Showing posts with label halloween books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label halloween books. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Demon Child

 A story from the What If? #4 Anthology

Lucas couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong. His sister’s once gentle and curious nature had been replaced with outbursts of rage and violence.

The Cunninghams had been blessed with a new addition to their family: a little girl they named Rebecca. She was a small bundle of wonder with inquisitive eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of an old soul.

As the Cunninghams gazed down at the sleeping baby, their hearts overflowed with love. They marveled at how perfect she was, with delicate features and soft, downy hair. Just looking at her brought a sense of peace and joy that they had never experienced before. As they watched her sleep, they knew that their love for her would only continue to grow with each passing day.

From the moment she was born, every member of the Cunningham clan was captivated by her, but none more so than her older brother, Lucas. Lucas was only six years old, but he took his role as a big brother seriously. He watched over little Rebecca with unwavering dedication, always eager to lend a hand or a comforting hug. In his young mind, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to keep his little sister safe and happy.

As Rebecca grew, her bond with Lucas only strengthened. They shared a room, and every night before bed, Lucas would read Rebecca her favorite stories until she drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

It was evident that Rebecca and Lucas shared an unbreakable bond that transcended time and space. They were more than siblings – they were kindred spirits who were meant to be together.

Lucas, as big brother, was always eager to teach Rebecca new things and protect her from any harm. When she took her first steps, he was there to cheer her on and catch her when she fell. When she started preschool, he stayed with her every day until she felt comfortable enough to make friends of her own.

And through it all, Rebecca looked up to Lucas with admiration and adoration. To her, he was the bravest and most caring person in the world. She knew that no matter what happened, Lucas would always be there for her.

Their parents watched with pride as their children’s bond continued to grow. They were grateful for the beautiful relationship between their children and tried their best to foster it in any way they could.

But as much as they loved each other, like most siblings, Rebecca and Lucas had their fair share of arguments and disagreements. However, no matter how upset they got with each other, they never stayed mad at each other for long. Because, at the end of the day, they knew that their love for each other was greater than any argument or difference of opinion. They may have been different in many ways – Rebecca outgoing and adventurous while Lucas quiet and reserved – but overall, there was a perfect balance between them.

As years went by, Rebecca grew into a strong-willed child with a passion for learning and exploring. And through it all, Lucas remained her constant companion and protector.

But something happened on the eve of Rebecca’s tenth birthday. Lucas was suddenly awakened by a loud noise that shook him to his core. His heart raced as he tried to make sense of what was happening. He jumped out of bed and ran to his sister’s room and panic set in when he realized that the window had blown open and the shutters were violently slamming against the walls.

He ran toward the window and struggled against the force of the wind to close it; his heart was pounding in his chest. As he managed to shut the window, he turned to see if Rebecca was okay. His eyes darted around the room frantically until they landed on Rebecca’s bed. Relief washed over him as he saw her sleeping peacefully, her chest rising and falling with each breath.

Just as he was about to go back to his room, he saw Rebecca sit up with her eyes still closed. She started murmuring nonsensical words under her breath. Lucas couldn’t understand what she was saying, but it sounded like a language he had never heard before.

He watched in astonishment as a faint glow appeared around Rebecca, casting an ethereal light across the room. The wind outside seemed to intensify as if responding to Rebecca’s words.

Suddenly, without warning, every object in the room began to levitate – books, toys, even furniture. Lucas’s eyes widened in shock as he watched everything floating around Rebecca’s bed. Before he could even process what was happening, everything came crashing down with a loud thud as Rebecca slumped back onto her pillow.

Lucas stood frozen for a moment before rushing over to check on his sister. He shook her gently, but she didn’t stir. Because her face and body seemed relaxed and her breathing even, Lucas retreated to the corner and sat in a chair, staring at Rebecca until sleep claimed him.

The next morning, Lucas woke up with a feeling of unease in his stomach. He turned to look at Rebecca, hoping that last night’s events were just a dream. But as soon as his eyes landed on her, he knew something was wrong. Her once warm brown eyes were now a piercing blue, almost crystal-like in their clarity. It felt like a stranger was looking back at him, cold and unfamiliar.

Lucas recoiled in shock and fear, his heart racing as he scrambled out of the room. He ran toward his parents’ room, frantically knocking on the door. “Dad, Mom! Wake up! Something’s wrong with Rebecca!” he shouted, his voice shaky and panicked.

Read the full story and more from talented, various genre authors:

https://books2read.com/u/mq5qNO





Friday, October 12, 2018

My Favorite Children’s Halloween Books


Anyone who knows me, knows I’m an absolute fanatic when it comes to Halloween. It’s an obsession that started when I was a child. One of my fondest memories was reading Halloween books with my mom. We had so many books, she tried to rotate them so we weren’t reading the same ones all the time. When she pulled the Halloween books from the shelf, I knew one of my favorite holidays was on its way! Over the years, I’ve tried to share my love of Halloween books with my own children. Here are a few of my favorite Halloween books for young readers:


My kids LOVED Happy Halloween, Little Critter by Mercer Mayer and I enjoyed reading it to them. The illustrations in these books are adorable, and I always got a kick out of the expressions on the faces of the critters. You always knew what these guys were thinking just from the pictures alone! There are several holiday-themed Critter books out there, including more than one Halloween story.


Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat by Stan & Jan Berenstain was another favorite. I loved reading this book to my kids when they were little. Last year, I bought it for my grandkids. Actually, there are several Halloween themed Berenstain books available, and trust me, your little ones (ages 4 and up through elementary school) will adore these. There's usually a good moral lesson in Berenstain books, so your child will be entertained while learning something too. A win-win for parents and kids!


As a child, my all time favorite Halloween read was Old Witch Rescues Halloween by Wende Devlin - I almost didn't list this book because it's out of print and almost impossible to find. But, how could I leave out a book that was a precious part of my childhood? Oh, how I adored this book. My mom always did voices for the Old Witch and for Mister Butterbean which made it extra special. If you can manage to find a copy in your local library, it's definitely worth reading with your preschool and elementary school-age children.
  

          The Grimsley Hollow series by Nicole Storey is one of my favorites for middle-grade kids. The series follows an autistic boy named Gage who must call upon his inner strength and courage in order to save his friends. There are actually three books in the series, so if you want to get your kids hooked on reading, this is a great way to start!


Creepy Hollow Adventures by Erika Szabo and Joe Bonadonna is another fantastic middle grade series. So far, there are two books to enjoy in the series! It's an enchanting adventure complete with illustrations to bring the story to life. You'll have fun reading this with your kids, but it's a story slightly older elementary school-age kids can read on their own.


How could I possibly talk about creepy Halloween books without mentioning Goosebumps by R.L. Stine? My oldest son loved this series of scary books! From werewolves to haunted amusement parts, this series has it all! Some of these books are pretty creepy, so as a parent, you'll have to determine whether or not you feel these books are right for your child, but in general, I'd say most are suitable for about eight years old and up. 


Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz was another favorite in my house, at least for the older kids! Many of the stories in this collection remind me of the ones we told at sleepovers when I was growing up. If your child is old enough to read Goosebumps, they'll probably like this series too. Yes, I said series! There are additional collections you can add to your library - if you're brave enough!

This is by no means a complete list of all the Halloween books I've read and enjoyed. There are too many to list! If you have a favorite Halloween book or creepy story to recommend, please leave a comment! I'm always looking for books to add to my ever-growing reading list. Happy reading, everyone!

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COMMENTS 


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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Tricia Drammeh shares a wonderful post filled with Halloween books, just in time for the fans of spooky stuff! #OurAuthorGang
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Ruth de Jauregui

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Oh my, this is an amazing set of Halloween books. What a great post! I'll be sharing it with my daughter and niece (HUGE fans of spooky stuff).
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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today's featured blog on #OurAuthorGang, Tricia Drammeh shares some of her favorite Halloween books for children.
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Joe Bonadonna

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Very good, Tricia! The only books mentioned that I've read are a few of the Goosebumps series. The others here all sound great. And I thank you very much for giving a shout out to Erika M Szabo's and my Creepy Hollow Adventures.
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Chris Weigand via Google+

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Get ready for Halloween with Tricia
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Thanks for sharing, Chris!

Cindy Smith

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Nice assortment of books!  I have read most of them myself and have to agree your selection is perfect!
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Thank you, Cindy! I love Halloween books!

Cindy Smith shared this via Google+

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
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Toi Thomas

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What a great list of books; I even discovered a few new ones. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Toi! I've always loved Halloween books!

Toi Thomas via Google+

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today, Tricia Drammeh shares some of her favorite children's Halloween books. #OurAuthorGang
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Lorraine Carey

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What an amazing collection! NOW is the time to showcase all of those favorite books you cherished as a child.
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Thanks, Lorraine! It was hard to pick just a few favorites.
 
+Tricia Drammeh I do understand.

Nikki McDonagh

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
They look like fabulous reads, Tricia. I too love Halloween.
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Yes, these books are a lot of fun. Isn't Halloween the best?

Erika M Szabo via Google+

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
A great Halloween reading list for children by Tricia
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Erika M Szabo

3 months ago  -  Shared publicly
 
What a great list of books for the little ones! Reading with parents build lasting childhood memories. Thank you for mentioning the Creepy Hollow series Joe and I wrote!
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I'm glad you enjoyed my list. I tried to include books for a variety of ages and reading levels. The Creepy Hollow series is a definite must read!
 
+Tricia Drammeh Thank you Tricia! We had a lot of fun writing this story :)

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