Most kids love a good scare, and Halloween is the perfect time to give it to them. Find these spooky stories at a library near you, and let us know in the comments if we missed any of your favorites!

Slightly Spooky (for younger kids):

Truly Frightening (for older readers):

Vivid. Colorful. Captivating. Nic Bishop’s nature photography is all this and more! His exciting insect and animal books, effectively designed for young readers, feature eye-popping images that satisfy children’s curiosity about the natural world. These are, quite simply, some of today’s best science books published for kids, and they’re available at your local library!

Bishop has been creating kids’ books for over 25 years, and is an experienced photographer both in the studio and in the field. Check out the trailer for his book, Spiders, for a glimpse into his creative process:

 

Animals and Insects

For preschoolers

 

Chameleon, Chameleon / story by Joy Cowley

Red-eyed Tree Frog / story by Joy Cowley

 

Scientists in the Field series

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot / text by Sy Montgomery (2011 Sibert Medal winner)

Mysterious Universe: Supernovae, Dark Energy, and Black Holes / text by Ellen Jackson

Quest for the Tree Kangaroo: An Expedition to the Cloud Forest of New Guinea / text by Sy Montgomery

Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia / text by Sy Montgomery

Snake Scientist / text by Sy Montgomery

Tarantula Scientist / text by Sy Montgomery

Here’s an understatement for you: train books are popular at the library. They have the power to capture the attention and imagination of wiggly toddlers, curious preschoolers, and knowledgeable school-aged kids alike. They inspire squeals of delight when discovered and, sometimes, tears of despair when returned! Come find these tried-and-true books at the library for the train lover in your life:

Trains / Byron Barton

And the train goes-- / William Bee

Freight train / Donald Crews

Down by the station / by Jennifer Riggs Vetter ; illus. by Frank Remkiewicz

Trains : steaming! pulling! huffing! / by Patricia Hubbell ; illus. by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy

The caboose who got loose / Bill Peet

The little engine that could / retold by Watty Piper ; pictures by Loren Long

I saw an ant on the railroad track / by Joshua Prince ; illus. by Macky Pamintuan

Seymour Simon's book of trains / Seymour Simon

 

Want to discover a library secret? Go ahead and take a trip to the 782 section of the children’s nonfiction shelves and you’ll discover something amazing. Hidden treasures! Picture books that are meant to be SUNG! Some are traditional, others are silly – but all are crowdpleasing. Here are a few recommendations to warm up your singing voice:

      

        

Baby Beluga / Raffi; illustrations by Ashley Wolff

Down by the Station / Jennifer Riggs Vetter; illustrations by Frank Remkiewicz

Hush, Little Baby / adapted and illustrated by Brian Pinkney

I Ain't Gonna Paint No More! / Karen Beaumont; illustrated by David Catrow

I Love You! A Bushel & a Peck / Frank Loesser; pictures by Rosemary Wells

Let's Play in the Forest While the Wolf is not Around / Claudia Rueda

Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy / Jan Thomas

Pete the Cat: I Love my White Shoes / Eric Litwin; art by James Dean

The Seals on the Bus / Lenny Hort; illustrated by G. Brian Karas

Play has a direct link to early literacy experience. Play and stories work together to encourage creativity, imagination, and dexterity: all skills that help your child learn.  

If you have DUPLOS at home, try some of the acitivities in the the Read! Build! Play! at Home Toolkit developed by LEGO in partnership with The Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC).  

We also have DUPLOS and LEGOS for your child to play with  at many library locations. Bring your child of any age in to one of our monthly LEGO Mania! clubs, where they can play and build with others. 

LEGO Mania! Monthly Lego Clubs

First Tuesdays at 4pm at the Eastmont Library

First Fridays at 3:30pm at the Dimond Library

Second Thursdays at 3pm at the Main Library Children's Room

Second Fridays at 3pm at the Lakeview Library 

Third Fridays at 3pm at the West Oakland Library

Ask your Librarian for other ways for your child to play at the library!

Malik Pedraza-Palomino is ready to fly with his LEGO creation at the 81st Avenue Library.  

 

Do you have any superhero-obsessed 3-year-olds in your life? If so, then you may know how tough it can be to find age-appropriate books that satisfy these kiddos' interests.

But never fear, the library is here!

Pull on your crime-fighting capes and head to your local branch to check out these awesome superhero books for the preschool set:

Breen, Steve. Violet the Pilot.

Buehner, Caralyn. Superdog.

Chabon, Michael. The Astonishing Secret of Awesome Man.

Cosentino, Ralph. Batman.

Cosentino, Ralph. Superman.

Cosentino, Ralph. Wonder Woman.

Cottringer, Anne. Eliot Jones, Midnight Superhero.

Graham, Bob. Max.

Grey, Mini. Traction Man Is Here!

Grey, Mini. Traction Man Meets Turbo Dog.

Macdonald, Ross. Bad Baby.

Mcleod, Bob. Superhero ABC.

O’Connor, George. Kapow!

Pilkey, Dav. Dogzilla : starring Flash, Rabies, and Dwayne.

Pilkey, Dav. Kat Kong.

Portis, Antoinette. Princess Super Kitty.

Schwarz, Viviane. Timothy And The Strong Pajamas : A superhero adventure.

Reynolds, Aaron. Superhero School.

Rogers, Gregory. Midsummer Knight.

Tauss, Marc. Superhero.

Thomas, Rich. The Amazing Spider-Man : an origin story.

Thomas, Rich. The Courageous Captain America : an origin story.

Thomas, Rich. The Mighty Thor : an origin story.

Thomas, Rich. The Uncanny X-Men : an origin story.

Weigelt, Udo. Super Guinea Pig to The Rescue.

Whatley, Bruce. Captain Pajamas.

Weitzman, J. Superhero Joe.

Ziefert, Harriet. Mighty Max!

Onward, upward, and away!