You might have expected me to bring up some old faithful Halloween books. You know the ones (one had a little old lady that has an issue with eating things she shouldn’t, another is an old lady that isn’t afraid of anything, and the third has a kind witch that likes to make room on her broom) We all use them because they are that great! I really do love them. However, one of the great benefits of having a little one in first grade is Scholastic Book Club orders! I took the chance on broadening my Halloween library. I’m so glad I did!
Have you heard of Fright Club by Ethan Long? This is an adorable story. Of course, my first thought when I read the title brought visions of Brad Pitt, and sadly he is not in the story. The story is about the cute creatures in the world wanting to join in the holiday fun of scaring the trick-or-treaters. This story is great for targeting WH questions, sequencing, and inferencing.
Another great find is the story The Monstore by Tara Lazar. If any of your students have siblings (especially younger siblings), they may relate to this story. The story is about a little boy who does not want his little sister to bother him any longer so buys monsters from the Monstore in hopes that the monsters will keep her away. My kiddos had a great time sharing their own experiences with us about having a younger sibling after the story was over. The story is great for targeting WH- questions, descriptions, and sequencing.
At The Old Haunted House by Helen Ketteman is a cute rhyming story. I have to be honest, when I was reading it with my kids I had a nice rhythm going. In the story, various Halloween monsters are preparing for a surprise. When using this book, you can easily target counting, rhyming words, actions, labeling, and WH questions.
If you do not know these books, I strongly suggest you give them a try. It was definitely enjoyable having a new story to share and discuss in therapy. They definitely provided my students with new material to discuss, share personal experiences, and build communication skills.
What stories do you use in therapy for Halloween?
Another post you may want to read about how I use literature in therapy:
Tips and Tricks to Survive Whole-Class Lessons – Thanks again to Maureen of the Speech Bubble for the opportunity in September to guest blog.