Halloween is a perfect opportunity for parents to share fun, thrilling, or even downright spooky stories with their kids. Yes, Halloween is definitely a time for witches and werewolves and ghosts – oh, my! But, it’s also a great time to engage with stories where your kids will definitely want to take part in, quite literally, when they capture the magic of dressing up in costume for the fall holiday.
Although this year’s Halloween might be a little different as we parent in the middle of a pandemic, our kids still want to be able to dress up as some of their favorite characters. Like last year, my daughter was Daphne from Scooby-Doo, while my son was Batman. So, stories that involve the Mystery Inc. team and the Caped Crusader are standard mystery stories that generally involve some kind of odd or monstrous things.
Today, let’s take a look at some classic examples of Halloween monsters, while also adventuring in other tales that might just have plenty of characters that your kids might want to dress up as for Halloween.
The Okay Witch
Emma Steinkellner
Recommended Ages: 8 – 12
Not only does the cover of this graphic novel perfectly scream Halloween with its main character standing on her broom backwards with a cat clinging for dear life onto one of her legs – its story spans well beyond adorable.
The Okay Witch is a magical tale of a young girl discovering her family and town’s history, along with a little-known fact – she’s a witch. Emma Steinkellner does an incredible job at creating the sense of loneliness a teenager might feel, especially when being bullied on a daily basis and cast as an outsider. This story also dives into a relevant issue we still face today, where people are persecuted for being different, while also showing that change is possible.
This story represents all the hope we strive for when our kids are reading a fictional tale. Positive messages, along with wonderful artwork, present a wonderfully engaging tale that will resonate with both kids and their parents. Also, one look at the cover, and I’m sure your kids might want to dress up as the main character!
Available for purchase here.
Monsterstreet #1: The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
J. H. Reynolds
Recommended Ages: 8 – 12
If you’re a parent and grew up a fan of Teen Wolf, you might absolutely want your kids to read this book. Although Monsterstreet: The Boy Who Cried Werewolf is not a comedy, your kids might just want to howl at the moon for the chance to dress up as a ferociously furry werewolf. Or if you have a red hoodie, then you’re all set to be a boy lost in the dark and scary woods.
J. H. Reynolds creates a spooky mystery that leads its readers down a rural path where self-discovery takes on a whole new meaning. The main character is dropped off with his grandparents and is immediately told what not to do. As with any youthful indiscretion, this story revolves around a small town’s terrifying history with wolves and not going into a particular forest. What could possibly go wrong?
The Boy Who Cried Werewolf is the first in a series of books from Reynolds, where the first three came out in 2019, including The Halloweeners (#2) and Carnevil (#3). The fourth book, Camp of No Return (#4), came out this past summer.
Available for purchase here.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan
Recommended Ages: 10+
Now you might not expect a summer adventure to be perfect timing for Halloween, but there are plenty of terrifying creatures and locations, including the Underworld. Also, your kids will have plenty of characters to choose from when hunting for the perfect costumes: from the likes of Greek gods and goddesses, monsters, and any number of demigods, including its main trio that ventures on their very own Olympic quest.
Riordan does a phenomenal job developing the Greek mythos and making readers feel as if they live in times where the Greek gods are very much alive and well. The Lightning Thief lets readers understand the importance of making difficult choices, while also depending on others for help. This is a fantastic story that I cannot wait for my own kids to read. Although they’re currently younger than the recommended age group (ages 6 and 7), I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this entire series!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a five-book series, but there are also several other series that include a variety of other legendary mythos, while sometimes incorporating familiar characters from the Percy Jackson series.
Available for purchase here.
Batman: The Long Halloween
Jeph Loeb (writer), Tim Sale (artist), Gregory Wright (colorist), Richard Starkings & Comicraft (letterists)
Recommended Ages: 12+
If your teens are looking for a mystery to solve, look no further than the World’s Greatest Detective. Batman: The Long Halloween is a 13-issue run that involves many of Gotham City’s notorious criminals. Perhaps you or your kids would enjoy dressing up as the infamous Poison Ivy, Riddler, Joker, or Catwoman.
The Long Halloween’s artwork generates a very Halloween-esque vibe, with plenty of shadows and mysterious clues being left behind at the scenes of many murders within Gotham’s city limits. This story represents a sense of “how far is too far” when trying to stop crime. The heroes of this story seem unable to find answers as crime scenes continue to add up, while they battle the invisible line of right and wrong to solve the case.
The masterful storytelling depicts the trials and tribulations of not only Batman, but law enforcers who struggle to balance home and work life. This series provides wonderful costume opportunities for kids, it also influenced 2008’s The Dark Knight and has been highlighted as part of Fanbase Press’ Fundamental Comics series.
Available for purchase here.
Any of these stories are perfect reasons to help explain why #StoriesMatter. Whether stories are dark and scary, thrilling and adventurous, or give us the ultimate mystery to solve, they generate bonds to characters where we literally dress up as them for Halloween – or our favorite conventions.
Cosplay is a wonderful thing where people spend a tremendous amount of time creating something they feel a true connection with. Halloween is a perfect opportunity for kids to take on that role as creator and designer, having a say in what they want to wear. Finding something sincerely tangible within a fictional story is a remarkable experience that can shape a person’s life, so diving into those stories by dressing up for Halloween is the perfect time for parents to connect with their kids, regardless of age.
What stories do you love around this time of year? Do you have a favorite costume from year’s past? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, and don’t forget to give the GPG a follow on Facebook and Twitter for more geeky goodness like this.
Until next time, happy parenting and happy geeking.
