Spooky youngCanLit Reads for Halloween

Whether you're looking for a funny Halloween read for your youngest readers (or listeners), historical reads with an edge, a frightening young adult novel, or some true ghost stories, this list of youngCanLit reads has something for everyone. And, while I couldn't include everything, there are several authors whom I would recommend for anything spooky: L. M. Falcone (for a middle-grade fun read); Arthur Slade (for a middle-grade evil); Kelley Armstrong, the queen of queasy (for young adult); and Alyxandra Harvey, who rocks YA vampires. Take your pick!


PICTURE BOOKS

Black and Bittern Was Night
Written by Robert Heidbreder
Illustrated by John Martz
Kids Can Press
32 pp.
Ages 5-8
2013

Boo!
Written by Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages+
2004

A Day at the Pumpkin Patch 

Written by Megan Faulkner

Photographs by Adam Krawesky
Scholastic Canada
30 pp.
Ages 6-10

2006

Franklin's Halloween
Written by Paulette Bourgeois
Illustrated by Brenda Clark
Kids Can Press
32 pp.
Ages 5-8
1996

Ghost Train
Written by Paul Yee

Illustrated by Harvey Chan
Groundwood Books
Ages 8-12

1996

The Haunted House That Jack Built
Written by Helaine Becker
Illustrated by David Parkins
Scholastic Canada
32 pp.
Ages 4-7
2010

Omar’s Halloween
Written and illustrated by Maryann Kovalski
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
32 pp.
Ages 2-6
2006

Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round
Written by Rosanna Battigelli
Illustrated by Tara Anderson
Pajama Press
24 pp.
Ages 3-6
2019

Pumpkin People 

Written by Sandra Lightburn

Illustrated by Ron Lightburn
Nimbus
32 pp.

Ages 5-8

2008

Pup and Hound Scare a Ghost 
Written by Susan Hood

Illustrated by Linda Hendry
Kids Can Press
32 pp.

Ages 4-6

2007

What There is Before There is Anything There
Written and illustrated by Liniers
Translated by Elisa Amado
Groundwood Books
24 pp.
Ages 4-7
2014

CHAPTER BOOKS

Breath of a Ghost
Written by Anita Horrocks
Stoddart
195 pp.
Ages 9-12
1996

The Dead Kid Detective Agency

Written by Evan Munday
ECW Press
320 pp.
Ages 8-13
2011

The Devil, the Banshee and Me
Written by L. M. Falcone
Kids Can Press
192 pp.
Ages 9-12
2006

Dial "M" for Morna
Written by Evan Munday
ECW Press
296 pp.
Ages 8-13
2013

The Elevator Ghost
Written by Glen Huser
Illustrations by Stacy Innerst
Groundwood Books
168 pp.
Ages 7-12
2014

Five Days of the Ghost

Written by William Bell
Stoddart
196 pp.
Ages 10+

1989

Fred's Halloween Adventure
Written by Marie-Danielle Croteau
Illustrated by Bruno St-Aubin
Translated by Sarah Cummins
Formac
62 pp.
Ages 6-9
2002

The Ghost Horse of Meadow Green

Written by Anne Louise MacDonald

Kids Can Press

207 pp.

Ages 10-14

2005

Ghost Hotel (Arthur Slade's Canadian Chills series) 

Written by Arthur Slade
Coteau Books
134 pp.
Ages 9-13

2004

The Proof that Ghosts Exist (The Ghosthunters, Book 1)

Written by Carol Matas and Percy Nodelman
Key Porter
216 pp.
Ages 8-13
2008

The Curse of the Evening Eye (The Ghosthunters, Book 2)
Written by Carol Matas and Percy Nodelman
Key Porter
248 pp.
Ages 8-13
2009

The Hunt for the Haunted Elephant (The Ghosthunters, Book 3)

Written by Carol Matas and Percy Nodelman
Key Porter
272 pp.

Ages 8-13

2010

The Ghost and Max Munroe: Case #1 The Magic Box
Written by L. M. Falcone
Illustrated by Kim Smith
Kids Can Press
88 pp.
Ages 7-11
2014

Ghost Messages

Written by Jacqueline Guest
Coteau Books
184 pp.

Ages 9-12

2011

Ghosts of Government House

Written by Judith Silverthorne
Your Nickels Worth Publishing
114 pp.

Ages 9-12

2011

Ghost of Heroes Past
Written by Charles Reid
Ronsdale Press
168 pp.
Ages 10-14
2010

The Ghost of Lunenburg Manor (A Tom and Liz Austen Mystery)
Written by Eric Wilson
HarperCollins
109 pp.
Ages 9-11
1981/2003 

The Ghost of Northumberland Strait
Written by Lori Knutson
Dundurn
152 pp.
Ages 7-11
2008

The Ghost of Ramshaw Castle
Written by Robert Sutherland
Scholastic Canada
171 pp.
Ages 9-14
1990

The Ghost of the Stanley Cup (Screech Owl series)
Written by Roy MacGregor
McClelland & Stewart
118 pp.
Ages 9-13
2000

Ghost Ride
Written by Marina Cohen
Dundurn
172 pp.

Ages 11-13

2009

Ghosts of the Pacific
Written by Philip Roy
Ronsdale Press
251 pp.
Ages 11-14
2011

Ghosts of the Titanic
Written by Julie Lawson
Scholastic Canada
193 pp.

Ages 9-12

2011

Ghost Voyages
Written by Cora Taylor
Coteau Books
120 pp.
Ages 8-12
2003

Ghost Voyages II: The Matthew
Written by Cora Taylor
Coteau Books
112 pp.
Ages 8-12

2002

Ghost Voyages III: Endeavour and Resolution

Written by Cora Taylor

Coteau Books

176 pp.

Ages 8-12

2004

Ghost Voyages IV: Champlain and Cartier

Written by Cora Taylor

Coteau Books

128 pp.

Ages 8-12

2009

The Ghouls' Night Out
Written by Janice MacDonald

Illustrated by Pamela Breeze Currie
Ronsdale Press
49 pp.
Ages 7-9

1998

The Graveyard Hounds 
Written by Vi Hughes
Illustrated by Christina Leist
Tradewind Books
167 pp.
Ages 9-11
2008

Greysteel's Ghost
Written by Robert Sutherland
HarperTrophy Canada
176 pp.
Ages 8-13
2005

Haunted
Written by Barbara Haworth Attard
HarperCollins
273 pp.
Ages 10+
2009

The Haunting of Heck House (The Wiggins Weird, Book 2)
Written by Lesley Livingston and Jonathan LLyr
Puffin Canada
280 pp.
Ages 8-12
2014

The Improbable Party on Plum Lane (Babysitter Out of Control Series, Book 3)
Written by Margaret J. McMaster
Mansbridge Dunn Publishers
53 pp.
Ages 7-9
2011

Invasion of the IQ Snatchers (Arthur Slade's Canadian Chills)

Written by Arthur Slade

Coteau Books

Ages 9-13

120 pp.
2007

The Midnight Curse

Written by L. M. Falcone

Kids Can Press

208 pp.

Ages 8-12

2010

Never to be Told

Written by Becky Citra

Orca Book Publishers

217 pp.

Ages 9-12

2006

The Night Gardener
Written by Jonathan Auxier
Puffin
384 pp.
Ages 10+
2014

Northern Frights Trilogy

Written by Arthur Slade

HarperTrophy

352 pp.

Ages 10+

2014

Includes the original three books: Draugr, The Haunting of Drang Island and Loki Wolf

The Path of Trees
Written by Ari Goelman
Arthur E. Levine/Scholastic
399 pp.
Ages 10-12
2013

Return of the Grudstone Ghosts (Canadian Chills)

Written by Arthur Slade
Coteau Books
119 pp.
Ages 9-12

2002

The Secret of Grim Hill
Written by Linda DeMeulemeester
Lobster Press
187 pp.

Ages 9-13

2007

Shades: Tales of Fear and Wonder

Written by Arthur Slade
Dava Enterprises
79 pp.
Ages 11+
2011

Small Medium at Large
Written by Joanne Levy
Bloomsbury Children's Books
193 pp.
Ages 9-13
2012

That One Spooky Night
Written by Dan Bar-el
Illustrated by David Huyck
Kids Can Press
80 pp.
Ages 7-10
2012

The Unseen: Scary Stories

Written by Janet Lunn
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
171 pp.
Ages 9-14
1996

Walking with the Dead
Written by L. M. Falcone
Kids Can Press
200 pp.
Ages 9-12
2005

Zombiekins
Written by Kevin Bolger

Illustrated by Aaron Blecha
Razorbill 

206 pp.

Ages 8-11

2010

YOUNG ADULT

Beyond: A Ghost Story
Written by Graham McNamee
Wendy Lamb Books /Random House Canada
226 pp.
Ages 14-17
2012

The Summoning
Written by Kelley Armstrong
Doubleday
400 pp.
Ages 12+
2008

The Awakening
Written by Kelley Armstrong
Doubleday
368 pp.
Age 12+
2009

The Reckoning
Written by Kelley Armstrong
Doubleday
400 pp.
Ages 12+
2011

The Geomancer's Compass

Written by Melissa Hardy

Tundra Books

254 pp.

Ages 11-15

2012

Give Up the Ghost
Written by Megan Crewe
Henry Holt and Co. / H. B. Fenn
244 pp.
Ages 12-15
2009

Guardian

Written by Natasha Deen

Great Plains Teen Fiction

192 pp.

Ages 13+

2014

Haunted
Written by Barbara Haworth-Attard
HarperTrophy
288 pp.
Ages 12+
2009

Haunting Violet
Written by Alyxandra Harvey
Bloomsbury
352 pp.
Ages 12+
2012

The Horrors: Terrifying Tales: Book One
ed. by Peter Carver
Red Deer Press
184 pp.
Ages 13+

2005

The Horrors: Terrifying Tales: Book Two
ed. by Peter Carver
Red Deer Press
207 pp.
Ages 12+

2006

The Prank (Nate’s Journal)
Written by K.E. Calder
Vanwell
93 pp.
Ages 10-13
2003

The Serpent’s Spell
Written by Rae Bridgman
Great Plains
190 pp.
Ages 10-14
2006

Someone Else's Ghost

Written by Margaret Buffie

Scholastic

227 pp.

Ages 12+

1995

This Dark Endeavour (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein)
Written by Kenneth Oppel
HarperTrophy Canada
304 pp.
Ages 12+
2011

Such Wicked Intent (The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein, Book 2)
Written by Kenneth Oppel
HarperTrophy Canada
320 pp.
Ages 12+
2012

This is Not a Test
Written by Courtney Summers

St. Martin's Griffin
326 pp.
Ages 13+
2012

NON-FICTION

100% Pure Fake
Written by Lyn Thomas
Kid Can Press
48 pp.
Ages 8-12

2009

Are You Afraid Yet?: The Science of Scary Stuff
Written by Stephen James O'Meara
Illustrated by Jeremy Kaposy
Kids Can Press
80 pp.
Ages 8-12
2009

Canadian Hauntings: A Haunted Canada Book
Written by Beth Scott and Michael Norman
Scholastic Canada
136 pp.
Ages 9-13
2009

Ghost Trackers: The Unreal World of Ghosts, Ghost-Hunting, and the Paranormal
Written by Chris Gudgeon
Tundra
75 pp.
Ages 10-13

2010

Ghosts of the World: True Tales of Ghostly Hauntings
Written by Susan Smitten
Lone Pine Publishing
232 pp.

Ages 13+

2006

Gotcha! Mystery Hunters: 18 Amazing Ways to Freak Out Your Friends
Written by David Acer
Illustrated by Stephen MacEachern
Kids Can Press
48 pp.
Ages 8-12
2008

Grim and Ghostly Stories: A Haunted Canada Book
Written by Pat Hancock and Allan Gould
Scholastic Canada
136 pp.
Ages 8-13
2006

Haunted Canada: True Ghost Stories
Written by Pat Hancock
Scholastic Canada
106 pp.
Ages 9-12
2003

Haunted Canada 2: True Tales of Terror
Written by Pat Hancock
Scholastic Canada
114 pp.
Ages 9-12

2005

Haunted Canada 3: More Ghost Stories
Written by Pat Hancock
Scholastic Canada 
128 pp.
Ages 9-12
2007

Haunted Canada 4: More True Tales of Terror
Written by Joel Sutherland
Scholastic Canada
128 pp.
Ages 9-12
2014

Haunted Canada: Ghost Stories
Written by Pat Hancock and Allan Gould
Illustrated by Andrej Krystoforski
Scholastic Canada
172 pp.
Ages 8-13
2014

Scary Science: 24 Creepy Experiments
Written by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone
Illustrated by Ashley Spires
Scholastic Canada
48 pp.
Ages 8-13
2010

Strange and Spooky Stories: A Haunted Canada Book
Written by Pat Hancock
Scholastic Canada
128 pp.
Ages 8-13
2005

The Unexplained: A Haunted Canada Anthology
ed. by Janet Lunn
Scholastic Canada
160 pp.
Ages 9-13
2008

And my apologies for some inconsistency in the fonts and size.  Seems I have my own little cyber-ghost that keeps altering my font no matter how many times I clear the formatting.  

Happy Halloween!

Earth & Sky: Book Launch (Toronto)

Join 

Megan Crewe 

author of young adult speculative fiction

at the launch of the first book in a new science fiction series

Earth & Sky

by Megan Crewe

Razorbill Canada

978-0-670068128

336 pp.

Ages 13+

Release date: October 28, 2014

on

Sunday, November 2, 2014

at 1:30 p.m.

(note: this is the day after Daylight Savings Time takes effect!)

at

Story Planet and Intergalactic Travel Authority

1165 Bloor St. West

Toronto, Ontario

416-645-1049

There will be books sold and signed, 

interstellar refreshments served, 

swag to grab, 

and more!

*****************************

A Moose Goes A-Mummering: Book Launches (St. John's and Fergus)

Author Lisa Dalrymple 

and illustrator David Sturge 

are launching their new book just 

in time for Christmas

and youngCanLit readers have two great opportunities to be there!

A Moose Goes A-Mummering

by Lisa Dalrymple

Illustrated by David Sturge

Tuckamore Press

978-1-77103-050-2

32 pp.

Ages 4-8

October 2014

In Newfoundland:

Join both Lisa Dalrymple and David Sturge

on Saturday, October 4, 2014

at 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

at

Chapters

Kenmount Road

St. John's, Newfoundland

In Ontario:

Join Lisa Dalrymple 

on  Saturday, November 8, 2014

at 11:00 a.m.

at  

Roxanne's Reflections Book and Card Shop 

in Fergus, Ontario

While I was remiss in including A Moose Goes A-Mummering in my earlier posting about new releases for fall 2014 (which has since been amended), I'd like to make sure that these two book parties are well-noted by lovers of youngCanLit.  New picture books for Christmas are always welcome!

Sleeper: The Seven Sequels

by Eric Walters

Orca Book Publishers

978-1-459805439

222 pp.

Ages 10-16

For release October 1, 2014

The seven grandsons of David McLean from the original Seven Series (Orca, 2012) may have fulfilled the missions their grandfather requested of them upon his death but they're turning it around now with information they've discovered about him on their own. In fact, although the seven books of The Seven Sequels may be read in any order, I'm glad I started with Eric Walters' Sleeper as it clearly spells out how and what the boys discover that sends them off on their newest adventures, by choice or not.

Meeting up after Christmas at their grandfather's cottage, five of the cousins–DJ, Spencer, Bunny, Webb and Adam–discover a hidden cache of passports, foreign currency, a gun, a little black book, some clothes and disguises, and a bag of golf balls.  Speculating that their grandfather may have been involved in espionage, the boys decide that they have a week left of holidays before their parents are home to figure out the mystery. Bunny and Spencer head back home to Toronto (though Bunny is kidnapped from the City Hall skating rink--see my next review, for The Wolf and Me by Richard Scrimger) and DJ heads to the airport and England where he has plans on visiting Doris, the older woman whom he'd met on his trek up Kilimanjaro in Between Heaven and Earth (Walters, 2012).

But DJ's arrival in London starts with him being detained at the airport and threatened, until a government agent, Justin Bourne, makes the authorities see that the David Adam McLean they've stopped is not 93 years old.  Without giving away that his grandfather would've been that age, DJ is released and delivered to Doris's home by her surly grandson, Charles.  Though Doris has broken her leg, she is eager to help DJ so she enlists the help of her fellow Sherlock Holmesians (fans of the great fictional detective) to try to break the codes within DJ's grandfather's notebook.

Code-breaking some of the ciphers, DJ heads to Cambridge driving Doris' red Jaguar E-Type and accompanied by her beautiful granddaughter, Charlie (short for Charlotte).  Very much in the tradition of Ian Fleming's spy novels, Sleeper includes chase scenes with luxury cars like a black BMW and a white Mercedes Benz, double agents, sleeper cells, Eastern European scoundrels, the CIA, much deception and the dry wit that makes the characters seem so suave.  And, of course, there's the beautiful young woman and love interest for DJ and the dash of royalty for that regal touch.

What a great way to take readers from David McLean directing the actions of his grandsons, as he did in the Seven Series, to the boys looking to new adventures, pursuing their own suspicions and curiosity about their grandfather, and embarking on adventures that will put their intrepid natures to the test in more daring situations.  Sleeper introduces the theme of espionage and hidden identities in an intriguing manner (how appropriate!) with the boys just falling into that info (or rather it falling out).  They can choose whether to pursue it or to let it pass, as so much about their grandfather would not now that he was dead.  DJ chooses to see beyond himself.  Even in choosing to visit with Doris, a 67-year-old woman, DJ demonstrates that he can be as worldly as the man for whom he is named.  And with Eric Walters paying homage to James Bond and other great spies and fictional characters--from Henry Higgins, Jason Bourne and  Dr. Moreau--I think readers will get the impression that DJ has an impressive future ahead, filled with admirers and those who would challenge him.  And he'll be identifying himself as, "McLean. DJ McLean"

Sleeper is a propitious beginning for my reading of The Seven Sequels.  Make it one of your's too.

Julia, Child

by Kyo Maclear

Illustrated by Julie Morstad

Tundra Books

978-1-77049-449-7

32 pp.

Ages 4+

July 2014

The real Julia Child, chef extraordinaire and one of the authors of Mastering the Art of French Cooking (Knopf, 1961), would be delighted by Kyo Maclear's latest picture book, though there is a cheery disclaimer that states that "the story contains no true knowledge of (the real) Julia Child" (pg. 1).  Julia, Child may not be the real Julia Child's story but the little girl who looks to sweeten the lives of others with culinary treats provides a savoury tale.

From the taste of an extraordinary sole meunière at a young age, Julia's love of French food was whipped up, and her friendship with another young gourmet, Simca, feeds that passion. The two girls enjoy shopping for food and ideas at the market and experimenting in the kitchen, learning cooking and baking from the experts.  The girls'  goal is to continue cooking happily together even as adults.

But the adults they see around them look harried and starved for the joy of childhood.  And so Julia and Simca attempt to sauté, sizzle, simmer, and fricassee that joie de vivre back into the lives of the grown-ups they know.

The subtle message and word play of Julia, Child is what made me such a fan of Kyo Maclear's first pseudo-bio picture book, Virginia Wolf  (Tundra, 2012).  Within Julia, Child, we are slathered with rich essences of joyous play in the kitchen and life.

"They cooked extra slowly to bring out the flavor of not hurrying.  They used delicate spices so the worries would disappear and wonders would rise to the surface." (pg. 16)

Julie Morstad, award-winning illustrator of How To (Simply Read, 2013) and Singing Away the Dark (Simply Read, 2011), adds her own whimsy to Julia, Child, emphasizing the methodical nature of cooking with her delineating ink lines and the wonder of childhood in her warm, bright gouache.  While Julie Morstad's lines provide that definition and structure, her choices and frugal use of colour play up the extraordinary nature of the true joy of childhood.  The collaboration of Kyo Maclear with Julie Morstad to create Julia, Child is as inspired and scrumptious as Julia and Simca's recipe for reviving youth. Bon appétit!