It's hard to believe that this week will be the end of this year's K-2 Storyhour. Our last class will be a Halloween Party, complete with a "haunting" of the library. You can relax...it's just a small Halloween parade throughout the library while in costume. (Bring your camera!) Then it's back to the meeting room for our special guest readers who will bring Halloween to life by stories and discussion.

This session's theme entitled "Community Leaders are Readers" was one of my favorites.  Our guest readers included Greg Weiss, speech and drama teacher (and storyteller supreme) at James Hart, Sammy Bacino, owner of racing pigeons which were released in the parking lot to the amazement of the children (it really was awesome!), Mayor Richard Hofeld who with the aid of Claire Schneider read the book "I'm Not", Fireman Bill Wright who instructed the children in fire safety. Kelly Joslyn from Irons Oaks will read the story "Be Nice to Spiders" to our Wednesday storyhour this week to illustrate just how useful these sometimes fearsome aracnids are. Pat Nivens, Park District Commissioner and thespian, will entertain the children with Halloween tales on Thursday. A big THANK YOU to all our guest readers who made this storyhour session so special! Oh, and Happy Halloween to you!

Halloween Apps and Crafts

With Halloween just about two weeks away, Halloween apps are in demand. Here's a few that you and your child may enjoy. One of my favorites is Cookie Doodle

for your iPhone or iPad, where kids can create Halloween cookies without the resultant flour/sugar/sprinkle deluge. Hallelujah! A bargain at 99 cents. Or try Halloween Stickers for your iPad where kids can drag an assortment of pumpkins and ghosts onto 5 different backgrounds--no fuss, no muss, no GooGone! Another 99 cents bargain. Dr. Seuss' What Was I Scared Of?iPad app tells the tale of a fearful boy who meets a mysterious pair of levitating pants (I know, so Dr. Seuss!). When he calls for help, the pants start to cry too. It seems they're both frightened of each other. Yes, 99 cents! Score! The Legend of Spookley the Square Pumpkin, the story of a square pumpkin trying to fit into a round pumpkin world, features the ability for the child to read it himself, have it read to him or autoplay where the pages are automatically turned. It is available for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch also sports the features listed above with random animation. An additional sticker page makes this a good value at $2.99. Also compatible for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Scruffy Kitty is a heartwarming story about a stray kitty who finds a new home. Special Halloween decorations have been added to the house in the story along with pumpkins and ghosts. This is an interactive iPad app and another 99 cent bargain! Our favorite Berenstain Bears step out in Berenstain Bears Go on a Ghost Walk. This interactive iPhone and iPad book is a neat $2.99.