Books for a creepy Halloween

Halloween is sneaking close. Following are a few favorite books to celebrate the ghosts, goblins and ghoulish:

"ZEN GHOSTS," by Jon J. Muth, Scholastic, $17.99 (ages 4-8)

Stillwater, the observant panda, appears with Addy, Michael and Karl in a third picture book, this time set around Halloween costumes and eerie haunts. A ghost story based on a Zen koan is told and, as in previous stories, a question is the pivotal plot where the "answer becomes your own." Muth's delicious watercolors and gentle black-and-white sketches leave a thoughtful story for the whole family to enjoy. — M.S.

"A VAMPIRE IS COMING TO DINNER!: 10 Rules to Follow," by Pamela Jane and Pedro Rodriguez, Price Stern Sloan, $7.99 (ages 3 and up)

A vampire is coming to dinner, and it's time to get ready. There are some very practical rules for dealing with a vampire, but they're really more of a guideline. … Perhaps feeding the vampire all that garlic wasn't such a great idea after all. Ten full-page gatefolds and a pop up at the end of the book are hilariously detailed and give this "guide" an interactive feel. — J.H.

"ALPHAOOPS! H IS FOR HALLOWEEN," by Althea Kontis, illustrations by Bob Kolar. Candlewick Press, $15.99 (ages 4-8)

The alphabet letters simply will not behave as they begin their Halloween performance. Even though the ABC's try to march in orderly fashion at the bottom of the page, they tumble out in disarray and appear in silly combinations to represent Halloween-type words. — M.S.

"H IS FOR HAUNTED HOUSE: A Halloween Alphabet Book," by Tanya Lee Stone, Price Stern Sloan, $4.99 (ages 3-7)

From autumn to zombies, children learn about Halloween in a fun a harmless way — there's nothing too scary in these cartoon-like illustrations. Rhyming couplets flow through the alphabet hitting on bats, ghosts, owls and witches. Bright colors and friendly characters help make this a gentle introduction to Halloween. — J.H.

"TRICK OR TREAT, OLD ARMADILLO," by Larry Dane Brimmer, illustrated by Dominic Catalano, Boyds Mills, $16.95 (ages 5-8)

Old Armadillo (remembered from "Merry Christmas, Old Armadillo") waits for all his animal friends without knowing they are assembled in costumes outside. Eerie noises and creaky thumps scare Old Armadillo and not until the end do the festivities come together. Brimmer has included a few Spanish words (with a glossary) to accent the desert atmosphere. — M.S.