Each month, we share books recommended by local authors, libraries and more. Be sure to check back and fill your bookshelf with these titles.
In October, our picks celebrate Halloween’s treats and festivities for your little ones:
I’ll Love You Till the Bats Say Boo
By Kathryn Cristaldi and illustrated by Kristyna Litten
A Halloween-themed board book about boundless love, featuring a parent expressing their endless affection through the night as bats fly and stars twinkle.
Ghost Afraid of the Dark
By Sara Conway
Join Boo the Ghost on his first Halloween adventure as he learns to face his fear of the dark with the help of kind monster friends. This sweet, not-too-spooky story teaches bravery through friendship and delivers an emotional message in a fun, age-appropriate way, perfect for early childhood development.
A Trick or Treat Surprise
By Layla Sutton and illustrated by Noël Clark
Come along for a playful mystery with Little Sherlock and his loyal pup, Watson, as they invite your little one to explore a night filled with surprises. With each turn of the page, readers are invited to lift flaps, follow rhyming riddles, and piece together what spooky holiday is just around the corner.
Wonderful Halloween
By Emily Winfield Martin
With charming rhymes, this book captures the magical, cozy spirit of the holiday through gentle verse and whimsical illustrations. Instead of being spooky, the story follows little ones trick-or-treating under a golden moon, focusing on festive costumes, dancing leaves and warm togetherness.
Find other book recommendations from Reading Room 2026:
This Book is Seriously Silly! (A Narwhal and Jelly Picture Book #2)
By Ben Clanton
Jelly has serious plans for this book and doesn’t need any smiling, laughing, funny faces or noises to derail it. And even if you do silly stuff, Jelly will still be serious — even if he had a fuzzy pink mustache, or a name like “Jellysquish.”
Owl By Myself
By Pete Oswald
Owl wakes up with a mission for the day: to do everything owl by himself. Like cleaning his room, brushing his teeth and packing his backpack for school. Follow a day in the life of this owl as he proves he’s a big boy ready to take care of himself — or at least try his best.
After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back up Again)
By Dan Santat
Everyone knows that when Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But what happened after? Follow Humpty Dumpty, an avid bird watcher, whose favorite place to be is high up on the city wall — that is, until after his famous fall. Now terrified of heights, Humpty can no longer do many of the things he loves most. Will he summon the courage to face his fear?
Loops
By Jashar Awan
This big kid is wearing his first pair of big-kid shoes, the kind with laces. Even though they’re a little on the roomy side — shoes to grow into, of course — he knows he can take care of them. Except they keep falling off! Not to worry, he’ll just tie them up again, because he knows how to tie those loops.
I Used to Be a Dinosaur
(Ages 4-8)
By Casey Lyall and illustrated by Laurie Keller
Did you know that chickens are descendants of dinosaurs? A soon-to-be mother hen just found out, and now she is reexamining her entire life. She used to be a dinosaur, a prehistoric queen with a mighty roar. Now she spends her days on a farm, waiting for her eggs to hatch. At least, that is until she decides to summon her own inner dinosaur.
A Book of Loves
By Cynthia Rylant
Cats love boxes and windows and toys. Dogs love sticks and biscuits and puddles. Children love bubbles and cake and stories and other things. Celebrate the small, often overlooked things that cats, dogs and children love.
Squirrel Lock Holmes: The Pet Rock Mystery
By Ashley Belote
Squirrel detective Lock Holmes investigates the mysterious disappearance of a pet rock in this pun-filled, laugh-out-loud mystery.
Ages 3-8.
The Future Book
By Mac Barnett and illustrated by Shawn Harris
Do you want to know what the future is like? Turn the pages to get a glimpse at the world of tomorrow and its unexpected words, strange social customs, and mind-blowing colors.
Planet Earth Is Blue
By Nicole Panteleakos
Twelve-year-old Nova is eagerly awaiting the launch of the space shuttle Challenger. While foster families and teachers dismiss Nova as severely autistic and nonverbal, her sister Bridget understands how intelligent and special Nova is, and all that she can’t express. As the liftoff draws closer, Nova’s new foster family and teachers begin to see her potential, and for the first time, she is making friends without Bridget.
The Day Moon and Earth Had an Argument
By David Duff and illustrated by Noemi Vola
After 4.5 billion years together, Moon has had enough of Earth. So she packs her things and sets off to see what the solar system has to offer. On her galactic tour, Moon sweeps young readers along on a delightful and educational journey.
Rayne Climbs Up
By Tasha L. Wilburn
Tasha Wilburn’s daughter came up with the idea of writing a book about her sister’s arm. It’s more than a book — it’s a movement rooted in awareness, representation, and advocacy for children with brachial plexus injuries and other limb differences. It shows families that children with differences are strong, capable, and full of life. It’s a celebration of courage, inclusion, and sisterhood. Visit tashalwilburn.com/raynesrainbows
A Visit With The Birds
By Sara Levine
A curious child explores the sights and sounds of nature while visiting with birds in this gentle, beautifully illustrated story.
Ages 3-8.
Better Than A Touchdown
By Jalen Hurts
NFL star Jalen Hurts’ new book shares an uplifting story about teamwork, perseverance, and what matters more than winning.
Ages 3-8.
All My Stripes: A Story for Children with AutismBy Danielle Royer and Shaina Rudolph
Zane the zebra often feels different. He worries that his classmates don’t notice his “curiosity,” “honesty,” or “caring stripes,” just his “autism stripe.” With the help of his Mama, Zane comes to appreciate all his stripes, including his “autism stripe,” as the unique strengths that make him who he is.
The Girl Who Thought in Pictures: The Story of Dr. Temple Grandin
By Julia Finley Mosca and illustrated by Daniel Rieley
When young Temple was diagnosed with autism, no one expected her to talk, let alone become one of the most powerful voices in modern science. Yet, the determined visual thinker did just that. Her unique mind allowed her to connect with animals in a special way, helping her invent groundbreaking improvements for farms around the globe.
The monthly book suggestions in the Reading Room are curated by freelance writer Lori Orlinsky and Northeast Ohio Parent Editor Angela Gartner.