Our FAVORITE month has arrived and Halloween approacheth! You’ll find a little of everything in this month’s Staff Picks–and yes, there’s plenty of spooky reading inspiration!
Rachel's Picks
Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell
One of my yearly fall reads. It can be a quick read, but the artwork and writing style always leave me a bit wonderfully spooked. Best enjoyed late at night with merely a flashlight or candlelight, if you dare!
Check it out:
- YA FIC Row
Small Spaces by Katherine Arden
I am loving this spooky middle grade series. If you need an attention hook to try a junior book this October, the recurring villain in this series is simply called ‘The Smiling Man’, likened in book 1 to an old scarecrow. Creepy!
Check it out:
- YA FIC Ard
- Ebook on Overdrive
- Audiobook on Overdrive
Through the Woods by Emily Carroll
One of my yearly fall reads. It can be a quick read, but the artwork and writing style always leave me a bit wonderfully spooked. Best enjoyed late at night with merely a flashlight or candlelight, if you dare!
Check it out:
- YA FIC Car
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Mary's Pick
The Cottage on Ghost Lane by Christy Barritt
Ghosts of the past and a dangerous storm haunt Cole as he tries to deal with the grief of losing his wife.
Check it out:
- FIC Bar
Brenda's Pick
The Kindest Lie by Nancy Johnson
Story of family secrets, forgiveness, poverty and love. The fact that this story takes place in Indiana and even mentions Crawfordsville near the end makes this a “must read”.
Montica's Picks
Taste of Home Halloween
Lots of yummy treats you can make for Halloween gatherings.
Check it out:
- 641.568 Tas
- On Overdrive/Libby
Pumpkin: A Super Food for All 12 Months of the Year
Need ways to use up your pumpkins? Lots of different recipes for pumpkin all in this book.
Check it out:
- 641.6 Sto
- On Overdrive/Libby
Decorating Pumpkins and Gourds
Need ideas on how to decorate your pumpkin? So many neat ideas in this book.
Check it out:
- 745.594 Sch
Shelbi's Picks
The Hollow Places by T. Kingfisher
Spooky-dooky reading for Halloween! A young woman discovers a portal to an otherworldly realm/dimension in her uncle’s museum of curiosities. She goes through the portal only to find herself in a genuinely terrifying situation which she struggles to escape from. Really enjoyed this unique Weird horror tale. I also recommend Kingfisher’s story The Twisted Ones if you like this!
Check it out:
- FIC Kin
Natsume's Book of Friends
Slice of life anime lovers, PICK THIS UP AND WATCH IT! Welcome to my favorite anime and a title you’ve probably never heard of! Natsume is a kind schoolboy who happens to be able to see ghosts and demons, so he’s often consider odd by those who can’t due to his seemingly-random outbursts & reactions. This is NOT a scary show in general but the ghosty moments are a bit thrilling and so this might be a great Gentle Halloween Watch. This show is overwhelmingly positive, hopeful, and full of meaningful friendships. More seasons coming soon to CDPL. Available to watch on Crunchyroll in the meantime!
Check it out:
- DVD FIC Nat
The Stories of Ray Bradbury
NO ONE captures the feeling of autumn approaching and the Halloween season quite like Ray Bradbury. Want to feel enchanted by the season? This is the answer! (Also HUGE recommend for his novels October Country and Something Wicked This Way Comes if you’re seeking this feeling!)
Check it out:
Emma's Picks
Celtic Tales
This book is a perfect read for the Halloween Season! It includes many stories about witches, monsters, fairies, and magic. I personally love reading fairy tales and folklore, So I was really impressed by how many stories in this book that I had never read before. Every story had me totally enthralled.
Check it out:
- 398.2 Cel
- On Hoopla
The Book of Life
This is one of my favorite animated films. I watch it pretty much every fall. It is super cute and super uplifting. The animation style is very unique and helps immerse you in the story. It manages to be really funny and really heartfelt. A perfect family film.
Check it out:
- DVD FIC Boo
Dawn's Picks
The Complete Guide to Indiana State Parks
The author and photographer visit 24 state parks in Indiana. Each park profile includes history, images, descriptions and the best park trails for hiking.
Check it out:
- 977.2 Str
- On Hoopla
The Ultimate Book of Scavenger Hunts by Stacy Tornio
42 Outdoor Adventures to Conquer with Your Family
~Search for Animals
~Check Out the Neighborhood
~Have a Backyard Adventure
~Explore the Wild
~Discover Nature’s Palette
~Take a Trip
~Seasons
~Go at the Right Time
Check it out:
- 796.1 Tor
Birds & Blooms
America’s no. 1 Bird & Garden Magazine. Birds & Blooms is a new periodical at the library. It can be found in the reading room on the first floor.
Check it out:
- PER Bir
- On Overdrive/Libby
Amanda's Picks
Bill's Pick
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. LeGuin
Was Hogwarts the first school for young wizards? Nope, that was Roke. Did the concept of a struggle for balance between the “forces” of good and evil begin with Star Wars? Certainly not, but that theme was explored in 1968 in Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea, the first book in the Earthsea Cycle. Check out this ground-breaking fantasy novel (and ground-breaking female author) today!
Check it out:
- FIC LeG
- On Overdrive/Libby
- On Hoopla
Knives Out
A funny, witty, fast-paced murder mystery that features a great cast of actors (Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon). If you liked the 1985 movie Clue, you’ll love this one!
Check it out:
- DVD FIC Kni
Spooky Indiana
Read a few stories in it and it’s interesting reading. Recommended story #11 for a good starter.
Check it out:
- 398.2 Sch
- On Overdrive/Libby
