Welcome to the Storytime at Home Series! Once a month, we highlight a kid-approved theme with book lists, songs and rhymes, and a simple craft you can try at home. All books are available in our collection, and the crafts use easy-to-find items you likely already have on hand.
P.S. Love library storytime? Check out all of RPL’s storytime options here; there’s a program for your child almost every morning at our branches!
The theme this month is: Spooky Stories! Did you know Richmond has its very own goth librarian? No?! Then you’ll definitely want to check out our Instagram, @rvalibrary, to meet her!
In honor of our resident goth librarian, we are celebrating all things spooky, with a collection of eerie tales, creepy adventures, and festive fall favorites. We added in a little something for everyone this season, so get cozy, turn on your nightlights, and celebrate the hauntingly wonderful season with Richmond Public Library.
Reading to your kiddos turns them into confident thinkers. Making books a regular part of your daily routine is a great way to build children’s love of reading and learning. Storytimes also help build excitement around reading to support their literacy development.
Here are a few book options you can choose from to jump into from our collection:
Day of the Dead by Mayra Ramos Baños
Introduce your little one to the vibrant traditions of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with this colorful and engaging board book! Filled with beautiful illustrations, this book highlights key elements of the celebration, including decorated sugar skulls, delicious pan de muerto, and altars adorned with bright marigolds. This board book is wonderful way to explore Mexican culture and traditions with babies and toddlers.
For ages 0 – 3.
Little Boo’s Halloween Party by Lala Watkins.
Join Little Boo and the whole spooky crew for a Halloween party full of festive fun! With playful rhyming text and hilarious illustrations, this adorable board book is perfect for keeping little readers engaged and getting them into the Halloween spirit.
For ages 0 – 3.
Monster Clothes by Daisy Hirst.
The House with Nobody in It invites little readers to explore a cozy, familiar house with a mysterious twist! With sturdy pages and layered die-cut doors and windows, this book encourages children to look closer and wonder if the house is really empty after all. Jon Klassen delivers another creative and playful story that keeps young readers curious and makes reading fun!
For ages 0 – 3.
Halloween, Baby! by Karen Katz.
Karen Katz’s beloved lift- the-flap books are perfect for engaging little readers, and this adorable Halloween story is no exception! With interactive flaps and illustrations of sweet little babies dressed up in their Halloween costumes, this board book is a fun, festive way to introduce your little one to the magic of Halloween.
For ages 0 – 3.
Celebrate Day of the Dead by Diane De Anda.
Join Cristina, her brother Carlos, and their family as they celebrate Día de los Muertos! With vibrant illustrations, this book follows the family as they decorate their home, prepare traditional foods, and honor loved ones who have passed away. Complete with additional facts about the holiday, it’s a wonderful way to introduce little readers to the meaning and traditions of this special celebration.
For ages 0 – 3.
The Monster at the End of this Book by Jon Stone.
Grover is back, and he’s determined to stop readers from reaching the monster at the end of this book! Page by page, his worries grow as he tries every trick in the book to keep you from turning the page. This silly, interactive classic is perfect for little readers who love a little suspense and lots of laughs!
For ages 0 – 3.
My Baby Loves Halloween by Jabari Asim.
With adorable illustrations and playful rhyming text, this festive board book is perfect for celebrating the season! Little readers will love exploring all the fun, cozy, and exciting things that make this time of year so special. A sweet addition to any fall or holiday book collection!
For ages 0 – 4.
La Catrina: Emotions | Emociones by Patty Rodraiguez
Inspired by the colorful sugar skulls of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), this book introduces little ones to a holiday that celebrates life and honors loved ones who have passed away. With bright illustrations and simple words in both English and Spanish, it’s a great way to help babies and toddlers explore emotions, build vocabulary, and learn about Mexican culture and traditions.
For ages 0 – 5.
Eek! Halloween! by Sandra Boynton.
Something spooky is happening, and the chickens are starting to get worried! Between a duck wearing giant monster feet and pumpkins with creepy faces, these silly chickens need a little reassurance that everything is okay. With playful illustrations and plenty of Halloween fun, this adorable board book is perfect for introducing little ones to the holiday while reminding them that sometimes spooky things aren’t so scary after all!
For ages 1 – 3.
You’re the Pumpkin to My Pie by Laura Gehl.
Perfect for the fall season, Pumpkin is a sweet way to show your little one how much they are loved! Filled with of adorable illustrations and heartwarming text, this charming board book is perfect for getting into the fall spirit.
For ages 2 – 4.
Tiny T. Rex and the Tricks of Treating by Jonathan Stutzman.
Tiny T. Rex is back, and this time, he’s ready to master Halloween! Join Tiny and his friend Pointy as they share six secrets to becoming Treat-masters and making the most of their Halloween adventures. Perfect for little dinosaur fans, this fun and festive story is full of the Halloween spirit!
For ages 2 – 4.
Día de los Muertos by Hannah Eliot.
Introduce little readers to the colorful traditions of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)! This book offers a fun and engaging way to explore how families honor loved ones who have passed away and celebrate their lives through meaningful traditions.
For ages 2 – 4.
From Seed to Pumpkin by Jill McDonald.
Little readers can discover how pumpkins grow in this cheerful and informative board book! With bright illustrations and simple facts about colors, shapes, sizes, and the pumpkin life cycle, this book makes learning fun (did you know prize-winning pumpkins can weigh as much as a rhinoceros?!). From tiny seeds to pumpkin pies and jack-o’-lanterns, this book is perfect for curious little ones and includes helpful prompts to encourage grown-ups to explore and learn alongside their children.
For ages 2 – 8.
The House with Nobody in it by Jon Klassen.
The House with Nobody in It invites little readers to explore a cozy, familiar house with a mysterious twist! With sturdy pages and layered die-cut doors and windows, this book encourages children to look closer and wonder if the house is really empty after all. Jon Klassen delivers another creative and playful story that keeps young readers curious, surprises them along the way, and makes reading fun!
For ages 2 – 4.
Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat by Julien Chung.
It’s Halloween, and the letters are dressing up and climbing a creaky tree for some spooky fun! But when a frightening surprise appears, these little letters are in for more than they bargained for. With playful rhymes and a festive twist on the alphabet, this book is perfect for little readers who love Bill Martin’s classic, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
For ages 2 – 8.
Old MacDonald Had a Farm, E-I-UFO by Zach von Zonk
Old MacDonald gets a silly sci-fi makeover in this hilarious twist on the classic nursery rhyme! Follow Cow, Pig, Cat, and Sheep as they get abducted by an alien, Old MacMartin, and his space dog, leading to all sorts of kooky adventures. With bright, cartoon-style illustrations, playful rhymes, and interactive lettering, this book is a fun way to keep little readers guessing while building early literacy skills!
For ages 3 – 5.
Día de Muertos Números : A Day of the Dead Counting B by Duncan Tonatiuh.
Follow a family as they build a Día de los Muertos altar, adding meaningful items to honor and welcome the spirit of a loved one. Award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh draws on his own experiences to create this bilingual counting book, introducing little readers to the traditions and significance of this special celebration.
For ages 3 – 5.
Boo the Library Ghost by Becky Paige.
Poppy loves books, but what happens when she discovers her library is haunted by a ghost named Boo? This sweet and slightly spooky story explores the power of friendship and a love of reading, with just the right amount of Halloween fun.
For ages 3 – 5.
Hardly Haunted by Jessie Sima.
This house is convinced she’s haunted and will do anything to convince people to move in! But as she tries to fix herself, she discovers that she doesn’t need to change to be loved. This adorable book is sure to be a hit this season!
For ages 3 – 6.
Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z Drago.
Gustavo is a shy little ghost who loves playing beautiful music on his violin, but making friends with other monsters is harder than walking through walls! With Día de los Muertos approaching, Gustavo must find a way to overcome his shyness and share his love of music with the ghouls he cares about.
For ages 3 – 7.
Get ready to dance with this silly, illustrated version of the classic monster song! When a mad scientist’s monster shows off a brand-new dance, it becomes the hit of the land at a party filled with spooky friends.
For ages 3 – 7.
This Moment is Special: A Día de Muertos Story by John Parra.
Follow a young boy as he prepares for Día de los Muertos, celebrating the special moments, both big and small, that make the day meaningful. This sweet story introduces little readers to the traditions of Day of the Dead and the importance of honoring loved ones. A lovely way to explore this vibrant celebration with your little one!
For ages 4 – 8.
Pick a Pumpkin by Patricia Toht.
Join a family on a fun fall adventure to the pumpkin patch as they search for the perfect pumpkin to bring home! Follow along as they pick their favorite pumpkin and turn it into a spooky jack-o’-lantern. Bright, colorful illustrations bring the autumn scenery to life, capturing the excitement of this fall tradition.
For ages 3 – 7.
Learn all about the bones in the human body with this fun, musical twist on the traditional African American spiritual “Dem Bones”! This catchy rendition combines music and science to help readers discover how the bones in our bodies connect and work together.
For ages 3 – 7.
The Cow in the Dark at Night by Jess Hannigan.
Have you ever wondered what happens when the sun goes down? Tonight, a curious cow sets out to explore the exciting nighttime world, meeting nocturnal friends and discovering unexpected adventures along the way. But when the night creatures have plans of their own, this moonlit adventure takes a surprising turn!
For ages 4 – 8.
Watch out, because a swarm of undead bees is buzzing into town this Halloween! These spooky little creatures are ready to deliver plenty of frights and sweet treats along the way, that is if the town doesn’t chase them off first!
For ages 4 – 8.
Ghost Says Meow! by Lauren Kukla.
Halloween is full of spooky sounds, but what happens when one little ghost decides to say “Meow” instead of “Boo”? With charming illustrations and a playful story, this adorable book is sure to be a hit with your little one.
For ages 4 – 8.
Bone Soup: A Spooky, Tasty Tale by Alyssa Capucilli.
In this spooky twist on the classic tale Stone Soup, three witches are searching for a tasty Halloween treat but find only a tiny bone in their cupboard! Determined to make a delicious bone soup, they travel door to door through their village in search of the perfect ingredients. But will these three witches find everything they need, or is their Halloween feast doomed to be a frightful flop?
For ages 4 – 8.
Things that go Bump in the Day by Melinda Beatty.
When young vampire Vlad gets ready for bed, every little noise has him imagining the worst! With help from his tired mama, Vlad learns how to calm his fears and settle down for the night. But will he be able to quiet his imagination long enough to fall asleep?
For ages 4 – 8.
Cinderella Skeleton by Robert San Souci.
In this spooky twist on the classic tale Cinderella, Cinderella Skeleton dreams of attending the Halloween ball! With a little help from a witch, she just might get her chance to dance the night away. But will Cinderella Skeleton make it to the ball before the clock strikes midnight, or will her dreams crumble to dust. Filled with vivid illustrations and delightfully eerie twists, this creepy retelling puts a bone-chilling spin on a beloved fairy tale.
For ages 4 – 8.
- Point at the pictures and ask your child what they see. Help build their vocabulary by pointing to pictures and saying the word aloud.
- Ask your child questions about the story: What do you think will happen next? How do you think this character is feeling? This character is wearing a bathing suit; do you remember when we wore ours?
- Read with expression and enthusiasm and use different voices for different characters.
- Act out what’s happening in the story.
- As your child gets older, count objects in a book, discuss the different colors they see, point out shapes in the story, etc.
- Snuggle up and be patient. Reading is great bonding time for you and your child. Take your time walking them through the story. If your child wants to turn the page or be finished with reading, that’s OK too. You don’t have to read every word or even every page for reading with your little one to be beneficial for their development.
- Check out The Basics for more helpful tips to encourage reading at home!
5 Little Pumpkins
Five little pumpkins sitting on a gate.
The first one said “Oh my it’s getting late.”
The second one said “There are leaves in the air!”
The third one said “But we don’t care!”
The fourth one said “Let’s run and run and run!”
The fifth one said “I’m ready for some fun.”
Ooooooooooooo went the wind and out went the lights.
And the five little pumpkins rolled out of sight.
Leaves are Falling (to the tune of Frère Jacques).
Leaves are falling, leaves are falling.
To the ground, without a sound.
Days are getting shorter,
Nights are getting longer.
Fall is here, Fall is here!
5 Perfect Pumpkins
5 perfect pumpkins, in a pumpkin patch.
One went rolling, and then went – splat!
Oh no! What do you think about that!
(Count down all the way to zero)
There were no perfect pumpkins in a pumpkin patch.
It looks like all the pumpkins went – splat!
Here is a video that demonstrates how to do the finger plays for these songs!
Paint a Pumpkin!
Supplies:
- Mini pumpkin
- Paint brushes
- A smock or old clothes for your child to wear.
- Non-toxic paint
This easy craft takes away the mess of having to carve pumpkins and is a great way to build fine motor skills for your little ghouls. All you need is a small pumpkin, and paint. You can even use washable paint and let your child paint the pumpkin multiple times!
Discover more from Richmond Public Library
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
