Welcome, curious wanderers! It’s spooky season here at the Orchard and we’re inviting little ones to put on their costumes, grab a flashlight, and tiptoe down the Spooky Trail! We’re sharing stories filled with Halloween adventure, rustling leaves, mysterious shadows, glowing pumpkins, and friendly ghosts. So, follow along as our librarian Granny Smith leads you through a storytime program that is sure to be a treat!
Nature-Inspired Halloween Stories for Kids
- The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda D. Williams & Megan Lloyd
- We’re Going on a Pumpkin Hunt by Goldie Hawk and Angie Rozelaar
- One Spooky Night: A Halloween Adventure by Kate Stone
Halloween Story Walk on the Spooky Trail
Before the children arrived, I set up our Haunted Forest. I used the printables from our Orchard & Hive Dramatic Play set to transform our storytime space into a not-too-scary Halloween adventure! I scattered little ghost leaves, friendly bats, and wide-eyed owls peering from their perch on tree branches. I used fabric from our “Haunted Forest” collection to create bunting and pillows that made our story circle cozy and complete. Then, I placed our “Ghost Trail” reading comprehension cards around the room for our story walk.
Soon, the children arrived, dressed in their costumes and ready for a magical adventure!
“I’m going on a Ghost Walk, and what do I read?”
We jumped into reading, not wanting to waste a single minute of holiday magic. We read tales of spooky trails, pumpkin hunts, and stories of Halloween night! Then, we went on our Ghost Walk. The cards prompted the children to think about the stories, retell story elements, and share their favorite scenes.
One little bat said he was surprised when he saw the scarecrow at the end of the story (1). A black cat said her favorite part was when the trick-or-treaters found the green-eyed cats on their pumpkin hunt (2). A mermaid said she was surprised when spooky shadows turned out to be a Halloween party (3)!
Halloween Games, Activities & Snacks for Kids
After reading, we made glow-in-the-dark leaf skeletons. Leaf rubbings are a fall favorite for our storytime audience, and this Halloween twist did not disappoint!
There were plenty of giggles as the kids played “Pumpkin, Pumpkin, Ghost!” Then, some children made bat puppets and Haunted Forest scenes using our craft patterns and printables. Others wrote and illustrated their own Spooky Trail story using our writing prompt page.
But no Halloween storytime is complete without a treat! Our “Spooky Trail Snack Mix” proved to be the perfect snack for trick-or-treaters on the go!
End of the Trail
As storytime came to an end, I asked the children what they learned. A forest fairy said, “That spooky isn’t always scary.” A little monster said, “that Halloween is mostly treats and full of surprises!”
The Spooky Trail isn’t just fun – it’s an invitation to explore fear, courage, and imagination! Kids will learn that it’s okay to feel unsure, that shadows can be friendly, that stories can teach us how to be brave. The Spooky Trail is a safe place to wander and explore, filled with not-too-spooky surprises! Whether you’re reading in a library, classroom, or a cozy nook at home, this storytime theme will wrap your kids in holiday magic and let their imagination roam wild!
Until next time, happy reading!
Granny Smith
Have you been on a Spooky Trail? What did you see? Leave a comment below or share your story with @orchardandhiveco.
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