Family Found: A Queer Friendsgiving Celebration by Joanna McClintick, illustrated by Keisha Morris (Candlewick, 40 pages, ages 4-8). The narrator asks different people at their annual Friendsgiving celebration how the tradition of having dinner together every year got started. No one can quite remember, but each person shares a little bit of LGBTQ+ history. After the feast has been prepared, one of the older participants stands up and recites a short poem offering gratitude for this found family that offers each member love and acceptance. Includes additional information about some of the history mentioned in the text.

A lovely celebration of found family and the LGBTQ+ community whose members may not always be welcome to join their families of origin at the holiday. I wish there had been a little more to the story which felt like a vehicle for sharing history, but it’s a welcome addition to the Thansgiving bookshelf.

The Thing About Pie by Amy Hest, illustrated by Christopher Thornock (Neal Porter Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). “The thing about pie is waking up early to make it.” The boy in the story, which is told in the second person, has gotten up early to roll out pie crust, mix up blueberries, and top it all with a latticework crust while his dog looks on. He wraps the pie in towels, puts it in his bike basket, and heads off. There’s a tense moment when the pie bounces out of the basket, but happily, it lands right back in the basket again. And finally, boy, dog, and pie arrive at their destination; Grampa’s house, and the boy and his grampa share a piece of pie together. Glorious.

Okay, I’ll admit there’s no mention of a November holiday, but any story about pie, kind actions, and time spent with family is a Thanksgiving book in my opinion. The text and illustrations work together perfectly to tell a simple story that is also extremely satisfying, showing a selfless deed and concluding with a happy shared memory.

Three Little Witches and the Spooky Old House by Peggy Archer, illustrated by Gaia Bordicchia (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 3-6). An abandoned house sits at the end of a long, dark road, all alone until three witches make their way to the front door carrying a broom, a sack, and a pot. Inside, they get to work cleaning up the house, building a fire, and casting mysterious spells. Mice, bugs, and ghosts emerge from the shadows and watch them work. Finally, there’s a knock on the door, and the witches greet their friends: an ogre, a mummy, and a goblin. Everyone sits down at the table to enjoy a fall treat of popcorn and cider inside the cozy–and now happy–house.

I had kind of mixed feelings about this book. I really liked all the onomatopoeia and the repetition, both of which would make it a good choice for preschool kids, but the text was written in verses that felt like they should rhyme. My other objection was the traditional gender roles, with the girl witches cleaning, cooking, and serving the food to their male-presenting monster friends. I did love the illustrations, and if you’re looking for a non-scary Halloween book that includes witches, haunted houses, and monsters, this definitely fits the bill.

The Broom of Doom by Becky Davies, illustrated by Thomas Elliott (Union Square Kids, 40 pages, ages 4-8). “This is a story about justice…It is not a story about jealousy at all,” begins the narrator, who turns out to be a witch’s broom. The broom is tired of being in the background all the time, and when it gets its hand on the witch’s wish potion, it’s time to turn the tables. The broom wishes first to be a star and gets turned into a literal star, only to feel invisible again in the sky with so many other stars. Its second wish is to be as famous as the witch, but this turns out to be a burden when the public expects the same level of spells that the witch can provide. Finally, the broom wishes to go back to the old way of being a witch’s broom and is relieved when it turns into a regular broom again. There’s a funny twist on the last couple pages that will leave the reader questioning if it really is the end of the story.

Here’s another non-scary Halloween choice with a cluelessly funny narrator and a classic three wishes sequence that could be used as a compare and contrast with other stories. The comic-style illustrations will appeal to fans of Dan Santat and Pete Oswald. I missed the first book by this team, but if you enjoy this, you can also check out The Mushroom of Doom.

This Is Not a Christmas Book* *This Is a Book About Rocks by Jory John, illustrated by Pierre Collet-Derby (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 40 pages, ages 4-8). The lizard narrator is insistent: this is NOT a Christmas book, it’s a book about rocks. He stands in front of a field of rocks to prove it…but sharp-eyed readers will notice a few Christmas-y shapes among the rocks. And is that an elf wrapping presents at the far corner of the field? Every time the lizard returns to his lecture, another holiday figure appears: a reindeer’s antlers, a snowman, and finally, Santa himself, who gives the lizard a present. A lump of coal! It’s just what the geologically-minded reptile has been wishing for! And finally, he fully embraces the season as the field of rocks is taken over with festive cheer. There’s a gatefold spread of Santa flying through the sky to finish things off.

Kids will definitely get a laugh out of this serious lizard who’s determined to keep Christmas out of his rock lesson. They’ll have fun finding the holiday people, animals, and objects that appear with increasing frequency on each page. This is billed as a “This Is Not a Holidays book,” and, given John Jory’s popularity, I would be surprised if there aren’t a bunch of spin-offs for other holidays.

Midnight Manor: A Backwards Bedtime Book by Sid Sharp (Annick Press, 36 pages, ages 4-8). Naturally, the residents of Midnight Manor wake up as the sun is going down and get ready for a busy night. All kinds of monsters are introduced: goblins, banshees, poltergeists, gargoyles, and more. Everyone goes about their business, ordinary except for some ghoulish details. For instance, when the basketball players discover their ball’s deflated, Hector removes his head to keep the game going. The monsters all gather in the garden for a ghostly dance until the sun starts to rise. Then it’s back home for baths (with sharks) and bedtime stories, and a series of goodnights that include a nod to Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight, Moon.

If you’re trying to find a Halloweenish book that doesn’t actually mention the holiday, look no further than the front door of Midnight Manor. Kids will love seeing all the monsters that are just the right mix of creepy and funny, and those familiar with Goodnight, Moon will get a kick out of the illustration inspired by it.

Giggling Ghosts by Fiz Osborne, illustrated by Tim Budgen (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 32 pages, ages 4-8). A group of happy ghosts wake up at (our) bedtime and get ready for a night of haunting fun. They tip-toe, glide, spin, giggle, and boo, inviting readers to join in. The last two wordless pages show them all fast asleep after their exciting but exhausting night.

This fun, non-scary Halloween book will have young kids up on their feet and moving along with the ghosts. The illustrations are adorable, and the catchy rhyming text complements the movements. You might want to add a wind-down activity or have the kids make their boos get quieter and quieter to settle everyone down after all the action.

Scritch! Scratch! An Itchy, Witchy Halloween Tale by Teri Sloat, illustrated by Zuzana Čupová (Random House Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 4-8). When three children hear a loud “Scritch! Scratch!” they’re sure they’re being pursued by a witch. They race outside, only to see her shadow flying by a full orange moon. Are the rustling sounds they hear her harvesting toads, rats, and snails for her spells? All three kids find hiding places in the house and are relieved when they think the witch has finally flown away. But then, there it is again: “Scritch! Scratch!” Slowly, they open the door…to find a little black cat scratching at the mat.

The black and gray illustrations, highlighted with bright orange, along with the spooky rhyming text will make a great late-fall read-aloud. I was a little confused by the ending; was it really just the cat all along? And what’s up with the kitty’s menacing shadow on the last page? But maybe the ambiguity about whether or not scary things are real makes it part of the fun.

The Haunted Playground by R. J. Palacio, illustrated by Brett Helquist (Random House Books for Young Readers, 50 pages, grades K-3). Even ghosts need a break from being scary, so on Halloween night after midnight, they gather on a playground for a chance to let go, donning discarded costumes to add to the fun. Rex Magnificus, “ruler of the park,” narrates the rhyming story. When a brother and sister show up to play, Rex tries to turn them away, but the kids aren’t scared, and before long, everyone’s having a blast on the playground. It’s so much fun, in fact, that the children want to go home with the ghosts. Rex assures them that this is impossible, then sends them on their way with a promise that he and the other ghosts will return on midnight next Halloween.

Kids who are fans of Caralyn Buehner’s Snowmen at Night series will enjoy this rhyming tale about ghosts who enjoy the same things that kids do. The story felt a big too long–the usual 32 to 40 pages seems like it would have been more effective–but readers looking for a little bit of spookiness will love these ghostly illustrations.

The Great Pumpkin Pancake Party by Celeste Pewter, illustrated by Kelly Wu (Henry Holt and Co., 40 pages, ages 4-8). Lao Ye, the narrator’s grandpa, may be newly arrived from China, but he loves to build community with his new neighbors, especially by sharing food. Before Halloween, Lilly accompanies him on a trip to fill his car’s back seat with pumpkins, and when they get home, the chopping, mixing, and frying begins. Before long, they have a giant stack of pumpkin pancakes. Lilly’s a bit nervous about introducing the neighbors to this unfamiliar food, but Lao Ye is confident that they will love it. A table is set up in front of the house on Halloween night, and trick-or-treaters stop by to show off their costumes and enjoy pancakes. Lao Ye enjoys every minute, practicing his English and making everyone feel welcome. Includes an author’s note about her own grandfather, a Taiwanese immigrant who inspired this story, and a recipe for Lao Ye’s pumpkin pancakes.

This unique–and completely non-spooky–Halloween story is a great way to celebrate both the holiday and the community that it can build. Lao Ye is an inspiring character, embracing his new life and making new friends everywhere.

The Skeleton and the Cat by Brandon James Scott (HarperCollins, 64 pages, ages 4-8). A skeleton leads a peaceful, solitary life until a black cat shows up who is persistent about friendship. Over the course of five short stories, the cat gently inserts himself into the skeleton’s life, teaching her the joys of knock-knock jokes, dancing, reading with a cat in your lap, and eating a sandwich (that one doesn’t work out as well for the skeleton). By the final story, it’s clear that a new friendship has been forged, and that the cat is there to stay.

This quirky friendship story is perfect for a fall story time; it includes Halloween-ish characters but never mentions the holiday. Everything about the book, from the characters to the humor to the illustrations is quiet and understated, yet kids and adults alike will find some chuckles and have their hearts warmed by getting to know these two new friends.

Upside-Down Iftar by Maysa Odeh, illustrated by Nadine Issa (Henry Holt and Co., 32 pages, ages 4-8). Malak’s too young to fast for Ramadan, and this year, her grandma, Teta, can’t fast because of a new medication she’s taking. Malak asks Teta if she can help prepare iftar, the meal eaten by the whole family after sunset to break their fast. Malak wants to make makloubeh, a dish with meat, rice, and fried vegetables that’s made in a deep pot and flipped upside down before serving. Each family member requests a favorite vegetable as they pass through the kitchen, and Malak starts to worry that all the different foods won’t go together. But Teta assures her that, “Each makloubeh is unique. Just like each family,” and she’s proven right at the dinner table. Everyone loves the makloubeh, and they tell Malak she should make iftar every night of Ramadan. Includes additional information about the Palestinian dish makloubeh along with a recipe.

This warm family portrayal can serve as an introduction to both Ramadan and a Palestinian dish, with the additional information rounding out the story and giving a recipe for kids to try themselves.

Ramadan Rain by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Aliaa Betawi (Random House Studio, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Haneen and her mother are traveling to the mosque in the rain because they no longer have a car. Haneen grumbles, but Momma tells her that rain brings blessings. At the mosque, while the adults pray, the kids make cards for Eid. Haneen makes pictures of gifts she hopes to receive: shoes, toys, new clothes, but there’s something she wants even more that she can’t quite express. Momma looks sad when she sees Haneen’s card. On Eid, Momma surprises Haneen with a new dress and shoes, and back at the mosque, Haneen makes Momma a new card showing what she wants more than anything else: time spent together. She gives her mother the new card, and they dance through the rain together as they head home.

Another Ramadan story that shows kids to focus on what’s most important in their lives. Haneen and Momma appear to have recently fallen on hard times, but their love for each other is strong, and spending time with their community helps them to focus on that bond. I do wish the publisher had released this book before the beginning of Ramadan instead of so close to the end of it.

A Dragon Called Spark: A Hanukkah Story by Lily Murray, illustrated by Kirsti Beautyman (Kalaniot Books, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Eva’s adjusting to a new home as Hanukkah is approaching. She sees children playing outside her window and feels lonely, comforting herself that she still has her little dragon named Spark. The first Hanukkah candle is lit and placed in the window, and the next day a neighbor named Charlie comments on it, promising to look for more. The next night, the family takes some latkes and jelly donuts to Charlie’s house, and the kids get to know each other better. Eva tells Charlie about Spark, and Charlie finds that he can see Spark, too! At the park the next day, Eva overhears Charlie telling other kids about Spark and worries they are laughing at her, but Charlie assures her they all want to see the dragon. Eva uses her storytelling talents to help them all find their own dragons, and much to her surprise, by the final night of Hanukkah, she and Spark are surrounded by a new group of friends–both human and dragon. Includes additional information about Hanukkah.

Hanukkah traditions are skillfully woven into this story about making friends in a new place and the power of imagination, play, and stories. Kids can decide if they think the dragons are real or imaginary and look for evidence for either argument in the text and the illustrations. This would make a great companion to A Dragon for Hanukkah by Sarah Mlynowski.

Dasher and the Polar Bear by Matt Tavares (Candlewick, 40 pages, ages 4-8). In her spare time before Christmas Eve, Dasher loves going on adventures. One night she sees the Northern Lights and flies toward them for a better view. When she lands, she encounters a large polar bear named George who scares her at first, but who turns out to be a kind friend who’s intrigued by her flying. When he tries it out, though, he lands with a huge splash in the icy sea. When Dasher gets home, she tells her mother about George, wondering why Christmas magic doesn’t work for everyone. Her mother assures her that it does, just in different ways, and Dasher gets to see what she means on Christmas Eve. After emptying his bag, Santa heads for George’s home, where he offers the polar bear a ride in the sleigh, which George describes as “exhilarating!” and “positively unforgettable!” Back home, Dasher tells her mother that seeing George so happy was her favorite part of Christmas Eve.

This sequel to Dasher and Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas provides another satisfying holiday tale with amazing illustrations of reindeer, Santa, the Northern Lights, and George, a new character with a hilariously rich vocabulary. Fans of the other Dasher books will not be disappointed.

The Snowball Fight by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld (Clarion Books, 48 pages, ages 3-8). Neighborhood friends enjoy a snow day that starts with the creation of two forts armed with plenty of snowballs. After lobbing these at each other for a while, one of the forts gets buried in snow that falls off a nearby roof, creating the perfect conditions for sledding. From there, it’s time to go inside for a cookie and hot chocolate break, but three marshmallows floating side by side in the cocoa remind the friends that they never built a snowman. Back outside they go to enjoy the final hours of their snow day.

This author-illustrator team never disappoints, and their latest creation comes at a perfect time, with 3-6 inches in the forecast here for tomorrow. The rhyming text is simple but catchy, and would be equally fun to listen to or to use for some reading practice, while the simple illustrations perfectly captures the chilly fun of playing in the snow, and the cozy warmth of heading inside.

The Old Sleigh by Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey (Norton Young Readers, 48 pages, ages 4-8). The Pumphrey brothers are back again with a holiday follow-up to The Old Truck and The Old Boat. The sleigh in this story is used to transport firewood in a small town, a boy and his dad working together to chop it, load the sleigh, and deliver it to the delighted townspeople who use it for warmth and light. But when the town grows, so do the loads of wood until one day, the old sleigh breaks in half. While Dad repairs it, the boy makes his own small sled so that he can continue to bring wood to his favorite customers. Finally, the old sleigh is repaired, and the work continues. The last page shows the old sleigh, now painted the same red as the boy’s sled, with a driver who looks like a grown-up version of the boy, delivering wood in the “small city.”

This deceptively simple story celebrates community, winter, and the circle of life as the town grows, but the boy and his father continue to serve their community, bringing both actual and metaphorical warmth and light with their firewood deliveries. While not specifically a holiday book, this has a definite December vibe, and would make a great gift or read-aloud in the last few weeks of school before vacation.

When Alexander Graced the Table by Alexander Smalls and Denene Millner, illustrated by Frank Morrison (Denene Millner Books/Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers). Alexander loves Sunday dinners, which start on Saturday night with the whole extended family cooking and prepping for the big feast. His mom is at the center of it all, Alexander working at her side, but his quiet dad always seems too busy to notice. When Alexander makes franks and beans all by himself one Saturday night, he’s crushed that Dad doesn’t want a sample. His mom knows what to do, though: she puts Alexander to work baking Dad’s favorite dessert, and the next day reveals his creation to the whole family. Alexander holds his breath as his father takes the first bite of his lemon icebox pie, and the whole world seems to stand still as Dad chews it slowly. Finally, he speaks, “That’s some good pie,” he says, creating a memory that Alexander will cherish forever. Includes a recipe for the pie.

I wasn’t familiar with Alexander Smalls, but apparently he’s a famous chef, and his fans will undoubtedly enjoy this story about his first forays into cooking. The illustrations colorfully capture the happy chaos of a family dinner and the mouth-watering food created by so many cooks. I wish there had been a little back matter to allow Smalls to tell more of his story.

Family Feast! by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison (Crown Books for Young Readers, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Pops and Big Ma are up at 5 to start making dinner while family members make the drive to get there in time to help. The rollicking rhyming text and busy illustrations show a growing crowd, young and old, and the delicious abundance of food making its way to the table. Finally, grace is said, and the feast begins. Afterwards, children race through the house, Uncle snores, and Big Ma smiles benevolently on the whole scene until the family heads out to their cars to drive back home again, wrapping up with the repeating refrain, “Tastes like home when family meet/A bond so warm, so strong, so sweet.”

Another book full of delicious food and family fun brought to you by an award-winning author-illustrator team. Although no holiday is cited, this would be a great choice for reading at Thanksgiving or any time in December. It could also serve as a writing prompt for describing a family tradition, using the strong verbs and adjectives throughout the story as examples.