These and more from Buzzfeed: 21 Children’s Book Characters Born to be Halloween Costumes
Tag Archives: halloween
Generous Artist Shares Halloween Posters for Free
Now that it’s officially autumn, it’s time to think about library decor and programs for October’s full slate: Thanksgiving, my upcoming Storyteller visit, and Halloween. I’m very grateful to The Introverted Wife’s for sharing these All Hallows Read posters. Click on the images to go to the posts where you can download these and more for free!
Filed under Art & Design, Online Resources
Free Printable Halloween Bookmarks
Everybody else give out candy on Halloween – I give out bookmarks as the classes parade through my library.
Click on any one to go to the webpage from where you can download and print the bookmarks pictured as well as many others. Thank you to all these generous people who are sharing their talent and work.
Filed under Art & Design, Library Programs
I Think I’ve Found My Costume!
Two days ago I whined that I was uninspired and had no idea what I was going to do for my Halloween costume. The elementary students, at least, would never forgive me if I didn’t do something. So I need to extend a big thank you to the wonderful Rhythm, who suggested this costume to me. A Google search for “Book Fairy Costume’ revealed the above image. It looks like it just might be do-able for me and I was also thrilled to see that Lilliedale, who posted this costume included detailed instructions on its creation. I just happen to have a stack of discarded books that nobody wants…
Filed under Art & Design, What to Do With Discarded Books
64 Homemade Character Costumes – and I Still Don’t Know What To Be

Inspiration: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

Inspiration: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

Inspiration: Cindy Lou Who from Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
The above photos were borrowed from a collection of 64 character-based, home-made costumes, with instructions at About.Com Family Crafts.
And here’s a list of 60 Favorite Book Character Costumes.
For several years I dressed for school on Halloween as “Ms Kill” (a play on my name: Kilpatrick). I claimed to be Mrs. Kilpatrick’s older sister who had to work on Halloween because it was too scary for her (me). I wore a high-necked, long sleeved lace-edged blouse, a suit vest, long black skirt and ‘sensible’ shoes. I ‘aged’ my face with make-up, ‘horn-rimmed’ my glasses with electrical tape cut-outs and put spiders in a grey wig made into a bum and netted.
I was nasty and spent all day telling the kids to ‘shhhhh’. They got the idea that Ms Kill wasn’t very nice and loved to try to make me laugh, which was Not Allowed – I’d screech, “No frivolity in the library!” – but they really didn’t get the ‘librarian’ reference and I tired of the repeated act. Besides, as the year’s go by I need less ‘aging’ make-up and that is no fun. 🙂
Since then I’ve gone as a wispy ghost (that was fun, I was completely disguised), a failed “Where’s Waldo” (few kids guessed right) and a witch (cliché). Don’t know what I’ll be this year, I’m uninspired. I prefer ‘assembled’ costumes, rather than sewn (that’s just not going to happen), or purchased. Any ideas for me?
Filed under Books, Authors & Illustrators