Robin Muller

This book is a fun filled romp through all the scary things of Halloween. It is based on the song The Twelve Days of Christmas.

It starts with a group of children entering a fun house. Each page begins “On the blank stroke of midnight/Oh, nothing frightens me!” One by one the children run away in fear or are snatched up by bats and goblins.

It ends with a single boy surrounded by vampires. “On the 13th stroke of midnight/Yes, something frightened me… a Ghost!” The missing friends suddenly appear under sheets. As the child races away in fear, what might be a real ghost watches him disappear.

As the pictures are cartoonish, the frightening things are not too scary for most children.… (more)

Author: Robin Muller and Suzanne Duranceau
Title: Hickory, Dickory, Dock
Illustrator: Suzanne Duranceau
Publisher: Scholastic
Date: 1992
Pages: 32
Type: Poetry
Summary: A bunch of animals do different things on each hour. It is cute and rhymes very well. Some of the words are made up, but still rhyme.

It is a cute book with lots of rhymes but it might confuse some of the children because some of the words aren't real. Illustrations are great, and this book is a great book that lots of kids have heard of before from their parents.… (more)

This book is about a boy named Nib who receives a magic paintbrush from an old man. As Nib begins to paint with the magic paintbrush he discovers that whatever he paints comes to life. A greedy king hears the story of the boy with the magic paintbrush and demands a search for the boy and to bring him back to the king. The king enslaves Nib and tells him to paint all he desires. In the end Nib tricks the king and paints a ship and sends the king out into a storm. The pictures in this book were very creative and detailed. I enjoyed the magic in this book and think it is a great for kids to spark imagination.… (more)

The 13 Ghosts of Halloween is one of my favorite Halloween books. The story is humorous and engaging, promotes math and counting skills, beginning reading, encourages audience participation (think story time in school or the library - or even just reading with mom and dad) and the illustrations are great too!

I've had many kids stop by my booth to check out this book & a lot of parents will snap it up and once I explain that you can "sing" the story to the 12 Days of Christmas I'll actually have people start singing it with their kids and borrow my chair so they can sit and read the book. It's awesome!… (more)