Halloween is all about good scary fun, but with little ones, it’s a fine line before it can become too scary. Just because your kids are too young for Goosebumps or Fear Street, doesn’t mean you can’t get in the spirit.

Here are a few of my recommendations for not-so-scary Halloween reads!

Creepy Carrots

by Aaron Reynolds
Illustrated by Peter Brown

Jasper loves to eat the carrots from Crackenhopper field, but one day, the carrots start to get creepy…

This book is so clever and fun. The noir illustration style really sets the mood. It’s playful and quirky, and just the right amount of creepy/cute- I mean, look at those carrots! Just like any good thriller there’s also a twist at the end...no spoilers!

Creepy Pair of Underwear

by Aaron Reynolds
Illustrated by Peter Brown

Once you’re done with Creepy Carrots, you’re definitely going to want to check out its sequel, Creepy Pair of Underwear. Again, the formula of taking a regular, silly object and making it “creepy” turns into a G rated scare that will have you and your kiddo giggling more than trembling.

Hildie Bitterpickles Needs Her Sleep

By Robin Newman
Illustrated by Chris Ewald

This one's for when your kid won’t go to sleep because they have had too much Halloween candy! This tale is about a little witch who just wants to go to sleep, but her neighbors keep making lots of noise. I like the idea of a witch doing everyday things, having a very “normal” problem— in a fairy tale world of course, with a few recognizable characters!

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Check out this Read Out Loud of the book on KidLit TV!

Leo a ghost story

by Mac Barnett
Illustrated by Christian Robinson

Here’s a ghost story that will steal your heart. This is a charming read about friendship, and yes, one of the characters just happens to be a ghost. This is one of my favorites for anytime of the year, but it definitely makes a great Halloween read!

What’s on your bookshelf? Share with us your favorite Halloween books!

The Kondo Kraze is on the rise. Thrift stores everywhere have been seeing an influx of donated goods with reasons pointing to the newest Netflix series “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo” which teaches those who can’t keep an orderly home to declutter by keeping only items that “Spark Joy”. Is this a realistic lifestyle for those of us with kids in the house? I figured I might as well try to Kondo the kids rooms.

Apr 30, 2019

Feb 10, 2019

Valentine’s Day Pancake Breakfast

Feb 10, 2019

We love a great big breakfast in our house, but it doesn’t happen very often because it’s just hard to get going when we have to get out the door on the weekdays and still have activities Saturday and Sunday morning. But when we finally get a chance, our favorite part of a big breakfast is pancakes. Pancakes mean love and togetherness for us, and hopefully it will for you too!

Feb 10, 2019

Dec 30, 2018

Tips for Traveling with Baby

Dec 30, 2018

We love to see our family, visit friends, and go on vacation, but when we are traveling with a baby, we start trying to calculate the variables of travel— mood, naps, and surprise diaper explosions. We need to realize that it is a complicated math problem with no correct answer. Having traveled on both planes and cars with baby and older kids here are my best additions to standard travel tips.

Dec 30, 2018

Dec 23, 2018

How to Make Poached Pears

Dec 23, 2018

Pears are incredibly healthy and full of nutrients so I like to encourage my kids to eat them as often as possible. These poached pears are delicious AND easy and are great by themselves as a snack or as a compliment to a meal.

Dec 23, 2018

Dec 18, 2018

Home Made Gifts: No-bake Dough Ornaments and Picture Frames

Dec 18, 2018

Handmade gifts for family and grandparents from the kids become priceless gifts as the years go on. Yeah, nice shiny ornaments looked really classy before the kids came around, but there is nothing that beats the feeling pulling out those handmade ornaments year after year. Also, what else are you going to do with all those wallet sized pictures you bought from school photo day? This is a really great no-cook dough recipe that fool proof and sets pretty quickly.

Dec 18, 2018

Nov 30, 2018

Cinnamon Bread

Nov 30, 2018

This cinnamon bread recipe that I originally found made by Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, has the perfect amount of cinnamon sugar to make a sweet loaf that isn’t too sweet. You can enjoy it straight out of the oven, toasted with butter that melts into all the cracks, or topped with something a little sweeter just so you can have something bordering the line into dessert. Kids will love to help bake, and eat, this yummy treat!

Nov 30, 2018

Nov 21, 2018

I Did a Gratitude Project With My Kids; Here's What Happened

Nov 21, 2018

What are you grateful for? This is the simple question that I asked three of my kids this past weekend as we started our gratitude project.

I came across a video called “The Gratitude Experiment” and felt that it would be a fun project for the kids to do - maybe it would help them appreciate the little things in their lives that they take for granted every day!

Nov 21, 2018

Nov 19, 2018

Easy Thanksgiving Crafts: Hand Turkey Place Cards and Gratitude Tree

Nov 19, 2018

These Thanksgiving themed crafts will keep the kids entertained and remind them of the meaning of the season. Get your supplies ready and make it a family activity for the holiday!

Nov 19, 2018

Nov 16, 2018

Dutch Oven French Bread

Nov 16, 2018

Fourth times the charm! It took some trial and error, but don’t get discouraged, this bread is worth it! The texture of the crust is nice and crispy and the inside is super soft and chewy. This is the perfect vessel for topping with butter, jams, cheeses and hummus, as well as dipping into soup.

Nov 16, 2018

Nov 10, 2018

Sweet Potatoes Part 2: Wedges

Nov 10, 2018

It’s nice to have a food you can pick up with your hands and eat. With the wedges I like to bring out the sweet and savory elements of the potato so seasoning with cinnamon and a little cumin is the way to go. Great for dipping or eating whole, an excellent finger food for all to enjoy!

Nov 10, 2018

Not-Too-Scary Halloween Books for Kids

Here are a few of my recommendations for not-so-scary Halloween reads!

What’s on your bookshelf? Share with us your favorite Halloween books!

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