There’s room for a little spooky and a little creepy on Halloween night, especially for the older kids. The Spider and the Fly is certainly a little creepy, but it’s a great Halloween book with amazing illustrations! Howl-O-Ween at the Zoo will also be good for a little scare. Intended for kids 8 years old or older, this will be a good event for those looking to scream this weekend.

The Book

The Spider and the Fly

Author: Mary Howitt

Illustrator: Tony DiTerlizzi

The book brief: “‘Will you walk into my parlor?’ said the Spider to the Fly. ..” Is easily one of the most  recognized and  quoted first lines in all of English verse. But do you have any idea how the age-old tale of the Spider and Fly ends? Join celebrated artist Tony DiTerrlizzi as he- drawing inspiration from one of his loves, the classic Hollywood horror movies of the 1920′s and 1930′s -shines a cinematic spotlight on Mary Howitt’s warning, written to her own children about those who use sweet words to hide their not-so-sweet intentions.

About the Author: Based on a cautionary poem by Mary Howitt written in 1829.

About the Illustrator: Acclaimed children’s book creator, Tony DiTerlizzi was born into an artistic household on September 6, 1969. . At an early age Tony began embracing the whimsical, the wondrous, and the fantastic, all of which sparked his wild imagination.

Tony lives and works in western Massachusetts with his wife (and manager) Angela, and their pug, Goblin. His latest picture book, G is for One Gzonk (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2006), is not only a nonsense alphabet book, but an homage to the late Dr. Seuss’who inspired a young boy from Florida with dreams of one day becoming a children’s book creator.

The Blast

Howl-O-Ween

Dates: Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31, 2009

Time: 6:30-10:30pm

Cost: $6 for Zoo Members; $8 for Non Members

The Blast:The Phoenix Zoo introduces, “Howl-O-Ween,” a brand new event that will offer experiences sure to terrify those looking for a good scare!

Howl-O-Ween will offer a variety of activities that cater to both the brave and the not so brave. All activities will be broken down into 1 of 3 scare levels indicated by the number of skulls shown, 1 skull (Scare Level 1) being the least scary and 3 skulls (Scare Level 3) being the scariest. Please note that Scare Level 3 activities are intended and were created to be terrifying, so please be aware of the activity’s scare level before participating.

Howl-O-Ween was created for kids ages 8 and up.

Extra Tips for Good Time!

• Visit The Phoenix Zoo’s Howl-O-Ween website to determine what Scare Level you or your kids would like to participate in.
• Don’t expect to see any animals, most of the animals are not nocturnal and will be off exhibit.
• Tickets for the event can be purchased online but are non-refundable, be sure you can attend before you purchase.
• Stay in a group, stay safe and have a very Happy Halloween!

ages 8 and up.

Humbug Witch sat on the family bookshelf my entire childhood. It is a classic Halloween book that captures a child’s imagination. The imagery is simple but engaging and memorable. We loved getting it out every Halloween as kids, and as soon as the first grandchild was born we brought it out once again.

Costumes!!! We love getting dressed for Halloween! I firmly believe that group costumes are the best. Our family can mark the passage of timed based on our family costumes alone. A great group costume can get everyone excited for the big day. Maybe our previous years’ costumes can inspire your clan.

The Book

Humbug Witch

Author/Illustrator: Lorna Balian

Recommended Age: 5-7 years old

Book Brief: There was this thing…and an ugly thing it was! It was scary and nasty and dressed quite horribly. It called itself a witch.

It tried to laugh wickedly. It tried to weave fierce Black Magic potions. It tried to fly through the dark, eerie sky on its broom. Yet nothing happened!

This witch became quite discouraged. It took off its tall black hat. It took off its gold-buckle black shoes. It took off its long black dress…and then the unexpected happened!

About the Author: Lorna Balian’s prizewinning books have delighted young and not-so-young readers for more than a quarter of a century. Now a proud grandmother, Ms. Balian lives with her family in a converted schoolhouse in Hartford, Wisconsin.

The Blast

Family Costumes!

Everyone is brainstorming their costumes and getting ready for Halloween Night. I hope your family has a great place to celebrate . . . and that you go in style, with your whole family dressed as a matching theme! Here are some of our most memorable Halloween costumes. Some have been pricey and complicated; others have been simple and last minute. Regardless, we have always had a lot of fun!

Our first year married: Super Heroes

Couple: Mad Scientist and Bride of Frankenstein

Our first baby: The Three Amigos

1 Child: Mouseketeers

2 kids: Donald, Daisy, Mickey, and Minnie

2 kids: The Incredibles, with extended family – Grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Incredible; we also had Violet, Dash, Bomb Voyage, Syndrome, and Edna Mode.

3 kids: Alice inWonderland – Queen  of Hearts, Mad Hatter, Alice, King of Hearts, and Baby Ace of Hearts

This year?…….

Other great family costumes I’ve seen: The Flintstones, Toy Story, Peter Pan, Vampires or Witches, Mario Bros. Cast, Star Wars, Cowboys and Cowgirls, Ghostbusters,  and Where the Wild Things Are (whichwould be a great one this year!).

Extra Tips for a Good Time:

• If you use hair spray paint, only use it on short hair or hair that is pulled back. Otherwise every time it brushes her face or she brushes it out of her face it gets all over everything.
• Make sure they can easily walk without tripping, and they can easily be seen. Completely black costumes on kids make them nearly impossible to find.
• The accessories make the costume! If you are going for a really great costume for an adult or a child, the accessories are what makes it stand out (and they usually don’t come in the package)!
• Make it yourself. We made Alice, from Alice in Wonderland, all out of fabric left over from other projects and it was perfect! There are lots of great websites for costumes you can make on your own. One of my favorites is www.familyfun.com.

It’s October . . . and our family loves Halloween! We aren’t fond of haunted houses, creepy skeletons, and dark objects lurking in the corner – no way! We love to decorate, dress up, and make everything fun and whimsical . . . spooky but kooky!

Monsters, the cute and cuddly kind, are a great way to get into the fun Halloween spirit. I Need My Monster is a very funny book your kids will love! The illustrations are breathtaking and the plot is both lighthearted and meaningful. We also recently discovered MoshiMonsters.com. It’s a free website in which your child gets to customize their own monster and then decorate their house with items they “buy” from the monster village. Similar to webkinz.com and buildabearville.com, kids explore a fanciful virtual world and full of games and challenges. The games are educational and great practice, the website is intuitive and easy to use, and the experience is a lot of fun!

The Book

Click here to view our Amazon Store

I Need My Monster

Author: Amanda Noll

Illustrator: Howard McWillaim

Recommended Age: 4-8 years old

Book Brief: When Ethan checks under his bed for his monster, he finds a note instead: “Gone fishing. Back in a week. -Gabe” What will Ethan do? He needs a monster under his bed. Substitute monsters appear but none are as perfect as Gabe. Herbert’s teeth aren’t sharp enough, Mack’s slobbering induces giggles, Cynthia’s tail isn’t scary at all, and Ralph has nail polish on his claws! This will never work! How will Ethan get to sleep without his monster?

I Need My Monster is a unique monster-under-the-bed story for all monster-loving kids. The perfect balance of giggles and shivers will keep you under your covers, and you’ll soon be sleeping soundly.

About the Author: Amanda Noll blames her fundamentally twisted sense of humor on either genetics or the steady stream of Australian humor on which she was raised. She lives in Spanaway, Washington, and the monster under her bed is Gertie. This is her first picture book.

About the Illustrator: Howard McWilliam has won awards for his artwork and is published in a wide range of UK magazines and newspapers including The Daily Telegraph, The Week, Child Education, and Nursery Education. He lives in Kingston Upon Thames, England, and the monster under his bed is Brompton. This is his first picture book.

The Blast

MoshiMonsters.com

Cost: Free (optional membership upgrade)

Information:www.moshimonsters.com/parents

It’s a blast! Moshi Monsters is a free online game for kids, in which they adopt a monster and look after it. Kids whose parents give their approval can become members on the site, and can adopt a Moshi Monster. Kids care for their monster by solving puzzle games, which earn their monster virtual rewards called Rox. Kids can spend Rox on virtual items like food, furniture and other treats and toys for their monster. Over time their monster will increase in level, be able to visit new locations in Monstro City, and earn all kinds of in-game rewards for playing. Monster owners will also be able to make friends with other owners and leave messages on their pages.

Education is right at the heart of the Moshi Monsters experience. Every day your child’s monster will create a series of fun puzzles that test everything from vocabulary and arithmetic to logic and spatial skills. The better your child does at these puzzles, the more Rox they’ll earn to buy cool things for their monster. The difficulty level of the puzzles automatically calibrates each day, so puzzles get harder if they are doing well, and easier if they are struggling.

Successfully nurturing a Moshi Monster is no mean feat. It takes a variety of skills that your child can develop over time. Your child will need to think creatively, hypothesize, strategize, manage scarce resources, collaborate with friends, and nurture a wide variety of other skills that could extend positively into their everyday lives.

Extra tips for a good time!

• Sign up with your children. It’s fun to let them make the decision about their monsters appearance and name, but you’ll need to provide your email address and give permission for them to enter the site, so its easiest to help them through the registration process.
• The games or puzzles get progressively harder as you do better and increase in Level. They can be challenging and a lot of fun! It would not be unusual to find this adult playing a few games to “help earn a few monster dollars.”

Long drives are the perfect time to read chapter books together as a family. Enjoying a story passes the time quickly and keeps the kicking, poking, and yelling to a minimum. One we recently enjoyed, Cave of the Dark Wind: A Never Land Book, is a great story full of excitement and adventure. A chapter book intended for 9-12 year olds, it’s a fun and simple read but the storytelling and imagery are fantastic! We found this to be a great book for boys - it’s a Neverland adventure - and yet there is a brave heroine named Pearl who kept my daughter’s interest. It’s a nail biter for children and tough to put down. You will love imagining the treasure hunt through The Cave of the Dark Wind together.

You could finish the book on your drive down to Benson, AZ - just past Tucson. Here you will find Kartchner Caverns, an amazing cave in pristine condition. You and your children will be wowed as you seemingly enter another world full of stalagmites and stalactitles! It can only be accessed by tour and a reservation is required.  Get the book and plan your trip. It will be an inexpensive mini-vacation the kids will talk about for months!

The Book

Title: Cave of the Dark Wind: A Never Land Book

Author: Ridley Pearson and Dave Berry

Illustrator: Greg Call

Recommended Age: 9-12

Book Brief: While Peter is away from the island, James and the lost boys discover a mysterious cave.  Shining Pearl and her sister, Little Scallop, warn the boys it is a dangerous place, inhabited by a creature known as the Goat Taker — a beast so scary that even the Mollusk tribe fears it. But the boys can’t resist trying to discover the cave’s secrets. When the first of those secrets turns out to be a tantalizing hint of a famous haunted treasure, Captain Hook and his band of cut throat pirates quickly join the hunt. Before long, the children are fleeing for their lives in a dark and deadly underground labyrinth…and their only hope for escape is to solve the mystery of the Cave of the Dark Wind.

About the Authors: Dave Barry is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of more than two dozen books including The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog; Dave Barry’s Money Secrets; Dave Barry’s Complete Guide to Guys; Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway; and Big Trouble.

Ridley Pearson is the bestselling author of twenty-three novels, including the young adult novel The Kingdom Keepers and the adult thrillers Killer Weekend, Cut and Run, The Pied Piper, The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer, Beyond Recognition, and Undercurrents.

The pair wrote the thrilling Peter and the Starcatchers series.

The Blast

Kartchner Caverns State Park

Location: Benson, AZ

Click here to find a map and directions.

It’s a Blast! Experience a stunning limestone cave in Southeastern Arizona that boasts world-class features. This “live” cave, discovered in 1974, is host to a wide variety of unique minerals and formations. Water percolates from the surface and calcite formations continue to grow, including stalactites dripping down like icicles and giant stalagmites reaching up from the ground. Tour guides will unveil this fascinating underground landscape during a memorable 1½ hour tour.

In November 1974 two young cavers, Gary Tenen and Randy Tufts, were exploring the limestone hills at the base of the Whetstone Mountains. In the bottom of a sinkhole they found a narrow crack leading into the hillside. Warm, moist air flowed out, signaling the existence of a cave. After several hours of crawling, they entered a pristine cavern.It wasn’t until February 1978 that Tenen and Tufts told the property owners, James and Lois Kartchner, about their amazing discovery. During the four years of secret exploration, the discoverers realized that the cave’s extraordinary variety of colors and formations must be preserved.

The cave’s existence became public knowledge in 1988 when its purchase was approved as an Arizona State Park. Extraordinary precautions have been taken during its development to conserve the cave’s near-pristine condition.

Cave Tour Information

To make Cave Tour Reservations and Book Tickets: Call (520) 586-2283. You can call 7 days a week, from 8 am to 5 pm MST.

Kartchner Caverns State Park
Cave Tour Prices

Cavern Tour	Ages 0–6	Ages 7–13	Ages 14+
Rotunda/Throne Tour: October – July	FREE	$9.95	$18.95
Rotunda/Throne Tour: August – September	FREE	$8.95	$16.95
Big Room Tour	N/A*	$12.95	$22.95

* Children 6 and under are not allowed on this tour.

All tours are led by a trained guide, no self-guided tours are available. Twenty tours are scheduled daily, and are available year round, for the Rotunda/Throne Tour and fifteen tours are scheduled daily for the Big Room Tour from mid-October to mid-April. It is recommended that tours be booked as far in advance as possible to ensure availability. No items (bags, purses, packs, bottled water, etc) are allowed into the cave while on tour. Try to arrive at least 1 hour in advance of your tour time. The tour operators request that you familiarize yourself with our very important Cave Tour Rules.

Extra Tips For a Good Time:

• The cave has an average temperature of 70 degrees Fahrenheit and 99% humidity year-round, so it will feel very warm and steamy.
• Most areas are dimly lit and some passages may pass through narrow or enclosed areas. This may be difficult for persons with mobility, respiratory, or claustrophobia issues.
• Schools and group tours should read some additional information.

One of the keys to having a blast on any holiday is to build up an event in the mind of your child. Get beyond the stress of stocking the candy bowls and putting the finishing touches on your Halloween costumes by psyching your kids up for the big night! More than once we’ve made the mistake of expecting our children to be excited for something we’re planning, while failing to spend time on building the hype. So, take a moment to get the kids thinking about their pending Trick-or-Treating escapades with the whimsical Vunce Upon a Time.

The Book

Click here to get the book and more in our Amazon store.

Title: Vunce Upon a Time

Author: J.otto Seibold

Illustrator: Siobhan Vivian

Recommended Age: 4-8

Book Brief: Dagmar is not like other vampires. He’s shy, he’s afraid of humans, and . . . he’s a vegetarian! But even more than he likes vegetables, Dagmar loves candy. And when he hears about Halloween and all the free candy that humans give out, he knows he has to give trick-or-treating a try. What follows is an eye-opening night in which Dagmar’s courage is rewarded with much more than a bag of treats!

About the Author: J.otto Seibold lives in Oakland, California. He has written, co-written, and illustrated many children’s books, including Olive, the Other Reindeer and the Mr. Lunch series. He was also the first person to draw children’s books on a computer. He spends his days riding his bike and playing his guitar (badly), and his first choice for breakfast is huevos rancheros!

About the Illustrator: Siobhan Vivian once raced electric go-karts with J.otto Seibold, and thankfully, neither of them was seriously injured. Her first novel for young adults debuted in 2008. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

The Blast

Trick-or-Treating in your neighborhood

Date: Halloween Night

Location: Local neighborhoods or shopping centers

It’s a Blast! Trick-or-treating is an old tradition that your kids will love year after year. Most of your neighbors will likely still welcome your little monsters this Halloween. Make sure that you take the necessary precautions to ensure a good time for everyone! For maxiumum enjoyment, Mom, Dad, and anybody else along for the fun should dress up as well . . . in an orange t-shirt, at the very least. We’ve found that dressing the whole family in a matching ensemble will break the ice with neighbors. You may find new friends on your street that you’d never seen before!

Always have a backup plan. If your street is a dud, move on to another neighborhood. Or plan in advance to meet up with some friends and tour their part of town. More and more families are also opting to spend their Halloween night at the local shopping mall, where most stores are prepared to receive little trick-or-treaters. Visit the website for the closest mall to see if they’ll be participating. Last year, San Tan Village at Williams Field and Loop 202 saw a bunch of little costumed characters.

Extra tips for a Good Time:

• Get your costumes totally ready before the big night. You don’t want to be late for the fun because you’re making last-minute adjustments.
• Avoid bulky masks and other ill-fitting props. They may have the creepy or cute effect you desire, but if they get in the way on Halloween night, you’ll regret it.
• Wear comfortable shoes, and check with your children often to make sure they’ll be able to walk all the way home.
• Carry a flashlight that’s been checked for fresh batteries.
• Bring your cell phone.
• Always go in groups, and make sure an adult accompanies your kids . . . even if they seem old enough to be out alone.
• Be polite to your neighbors and respect their property.
• Teach your children that the treats are a gift and not a right.
• Inspect your children’s candy before they eat it, and never let them eat treats that aren’t packaged

Kids seem to think that Halloween is never quite as much fun when it lands on a school night. We agree – unless parents are willing to put in a little extra effort. By planning some Halloween activities leading up to the big night, your kids won’t be as disappointed if their trick-or-treating is cut short for bed time. This week’s Book Blast should give you some ideas.

First, pick up some Halloween books at the library. There’s nothing like a fun book to get your child’s imagination going, which always helps kids get more out of holidays. Second, arm your child with some Halloween jokes. Telling jokes is part of the elementary school culture. Help your child share the fun of Halloween by teaching him a few good jokes. This week’s book, Boo! It’s Halloween, will aid in both of these steps. It portrays the fun of that spooky night in verse, while interspersing jokes into the illustrations. Though some of the jokes are a little cheesy (we’ve heard the same knock knock jokes a few too many times since reading the book to our kids), you’ll get a kick out of a few of them. Finally, plan a Halloween-oriented outing for the weekend before Halloween. We recommend Bashas’ Boo! at the Zoo, because there are enough activities to keep your family entertained for a full day, helping you to begin to get your fill of Halloween fun.

Open a Book . . .

Get the book and more in our Amazon store!

Title: Boo! It’s Halloween
Author & Illustrator: Elizabeth Winthrop
Recommended Age: 4-8

Book Brief: Watch out, everyone – tonight is Halloween! Get ready for jack-o’-lanterns and haunted houses, scary stories and the costume parade, and, of course, Trick or Treat! Wendy Watson’s Halloween, in a small New England town, is a deliciously spooky night with traditional songs, rhymes, riddles, and fun for the whole family – even doggie.

About the Author & Illustrator: Wendy Watson comes from a family that has produced several generations of professional authors and artists. She was raised with seven brothers and sisters on a farm in Vermont, where she received her early education and art training from her mother and father. The late twentieth-century small town that is the setting for this book is much like the one in which Ms. Watson grew up. She studied paining in Truro, Massachusetts, and at the National Academy of Design in New York City. Boo! It’s Halloween is the fifth in her series of books for very young children which illustrate traditional American holidays. The same characters appear in A Valentine for You, Hurray for the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving at Our House, and the Clarion edition of Clement C. Moore’s The Night Before Christmas. Ms. Watson lives with her family in Vermont. You can find more information about her at www.wendy-watson.com.

Extras: Author Wendy Watson is the author/illustrator of more than twenty children’s books and has illustrated more than sixty books for other children’s authors. Her artwork hangs in many museums around the country.

Have a Blast!

Bashas’ Boo! at the Zoo:  The Good, the Bad, and the Bugly!
The Phoenix Zoo
455 N. Galvin Parkway
Phoenix, AZ 85008

(Click here to see a map and get directions)

Website: www.phoenixzoo.org

When:

Saturday, October 27 & Sunday, October 28
9 AM – 4 PM

Cost:

Free for ages 0-2
$6 for ages 3-12
$9 for Seniors (60 and over)
$14 for everyone else
Zoo members get free admission to the event (see Extras below)

It’s a Blast: Now in it’s 18th year, Boo! at the Zoo has become one of the most popular Halloween activities for kids in Phoenix. Though you will get to gaze at animals to your heart’s content, the Zoo’s special activities for these two days include:

• The Ugly Bug Ball
• Bug Bingo
• Jump Like a Flea at the Insect Olympics
• “Wanted” Bug Scavenger Hunt
• Pumpkin Stomp and Chomp (see what the animals do with pumpkins)
• Mascot Parade
• Mrs. B’s Storytime (click here to for more info. about Mrs. B)
• Mad Science (click here for more info. about Mad Science)

Other activities (some of which cost money) at the zoo on an ongoing basis include:

• Stingray Bay
• Camel Rides
• Petting Zoo
• Carousel
• Safari Train
• Safari Cart Tours
• Animal Encounters
• Monkey Village (closed during Boo! at the Zoo)
• Leapin’ Lagoon

Extra Tips for a Good Time:

• Keep in mind that it takes nearly three hours just to see all of the animals at the zoo. If you’re planning to do the complete circuit and participate in the Boo! activities, be prepared to spend a good part of the day at the zoo.
• Coolers, ice chests, and food are allowed in the zoo in case you don’t want to buy food once inside. There are plenty of picnic tables in perfect zoo settings for your use.
• Strollers, roller blades, and bicycles are allowed within the zoo and can make for a fun trip.
• Rental items include strollers ($8-$12), wheelchairs ($8), lockers ($1-$1.25), boats (starting at $12), and bikes ($12-$30).
• Some things are prohibited, including such things as pets, smoking, weapons, alcohol, glass, skateboards, and whistles. Check the website for more details.

Extras: The zoo covers 125 acres of land and houses about 1,200 animals.

If you enjoy your visit, you may want to become a member of the zoo. Membership gets you free admission to the zoo (and more than 130 other zoos and aquariums around the country) for a full year, including free admission to Boo! at the Zoo. Discounts for safari train rides, additional zoo tickets, gift shop purchases, and much more are also included. Membership is $50 for the first adult and 20 for the second and third adults. Children ages 3-18 are just $10, and children 2 and under are free. You also receive two free additional tickets ($28 value) so you can bring some friends for a visit.

If you haven’t heard of Harry Potter before, you’ve probably been living in a cupboard under the stairs for the last decade. Both the books and the movies based on the stories have been critically acclaimed and wildly successful. Thousands of people lined up at bookstores to be the first to discover the fate of the books’ characters when the latest installment was released this year. While we do love the books, we also think they’re really cool because the series made reading fun for a new generation of kids. At the same time, we know there are plenty of kids who may have seen the movies but never picked up the books – whether they were too young when the craze was at its peak or they simply never developed the interest.

If your kids are part of the lagging group, October is the perfect month to get them started on the series. Witches, wizards, goblins, and other Halloween characters and personalities abound in the Harry Potter stories. If they have already read the series, this is a great chance to show your kids that a second read can still be enjoyable. For this week’s Book Blast, we suggest reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and then visiting the Pumpkin and Chili party at Schnepf Farms. Beyond all of the fun Halloween activites at the farm, your children can simulate the final challege Harry Potter faces in the Tri-Wizard Tournament by finding their way through an elaborate cornfield maze!

Open a Book . . .

Buy the book and more in our Amazon store!

Title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Author: J. K. Rowling

Recommended Age: 9-12

Book Brief: This is the fourth novel in the seven-part tale of Harry Potter’s training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup with hermoine, Ron, and the Weasleys. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do mor than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious event that’s supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn’t happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. Unfortunately for Harry Potter, he’s not normal – even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.

About the Author: J. K. Rowling was born in Chipping Sodbury near Bristol, England. After she graduated from Exeter University, she found work as a secretary, and later spent time teaching English in Portugal before moving to Edinburgh, Scotland, with her daughter. She currently resides in Scotland with her husband and three children.

Extras: Each of the seven books in the series has been a #1 bestseller on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.

Rowling first thought of Harry Potter while riding a train in 1990. (Are the best fictional characters imagined while on trains? Walt Disney dreamed up Mickey Mouse while on a train ride across the country.)

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire sold three million copies in the first 48 hours of release, becoming the fastest-selling book in history to that point.

Have a Blast

Pumpkin and Chili Party at Schnepf Farms
Shchnepf Farms
24810 S. Rittenhouse Road

Queen Creek, AZ 85242

www.schnepffarms.com

When:

Every Thursday thru Sunday in October
Thursdays: 10 AM to 9 PM
Fridays and Saturdays: 10 AM to 10 PM
Sundays: 10 AM to 9 PM

Cost:

$14 per person
Children 2 and under are free

Seniors and Queen Creek residents are half price on Thursdays

It’s a Blast: Take your family for day of Fall and Halloween fun – with a fireworks show to end the evening! This is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of your typical day and to get the family excited about Halloween. We’ve learned that kids love the holidays even more when Mom and Dad participate in building the anticipation.
Parking is free, and admission includes a variety of fun activities for kids of all ages:

• Hay Rides
• Roller Coaster
• 10 Acre “Celebrity” Maze, designed in the likeness of Steve Nash
• Country Road Rally
• Honeybee Adventure
• Carousel Rides
• Petting Barn
• Hillbilly Bob’s Pig Races
• 3-d Scary Weather Walk Thru
• Swinging Lady Bugz
• Flying Farmers Ride
• Pumpkin Launch
• Witch Mountain
• SRP Earthwise Energy Maze
• Rock Climbing Wall
• Golden Goat Bridge
• Bon Fires & Marshmallow Roasting (6:30 PM)
• Juggling Show
• Lil’ Farmers Play Yard
• Inflatable Bounce About
• Karaoke (5-9 PM)
• Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest (5:30 PM)
• Schnepf Family Museum
• My Sister’s Sweet Shop
• Country Store
• Gift Shops
• Fireworks

For a few extra bucks, there’s even more to do:

• Train Rides ($2 per person, ages 2 and under free)
• Candle Making and Crafts ($1 to $15)
• Scarecrow Making ($10 for full-size clothes, a head, and straw)

Extra Tips for a Good Time:

• Discount tickets for $12 per person available at Fry’s Food and Drug Stores (and they come with a coupon for a free burger from Sonic).
• Avoid the ticket booth lines by buying your discount tickets in advance.
• Be prepared to pay for food. No food or picnic lunches are allowed at the farm, so either eat before you go and make it home in time for dinner or plan to pay for food at the farm.
• For older kids, the scary Halloween attraction, The Nest, is located right next door. It has been rated as one of the best Halloween attractions in the country, but it’s not for the faint of heart! Send your teenagers over while the younger kids keep playing at the farm. Visit www.frightened.com for more information.
• Check the traffic before you head to Queen Creek. It can be quite a drive, and you’ll want to make sure that you pick the best route. Nothing’s worse than unanticipated delays in family fun!

Extras: About the farm – Ray and Thora Schnepf moved to Queen Creek in 1941. Ray and his son, Mark, were large commercial potato farmers. In fact, Queen Creek was once known as the Potato Capital of the World! Mark and his family lived on the farm until just recently, when they moved away to make room for “The Farmhouse at Schnepf Farms,” a new reception center. Almost a quarter of a million people visit Schnepf Farms every year.

Mark and his friends helped Queen Creek become its own town in 1989 in order to avoid being swallowed up by the bigger, expanding municipalities. Mark served as the first Mayor of Queen Creek for 11 years.

If your kids really get into the spirit of the farm, you might want to look into the Lease a Peach Tree program at Schnepf Farms. For a fee, you will have a dedicated peach tree from which you can enjoy all of the fruit. For an additional fee, the farmers will even harvest your peaches and have them delivered right to your doorstep. But that just takes all of the fun out of it, right?

Halloween is one of our favorite times of the year! Our houses are always decked out with one creepy theme or another – like when the witches invaded and left clues about their identities everywhere or when our mad scientist relative took over the office. While we don’t get into the dark, morbid side of the holiday, we do take the opportunity to make October memorable by decorating the house, dressing up, throwing parties, and telling a ghost story or two. We’re always looking for ways to get our kids excited about this fun season without creeping them out too much.

This week’s Picture Book Blast is aimed at helping you and your little ones get into that cooky, spooky mood. Halloween Hats is a great, lighthearted book for kick-starting that fun Halloween spirit. It is sure to get your kids thinking about what they want to be when they go trick-or-treating. The Pumpkin and Chili Party at Schnepf Farms has become a family tradition for many residents of the Valley. A wide variety of family activities helped the farm earn awards as one of the Top Five Pumpkin Farms in the Southwest (Sunset Magazine) and Arizona’s Best Fall Festival in 2006 and 2007 (Phoenix Magazine). There’s no better place to pick out your family pumpkins than at a real, working farm! Use this Book Blast to get an early start on Halloween and get the creepy creative juices flowing.

Open a Book . . .

Buy the book, hats, and more in out Amazon store!

Title: Halloween Hats
 Author: Elizabeth Winthrop
 Illustrator: Sue Truesdell
Recommended Age: 4-8

 Book Brief: It’s Halloween night! Bats and witches, ghosts and goblins march down the street to a great big Halloween party. They make a circle, and suddenly, Halloween hats are everywhere! The bouncy rhythm and exuberant pictures will make the reader want to pick up a hat and join the parade.
About the Author:  Elizabeth Winthrop is the author of more than fifty books for readers of all ages, including the popular Dumpy La Rue, illustrated by Betsy Lewin, and Shoes, illustrated by William Joyce. Ms. Winthrop lives in New York City and loves to wear hats of all sizes and shapes. You can visit the author at www.elizabethwinthrop.com.

About the Illustrator: Sue Truesdell is the illustrator of the Golly Sisters series by Betsy Byars, How to Talk to Your Dog by Jean Craighead George, and many other well-received books for children. Ms. Truesdell hangs her hat in Tenafly, New Jersey.

 Extras: Author Elisabeth Winthrop is the great niece of Theodore Roosevelt, who was a President of the United States and the author of 38 books.

Have a Blast!

Pumpkin and Chili Party at Schnepf Farms
Shchnepf Farms
24810 S. Rittenhouse Road
Queen Creek, AZ 85242

www.schnepffarms.com

 When:

 Every Thursday thru Sunday in October
Thursdays: 10 AM to 9 PM
Fridays and Saturdays: 10 AM to 10 PM
Sundays: 10 AM to 9 PM

 Cost:

 $14 per person
Children 2 and under are free

Seniors and Queen Creek residents are half price on Thursdays

It’s a Blast: Take your family for day of Fall and Halloween fun – with a fireworks show to end the evening! This is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of your typical day and to get the family excited about Halloween. We’ve learned that kids love the holidays even more when Mom and Dad participate in building the anticipation.
Parking is free, and admission includes a variety of fun activities for kids of all ages:

• Hay Rides
• Roller Coaster
• 10 Acre “Celebrity” Maze, designed in the likeness of Steve Nash
• Country Road Rally
• Honeybee Adventure
• Carousel Rides
• Petting Barn
• Hillbilly Bob’s Pig Races
• 3-d Scary Weather Walk Thru
• Swinging Lady Bugz
• Flying Farmers Ride
• Pumpkin Launch
• Witch Mountain
• SRP Earthwise Energy Maze
• Rock Climbing Wall
• Golden Goat Bridge
• Bon Fires & Marshmallow Roasting (6:30 PM)
• Juggling Show
• Lil’ Farmers Play Yard
• Inflatable Bounce About
• Karaoke (5-9 PM)
• Pumpkin Pie Eating Contest (5:30 PM)
• Schnepf Family Museum
• My Sister’s Sweet Shop
• Country Store
• Gift Shops
• Fireworks

 For a few extra bucks, there’s even more to do:

• Train Rides ($2 per person, ages 2 and under free)
• Candle Making and Crafts ($1 to $15)
• Scarecrow Making ($10 for full-size clothes, a head, and straw)

Extra Tips for a Good Time:

-Discount tickets for $12 per person available at Fry’s Food and Drug Stores (and they come with a coupon for a free burger from Sonic).
-Avoid the ticket booth lines by buying your discount tickets in advance.
-Be prepared to pay for food. No food or picnic lunches are allowed at the farm, so either eat before you go and make it home in time for dinner or plan to pay for food at the farm.
-For older kids, the scary Halloween attraction, The Nest, is located right next door. It has been rated as one of the best Halloween attractions in the country, but it’s not for the faint of heart! Send your teenagers over while the younger kids keep playing at the farm. Visit www.frightened.com for more information.
-Check the traffic before you head to Queen Creek. It can be quite a drive, and you’ll want to make sure that you pick the best route. Nothing’s worse than unanticipated delays in family fun!

 Extras: About the farm – Ray and Thora Schnepf moved to Queen Creek in 1941. Ray and his son, Mark, were large commercial potato farmers. In fact, Queen Creek was once known as the Potato Capital of the World! Mark and his family lived on the farm until just recently, when they moved away to make room for “The Farmhouse at Schnepf Farms,” a new reception center. Almost a quarter of a million people visit Schnepf Farms every year.

Mark and his friends helped Queen Creek become its own town in 1989 in order to avoid being swallowed up by the bigger, expanding municipalities. Mark served as the first Mayor of Queen Creek for 11 years.

If your kids really get into the spirit of the farm, you might want to look into the Lease a Peach Tree program at Schnepf Farms. For a fee, you will have a dedicated peach tree from which you can enjoy all of the fruit. For an additional fee, the farmers will even harvest your peaches and have them delivered right to your doorstep. But that just takes all of the fun out of it, right?