In "Jumbies" by Tracey Baptiste, children on Corinne's island know never to go into the forest, for fear of the jumbies: mythical, magical creatures who mean to do harm to humans. But when some rowdy orphaned boys steal her dead mother's necklace on All Hallow's Eve, Corinne doesn't think twice about going into the woods after it. Though she safely retrieves the necklace, a pair of yellow eyes follow here as she leaves the forest. Not long after, a mysterious stranger, Severine, appears in the village. This beautiful woman has a strange power over her father, who suddenly doesn't seem like himself. It's up to Corinne and her new friends to stop the evil enchantress who seems to have stolen her father. But Severine doesn't just have her sights on Corinne and her father. She wants the whole island. Where will they find the power to stop her?
This beautiful, magical, and very creepy story was inspired by the jumbie stories that the author heard during her childhood in Trinidad. Older elementary students who like fairy tales and a good scare will love this Caribbean fantasy novel, but middle school students who don't mind a younger protagonist will still get a thrill, too. Click on the link above to reserve a copy today.
--Kelly B., Prairie Commons
St. Louis County Library is a great place for families to gather and discover the joys of reading. We encourage reading in many ways but one of my favorites is our annual Family Read Night. This year's Family Read Night will be held on Friday, September 11, 7:00 p.m. at the Headquarters branch. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m.
This year we welcome two children's literature giants on the same stage!
R.L. Stine is the king of scary stories with his Goosebumps series. Kids just can't get enough of them. Those books spawned a TV show in the 1990s and be on the lookout for a new movie starring Jack Black in theaters this fall.
Marc Brown is best known for the adored Arthur books which launched a kid's cartoon that is still going strong after almost twenty years. Brown also illustrates many picture books for other authors.
These two authors have teamed up for a not-so-cuddly picture book "The Little Shop of Monsters"where you don't choose the monsters, the monsters choose you.
--Desiree S., Headquarters
Charlie Laird can't go to sleep. His nightmares are so terrifying, he'll do anything to keep them away. Every time he falls asleep, day or night, the evil witch is there to torment him. But his wakeful life is getting scary, too. His new stepmother, Charlotte, is the town's herbalist, always mixing mysterious and smelly concoctions to cure people. The family moved into her weird old purple mansion: the oddest place in town. Charlie's convinced she's monstrous, but no one else sees it. Charlie's nightmares start getting even more intense and happening during the day, and he needs the help of his best friends to face his fears and save his brother.
"Nightmares!" is this the first book in a trilogy written by actor Jason Segel-that wacky guy from The Muppets-and Kirsten Miller. This is a great read just in time for Halloween. It is creepy, but not too scary, and also funny and imaginative. This book is recommended for readers 8-12 years old. It's great for fans of "Coraline," "The Garden of Eve," "Floors," and Roald Dahl.
--Angie RH, Headquarters
