.png)
Do Boo Books
Princesses, ghosts and vampires will line sidewalks on the 31st, doorbells ringing and rhymes recited. To get into the mood how about bobbing for some “Do Boo Books” found in the stacks of your school and public libraries.
In this month’s Picks, meet a skeleton stuck in its ways, a perky girl whose fear knows no bounds and a bevy of witches set on casting spells on kids in a country-wide campaign. Sink your teeth into reading—it’s better for you than candy corn and chocolate, and lasts longer too!
Page On. Enjoy!
The Community Literacy Foundation, in partnership with Neighborhood Reads, and with support from its sponsors, provides these books at no cost to schools in Washington, Union, Pacific, St. Clair and surrounding communities and to the Washington Public Library. Learn more at CommunityLiteracyFoundation.org.
Youngest Pick
A skeleton has bones for brains when it initially refuses the offer of friendship in “The Skeleton and the Cat” by Brandon James Scott. This compilation of stories features a bonehead and an adorable black kitty.
Skeleton is set in its ways, enjoying a quiet life of gardening, reading and solitude, with “No interruptions at all.” A sweet kitty comes to the door wanting to strike up a friendship, a rhyme in hand, but Skeleton threatens to shut the door in the feline’s face.
Why on earth would Skeleton want to share its life with a furry creature, no matter how cute. Soon, however, Skeleton caves, and cat creeps in, ready to launch a harmonious relationship.
The pair eats together, with some help from kitty, pirouettes amongst the flowers, shares a chair to read and revels in the beauty of the night sky. Without realizing it, Skeleton falls victim to the open-hearted, caring kitty who teaches the bonehead a thing or three. Colorful, appealing illustrations add to the appeal of this charmer.
Middle Pick
Grace should never have raised her hand in class, but she did. Grace’s helpfulness and desire to fit into her new school leads to a strange, unpredictable journey.
“Who Knows the Way to Mr. Grimly’s Classroom?” is a wholly original must-read by Chris Priestley that’s sure to become a seasonal favorite.
When Grace’s teacher Miss Flytrap asks her class if someone can return a book she borrowed from Mr. Grimly, the eager girl quickly volunteers. But Grace has no idea how to get to his classroom. The poor kid’s fear escalates as she maneuvers through dreary hallways and dark classrooms with all manner of spooky objects on display, cobwebs, bats, black cats and all.
Along the way, Grace meets the librarian, Miss Endpaper, and several other adults with equally clever names, who direct her this way and that, “…turn left, turn right, then left again…”
Grace’s quest is simply the best, scenes coming to life through the genius of Mariachiara Di Giorgio, an Italian artist who portrays Grace’s ever-changing emotions on her courageous trek, transforming Grace’s school into a Halloween-like set, rich with meaning, hints of doom lurking in corners and crevices. What frightful fun!
Oldest Pick
“The Witches” is a zany, old-school classic by Roald Dahl that’ll keep readers in stitches, and grateful for Grandmama, the visionary who saves her grandson from a fate worth than death. This read-it-in-one sitting is narrated by the grandson, who remains unnamed.
The story opens in Norway with Grandmama, an expert on witches, sharing extensive information on the broom-riding species with her beloved boy.
The child hangs on Grandmama’s words, a beloved mother-figure for the little orphan, despite her habit of chain smoking cigars. The boy learns that witches always wear gloves, are bald and think clean kids smell like “dog-droppings,” among other jewels of wisdom.
When Grandmama discovers she’s going to have to move to England, her grandson accompanies her, not knowing the worrisome plight awaiting him. The boy has to reach deep to regurgitate all Grandmama has told him when he comes into contact with 85 witches, all the witches in the country gathered to make a plan to turn British children into mice, a goal established by their leader, The Grand High Witch, a real piece of work.
Hilarious hijinks abound in “The Witches,” more funny than frightful, this tried and true favorite has laugh-out-loud humor on every page and line-drawings too.
Written by Chris Stuckenschneider.
Copyright 2026, Community Literacy Foundation.
