Halloween Story Time

It's that time of year when everyone is looking for something a little spooky.  I try to have some fun not-too-spooky stories for the younger set - ages 4 - 6 children.  Some of my favorites are:

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams  which has lots of opportunity for participation.

Mrs. McMurphy's Pumkin by Rick Walton  in which a nasty pumpkin get's it's comeuppance from a farmer.

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman in which some spooky creatures try to pick a huge pumkin off a vine.

Song fun songs to dance to can be found on Kidz Bop Halloween.  I also do an adaptation of "If You're Happy and You Know It."  You can name various costumes such as if you're a skeleton and you know it wiggle your bones, if you're a ghost and you know it just say "Boo", etc.  You could tailor it to the costumes of the children at story time, or just pick 3 basic ideas. 

Several fun games are "Pass the Witch's Broomstick" and "Witchy Witchy Where's You're Broom."  For the first you need a broom (I found one at Michaels).  Have the children stand in a circle and carefully pass the broom around as you sing :

"Pass the witch's broomstick round and round the room.
While the music's palyig quickly pass the broom.
Anyone is out if the broomstick drops
Or the one who has it when the music stops!"

The children who are out get to sit in the middle of the circle and be stirred into the witch's brew.  This works best with children ages 4 and up.

For the 2nd game, you need a small broom that can be hidden behind the children's back.  One child sits on a chair in the middle of the circle with the broom underneath.  The 'witch" closes their eyes while the group chants:

 "Witchy, Witchy where's your broom?
Someone has it in this room. 
Who could it be?"

You silently tell one of the circle to take the broom and hide it behind their back.  Everyone in the circle puts their hands behind their backs and when the chant is over the 'witch' opens their eyes and gets 3 guesses as to who took their broom. Then the child with the brrom takes over as the "witch."

Happy Halloween!!!