Check It Out:

Halloween would not be the same without carved pumpkins, Halloween candy, skeletons and bats, and other things that go bump in the night. But how about also reading a spooky story or making a few crafts? The Newport Beach Public Library has a variety of books for all ages as well as Halloween activities to spice up the month!

“Queen of Halloween” by Mary Engelbreit (preschool through second grade): Ann Estelle is ready for a fun night on the town trick-or-treating with her friend Michael. Ann, dressed as a fairy queen and Michael, dressed as a pirate, would like to think they are ready to go trick-or-treating without adults. But the night looks very dark and Ann’s father says, “Well, you might not need a grown-up, but I need some kids.” On their last house visit, the porch steps creak and a dog barks in the back yard. It is the spookiest house in town. Will Ann be brave enough to ring the doorbell?

“Paper Crafts for Halloween” by Randel McGee (second through fifth grade): This handy book teaches you how to make a flying bat, sitting black cat, ghosts, masks, witch, moving scarecrow and a haunted house. Patterns and directions on how to make these items are included as well as information on how these objects came to be associated with Halloween.

“Wondrous Strange” by Lesley Livingston (seventh through 10th grade): When Kelley, 17, moves to New York to pursue her dreams of theatrical success, little does she realize her big break will come so soon. But when the woman playing, Titania, queen of the fairies, in the off-Broadway production of “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream,” is injured, Kelley steps in to play her role. She thinks her encounters with mythical beings will be confined to the stage, but when she meets Sonny Flannery, he introduces her to a world she never knew existed.

“Ghosts Among Us: Uncovering the Truth About the Other Side” by James Van Praagh: If you have ever questioned whether there is a dimension we cannot see, this book will explain it. As an infant, Van Praagh claims to have experienced ghosts and he continues to do so as an adult. Van Praagh discusses reasons why people sometimes hang around after they die. He also describes the many dimensions of the universe as he knows it.

“The Séance” by John Harwood: Set in the late Victorian era, Constance Langton, the narrator of the story, has known much grief in her young life. Her younger sister has died of scarlet fever and her mother has gone into deep grief. Constance, in an effort to help her mother, arranges a séance so her mother can contact her dead sister. But this plan backfires, and soon after the family, inherits Wraxford Hall, a house with mysterious and haunting secrets.

“Folk Art Halloween” by Bethany Lowe: This is an enchanting book for adults with a crafty flair who love to create old fashioned folk art-style objects. It includes information on materials and tools needed to make such Halloween-themed items as a Halloween tree, party invitations and envelopes, and a Halloween wreath. Sewn items include how to make a trick-or-treat table runner, crazy quilt pumpkin pillow, flying bats and frightfully fun door hangers.

The Central Library, and Corona del Mar, Balboa and Mariners branches will also have storytimes with Halloween themes this month. Special events will also be at the Mariners and Central Library. On Wednesday the Mariners Branch will host a special “Cirque du Freak” program featuring stories, trivia, games and crafts based on this popular book series by Darren Shan. It will be from 4 to 5 p.m. and is designed for children in second through sixth grades. On Thursday the Young Adult Advisory Council will host a scavenger hunt in the library from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. with snacks and special Halloween crafts designed for third- through-fifth graders.

You can register for these events at www.newportbeachlibrary.org by going to the events calendar and signing up.

CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. For more information on the Central Library or any of the branches, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.