “what will happen next!” The illustrations are also very nice, interesting visuals – a very relatable tale.
3. Where is Baby’s Pumpkin?By Karen Katz
Ages: 1 – 4
Spooky Level: 1
Lift-the-flap books are an engaging manner to introduce infants and toddlers to story time. This Halloween version is cute, has vibrant colors, and its tone is short and sweet as little fingers discover what surprise is under the flap and when they turn the page as baby searches for her pumpkin.
4. What’s Under My BedBy James Stevenson
Ages: 3 and up
Spooky Level: 2
Children discover a ghostly world thanks to their grandpa’s wild imagination of the things that go bump in the night at their house. But don’t get too scared! As this book shows that things are not always what they seem in the dark when the light shines on them.
5. Corduroy’s HalloweenBy B.G. Hennessy
Ages: 2 – 5
Spooky Level: 1
Another lift-the-flap book, but with more involved storytelling as Corduroy prepares for the Halloween season through a series of fun activities with his neighborhood friends. It gives children a variety of environments and situations to engage them as they may prepare through similar activities in their own lives.
To our followers – We want to bring your attention to an important matter regarding communication from the Council for Professional Recognition. Recently, a Facebook account impersonating the Council for Professional Recognition responded to people...
SPONSORED BLOG Whether you’re embarking on professional development (PD) to meet state requirements, or you want to invest in your own growth, PD has a number of benefits. First, it helps ensure you’re keeping up...
In the world of early childhood education, there’s a remarkable achievement that more people should know about – earning a Child Development Associate® (CDA) Credential™. The Council for Professional Recognition, a nonprofit that supports early...
SPONSORED BLOG Whether you’re just starting out in the early childhood field, or you’ve been teaching for years, chances are you’ve heard the term CDA at least a few times. The Child Development Associate® (CDA)...
SPONSORED BLOG Excitement. Jitters. Uncertainty. The new school year comes with a multitude of emotions and challenges — but thankfully there are things you can do ahead of time to prepare and ensure it’s the...
Language and literacy skills are fundamental building blocks for a child’s development, enabling effective communication, social interaction, and academic success throughout grade school and beyond. For young children with disabilities, however, traditional educational models may...
The Council for Professional Recognition’s Council Alumni Network (CAN) recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. This free community boasts 1200+ members. CAN is a diverse group of stakeholders in early childhood education (ECE) across the U.S....
A couple of years before becoming a mother, I saw the classic movie Terms of Endearment. Before the opening credits, the film portrayed Aurora, played by Shirley MacLaine, as a worried mom who checked on...
“Every child deserves a champion,” said longtime teacher Rita Pierson in a famous TED talk. She was talking about “an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and...
Chief Operations Officer
Andrew Davis serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Council. In this role, Andrew oversees the Programs Division, which includes the following operational functions: credentialing, growth and business development, marketing and communications, public policy and advocacy, research, innovation, and customer relations.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in the early care and education field. Most recently, Andrew served as Senior Vice President of Partnership and Engagement with Acelero Learning and Shine Early Learning, where he led the expansion of state and community-based partnerships to produce more equitable systems of service delivery, improved programmatic quality, and greater outcomes for communities, children and families. Prior to that, he served as Director of Early Learning at Follett School Solutions.
Andrew earned his MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland – University College.
Chief Financial Officer
Jan Bigelow serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Council and has been with the organization since February of 2022.
Jan has more than 30 years in accounting and finance experience, including public accounting, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. She has held management-level positions with BDO Seidman, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Pew Center for Global Climate Change, Communities In Schools, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization and American Humane. Since 2003, Jan has worked exclusively in the non-profit sector where she has been a passionate advocate in improving business operations in order to further the mission of her employers.
Jan holds a CPA from the State of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College. She resides in Alexandria VA with her husband and dog.
Read our monthly e-newsletter and keep up to date on all Council programs and services, as well as the latest news in the world of early care and education. Subscribe today to stay connected with us. You’ll receive timely information on events, webinars, special promotions, and more.
