Children's Books About the Gross and the Spooky (Halloween Update)
* This image uses the old name of the ‘Is There a Book for That?’ blog/book list.
Halloween is a personal favorite of mine. I love being creative and dressing up. I love festive gatherings outside (even if you have to bundle up). I love the easy way it lends itself to conversations about the dead and death rituals. O and back in the day, I loved getting creative and making fun for the kids in the hospital.
So today I am sharing some books with a bit of a Halloween theme. Some talk about the different "gross" aspects of our body. They are educational and could maybe help kids feel less conscientios talking about them. There is also a great book about dealing with worry and then a couple focused on the Halloween theme - one for great for distraction and passing the time and a playful one for young children about skeletons. Read more below and have a safe inclusive fun Halloween!
Gross and Ghastly Human Body by Kev Payne
This book would be great for 4th through 12th graders. It is full of information, but also weird and sometimes gross facts about the body. It is important for everyone to understand their body and how it works. This version of the information might be more interesting for those who enjoy humor or being weird and gross (for some reason middle school boys come to mind… but that’s generalizing. Plenty of kids will be entertained and educated by this book full of body info.
https://amzn.to/4r3YE7Z
Grossology: The Science of Really Gross Things by Sylvia Brazei
This book talks all about the really gross things that our bodies do. While laughing and sharing the historical and scientific facts, this book also normalizes talking about poop, vomit and boogers. When kids can find the silly in these things, it can help them feel comfortable telling you about changes or being less embarrassed about their own bodies. This book could also help kids find humour in their tough situations. This book has a lot of info and so it would be better for those that can sit still for a while. I can see elementary- middle school kids enjoying this book.
https://amzn.to/4plYjfv
50 Body Questions: A Book That Spills Its Guts by Tanya Lloyd Kyi
This book would be great for kids that love to talk about “what ifs” or are entertained by crazy truths. This is definitely not a book that needs to be read all at once, but it can be read question by question as a way to fill the time and also learn more about our complicated bodies. Another one great for 4th-12th graders.
https://amzn.to/47YdVhZ
The Worry Monster: Calming Anxiety with Mindfulness by Dr. Catherine Cook-Cottone
This book talks about a monster who worries. He shows the reader that he is cute until his worries take over and he goes “full monster”. He then uses the example of an upcoming field trip and all of his worries about the field trip. Then he shows the reader the 7 steps he uses to be calm. This could be great for any kid with worries. Since a lot of kids have worries about procedures, surgeries, and hospital stays, this book could be a great way to talk about it and give the child some actions they can try when they start to worry. Great for preschool through elementary.
https://amzn.to/3X285qU
Skeletons are Not Scary by Duds and Kaine
This is a playful book that can be useful with preschoolers. The book reminds young children that skeletons aren’t something to be scared of, but are actually the bones in our body. This can be helpful around Halloween when young children might get spooked by decor or stories. This book could also be helpful in starting a conversation about bones. Most of it is silliness, but it does end with a beginning introduction to bones. It might work well to grab a child or a classroom’s attention before education about bone related accident or illness. Good for young children.
https://amzn.to/4p8FE6w
I Spy: Spooky Night by Jean Marzallo
Let me just start by saying that ISpy books are a tried and true hospital tool. In my many years of working in the hospital, I used ISpy books to keep kids busy during long waits, keep siblings quiet and calm during NICU visits, to distract during all sorts of procedures and to build relationships with kids. There is nothing like a ‘looking race’ or a game of giving clues to build trust and camaraderie. Anyway, this version is especially great for Halloween. I met many kids who were dealing with the scariest stuff imaginable in the hospital and found classic scary stuff especially interesting or entertaining. A great add to any clinic, hospital, or pre-op area.
https://amzn.to/483M1kP
