S ummer is over and fall is finally here, which means it’s time to take full advantage of these fleeting days of cooler weather. The New Orleans Public Library has tons of great ways to make the most of the season (especially Halloween,) including these festive fall reads:
from the bookshelf
CHILDREN As the leaves change colors and the air starts to crisp, the natural world begins to shift, and so do we. In Fall Day, All Day by Kari Percival, vibrant digital woodcut illustrations and lyrical text capture the magic of fall, encouraging children to appreciate nature, play, and the simple beauty of a fall day. Boooo Fantasma: A Spooky Bilingual Halloween Book by Ricardo Guerrero is a fantastic way to get excited for Halloween. Fall in love with a charming little fantasma (ghost) as he floats through a festive world filled with pumpkins, calaveras, and sweet surprises. Along the way, practice gratitude, share treats, and embrace both English and Spanish traditions. MIDDLE GRADE Tweens looking for a scare this Halloween are sure to love Beware the Jacks by Laura Lavoie. This chapter book follows 12-year-old Dahlia Reid as she prepares for her town’s Harvest Festival – the big, scary event held every
Autumn Equinox. When a new family arrives and grows a massive pumpkin patch, some people in town think it’s bad news, even saying the pumpkin farm is cursed. More frights are to be found in Terrifying True Tales: Haunting Histories, Creepy Cryptids, and Scary Stories from Around the World by Paige Towler. This bone-chilling, globe- trotting adventure is filled with gripping photography and mind-boggling facts that reveal the history and science behind the curiosities of our world. Finally, Halloween-loving kids should check out The Monster Manual: The Ultimate Guide to Werewolves, Goblins, and Other Wicked Creatures by Sarah Glenn Marsh & Justine Wollman. Collected by vanished monster-hunters and forbidden to be printed until now, this field guide contains the truth grown-ups won’t admit: monsters are real. TEENS For older fright-seeking fiends, They Call Her Regret by Channelle Desamours is a perfectly
spooky read, following horror-loving Simone as she prepares for her annual Halloween bash. Things take a dark turn when her best friend dies under questionable circumstances, ushering in a witch that offers her a deal: if Simone can figure out how to release Regret from the curse trapping her at the lake within 14 days, all of Simone’s regrets will be erased and Kira’s life will be restored. But, there’s always a catch... Your Boyfriend Needs an Exorcist by Justine Pucella Winans perfectly blends horror with comedy and just enough romance. Just because Schuyler is a bloodthirsty evil spirit doesn’t mean she can’t fall in love. She’s crushing hard on Wren Castillo, who lives in the house she haunts. When Schuyler accidentally possesses Wren’s awful boyfriend, she tries to play it cool. But, it turns out maintaining a possession is harder than she thought. Visit nolalibrary.org for more reading recommendations, along with seasonal crafts, spooky programs, and more.
Kacy Helwick is the youth collection development librarian for the New Orleans Public Library’s collections and acquisitions department. Marie Simoneaux is the media and communications coordinator for the New Orleans Public Library.
8 OCTOBER 2026 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
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