Illustration by Ana Ochoa: Featured on Illustrator Saturday 1/11/14
HAPPY HALLOWEEN
by Eileen Spinelli
No howling cats.
No “Boos!” No bats.
No creaking chairs.
No cobwebbed stairs.
No goblin stew.
No ghostly brew
this year for you.
My Hallowish is new:
a day of fun,
a pumpkin pie,
a bed of leaves
on which to lie,
a moon that’s spooning
orange light…
sweet autumn dreams
to last the night.
Eileen Spinelli is a well-published author. She has written seventy-two books that are still in print.
When she is not writing poems, stories and books for children you might find her . . .pouring tea. . . trying on hats. . . picking herbs. ‘. . painting in her dream journal. . . browsing in thrift shops. . . dancing barefoot. . . waiting for the mailman. . . star-watching with my husband . . . curled up with a novel. . . taking a nap on the back porch. Zzzzzzzz…..
The Witches of Fairy Top Hill
by Vivian Kirkfield
On Halloween eve up on Fairy Top Hill,
a trio of witches, Pam, Tamsin and Lil,
were practicing magic and chanting out loud,
“Bat-candy, bat-candy…rain down from that cloud!”
“Kaput and Kabob!” Pam invoked with a shout,
The sky quickly filled with a hover of trout.
“Kibosh! and Pish-posh!” Tamsin yelled with finesse.
A chorus of frogs joined the fish-slippy mess.
Then bold Lil spoke up, “This is Trick-or-Treat night,
and children get candy and Turkish delight.”
Costumed as young children…with treat bags to fill,
the trio went guising, Pam, Tamsin and Lil.
Writer for children – reader forever…that’s Vivian Kirkfield in five words. Former kindergarten teacher turned parent-teacher workshop leader turned author, Vivian believes that communication, consistency and compassion are key ingredients in any successful relationship. Plus a sense of adventure – she’s already ticked off skydiving, banana-boat riding and parasailing from her bucket list…what will be next?
To find out more about her mission to help young children become lovers of books and reading, please visit her website, Picture Books Help Kids Soar.
OCTOBER
by Carol H. Jones
That crazy October!
It’s really not sober.
It’s so dizzy with yellow and orange and red.
Like a quilt full of color pulled over your head.
And the store that was featuring back to school gear
Is where witches and goblins and ghosts first appear.
They give you the willies!
They scare you half silly!
But of course, we all know that there’s nothing to fear.
That’s what really is fun about this time of year.
Carol is a former elementary school teacher, a grandmother, and an SCBWI member. She’s been writing picture books (none published yet) in both prose and poetry for over five years. Some of my titles are The Three Little Pigs Sing Again, Olaf The Troll And The Billygoat Ambush, My Fly Is In A Jar And The Jar Is In The Car, The Brainkeeper Team, Benny Can Do Anything, Edgar and Gretta: Big City Here We Come, Quit Your Bickering, The Scary Veggie Lady, Octopus Wishes, Princess Pippa, Fox Guards The Henhouse, and Oh, No! Peas!
WITCH
by Jane Resides
I made a tall black witch’s hat
Then snuck the kitchen broom
My wand was brother’s hockey stick
I pilfered from his room
I leaped onto the jaggy broom
And sailed right off my bed
This witching isn’t going well.
Just see my bandaged head!
WHICH WITCH?
Which witch should I become this year,
the good one or the bad?
Good witches wear gold crowns and gowns,
But bad ones I must add,
Although they’re wart-nosed, dressed in black,
They have a lot more fun.
They cackle, snarl, and frighten kids
Kids shriek! They scream. They run.
A crystal ball is what I need
I think that would be dandy.
I’d gaze into that ball to see
Which witch would get more candy.
Jane Resides, a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, writes poetry, picture books, and historical fiction.
She has published stories, articles, and poetry in Highlights, Once Upon a Time, Penn & Ink, and When I can’t Get to Sleep, a West Chester Library poetry book.
Her husband and grandson are beekeepers, and her article “Emme Loves Bees” was published in Highlights.
That Magical October Sky
by Wendy Greenley
Momma Mouse saw harvest moon.
Little Mouse saw pie.
Momma Mouse said, “Come in soon!”
Little Mouse said, “Why?”
“It’s time for bed,” Momma warned.
“Back soon!” said Little Mouse,
Running toward the broomstick
He’d left beside the house.
The broomstick creaked and sputtered.
Little Mouse took flight,
Headed for a pumpkin treat
Before he said goodnight.
Past the trees,
Through the stars,
Little Mouse rose high,
Aiming for the scrumptious shining pumpkin in the sky.
The voyage was untested.
The landing pad untried.
Dropping to the orange orb,
Little Mouse was pie-d.
A childhood prankster who finds it hard to change her ways, Wendy Greenley is an aspiring children’s book author, writing for picture book and middle grade audiences.
Illustrated by Laura-Susan Thomas
Scary Things Come Out at Night
by Kelly Ramsdell Fineman
Scary things come out at night
Ghosts that boo! and bats that bite;
Warlocks cloaked in purple capes;
Satyrs wearing wreaths of grapes.
Sometimes you might spy a witch
Or a hunchback with a twitch
Don’t be frightened by this scene –
After all, it’s Halloween!
Kelly Ramsdell Fineman is a children’s author and award-winning poet. Her picture book, At the Boardwalk, came out from tiger tales books in 2012. Her children’s poems appear in National Geographic’s Book of Nature Poetry, ed. by J. Patrick Lewis (coming in 2015), Dare to Dream . . . Change the World, ed. by Jill Corcoran (2012), National Geographic’s Book of Animal Poetry, ed. by J. Patrick Lewis (2012), Write Your Own Poetry by Laura Purdie Salas (2008), and in Highlights for Children magazine, as well as other places.
You can visit her at her eponymous website, www.kellyfineman.com, or her blog, Writing & Ruminating, at http://kellyrfineman.livejournal.com
Halloween
by Carol Murray
Jack-o-Lantern’s laughing,
up and down the hall.
Jack-o-Lantern’s leering,
hanging on the wall.
Spooks and spiders lurking,
Black cats can be seen.
Ghosts are flying through the sky.
Eeeeeeeeek!
It’s Halloween.
Boo!
Boo! On the wicked witch.
Her hat and cape are black as pitch.
It seems like she mad a little glitch.
And dropped her broomstick in a ditch.
So now I know what I will do.
I’m doing more than saying, “Boo!”
I’ll grab that broom this very day
and sweep the monsters all away.
Carol is a published poet and author of several books for children. She has been a teacher for over thirty years with students, aged three years (Wee Wigglers) to ninety-three (Elderhostel). She taught English and Speech at Hutchinson Community College for twenty-five years and has also taught Creative Writing, Poetry, Interpersonal Communications, and Children’s Literature.
Her picture book titled, The Cricket in the Thicket being Illustrated by Melissa Sweet and published by Holt will hit bookshelves in Spring of 2016.
A Demon’s Treat
by Carol MacAllister
Fresh newt’s eyes and frog legs flinch
while boiling in the brew,
Spells are cast on howling winds,
There darts a trick or two.
Trouble lurks at every turn,
unknowing victims race
from moaning dead, banshee cries,
monster’s snarling chase.
Autumn’s rustling branches drone
at demons overhead
on ancient brooms, phantom steeds,
Rousing up the dead.
Strange, how innocence is lured
to wander through dark streets,
Each year, a few just disappear,
Snatched! – a demon’s treat.
Carol MacAllister holds an MFA in creative writing with a concentration in poetry and fiction. She has been widely published in poetry for years on both a children and an adult level. Her poems have won many awards and have been presented in public venues. Her book RIPASSO is a privately published collection of poetry by others and includes Robert Pinsky, and other poet laureates, as well as her own work. She judges the annual Federation of State Poetry Societies competition, as well as others.
The Green Witch’s Brew
by Pia Garneau
Organic, non-toxic
Biodynamic
All natural, sustainable
Biodegradable
The Green Witch is brewing a nourishing stew
with wholesome ingredients for her little Sue.
Six silver eyes of humanely-farmed newts
Fangs from a bat ground with seasonal roots
Fine golden locks from a gluten-free child
A pesticide-free rodent grown in the wild
A bunch of greens (fresh triple-washed frogs)
Two coiled tails from hormone-free hogs
The old door creaks. L’il Sue walks in.
“Come mix with the broomstick,” Witch said with a grin.
“Mom, what’s that smell?” Sue said with dread,
wishing she smelled pumpkin pie instead.
When she’s not brewing a green stew, you can find Pia Garneau brewing picture book stories instead. She seasons her stories and cooks them just right in hopes that a publisher or agent will gobble it up and ask for more.
You can also find her chauffeuring her two gluten-filled boys around, who are good sources of inspiration…and protein.
For kidlit tweets, follow her on Twitter:@piagarneau.
A HALLOWEEN TREAT
by Donna Weidner
‘Tis All Hallows’ Eve and in true scary fashion,
The wind is a’ howlin’ with fury and passion.
The moon’s begun waning, but still lights the way,
For our loved ones who’re now on the ‘other side’ of the bay.
Up from the floorboards, through ceilings and walls,
They knock on the windows and shriek down the halls.
There’s laughing, and singing, and regular howls.
If we didn’t know better, it might clench our bowels.
‘Tis their annual visit. They come once a year—
The thirty-first of October, when it’s easiest to appear.
Two Anns and one Otto, three Roses and Abe,
Aunt Zelda and Tina and Vito, a.k.a. Dave.
The Willys and Johnnys, the Franzes, Gwinnells,
With Weidners and Omi, they assure us all’s well.
More souls arrive. We party into the night
With swooping and swaying, a paranormal sight.
Till just before dawn, when the ruckus calms down,
Not only at home, but all over town.
The candles, still burning, flicker twice then stretch high,
When Mom clears her throat, then begins with a sigh,
“For all gathered here, this eve’s been a treat—
“Though for you, our dear loved ones, perhaps ’tis bitter-sweet.
“So let me assure you, we are always nearby,
“Just put out your hand and close your eyes.
“Feel our breath in the wind, hear our words in a song,
“The trick is to know us—have faith — you are strong.
“We whisper in dreams, in a butterfly’s flutter,
“In brooks we may babble, or sigh — sometimes, mutter.
“We send you our love through the smile of another—
“Friends, neighbors, strangers—even someone else’s mother.”
Then as fast as they came, they disappear in a second,
Leaving us alone—or not—what do you reckon?
Donna is a Writer, Reiki Master, Wisdom Keeper, all around adventuress and everyone’s cheerleader. I also love anything that deals with archery, armor, and swashbuckling. I can especially appreciate a good sword.
The Unusual Stew
by Robert Zammarchi
Illustrated by Robert Zammarchi
Oh no, its that witchy poo
spotted with gooey goo
and her unusual cat
On Halloween fright night
she turns on her night light
and bakes an unusual batch
Her evil, disgusting,
highly mistrusting
usual potful of stench
She feeds it to children
who travel so pilgrimed
to see this unusual wench
She sprinkles in hob-nobs
and boils it with gob-gobs
and all her unusual rinds
And all of the children
will come by the millions
to sample her usual grinds
She tosses in bones
of goblins and moans
“I love my unusual stew!”
“But this year needs something
to make it more frightening
beyond all the usual goo.
“She looks all about,
but there’s none to find out
that is past all her usual stuff
“Something unusual,
highly excusable,
natty and dratty and rough.”
“Something so rotten,
it won’t be forgotten
beyond just the usual mourn.”
“Something so ugly,
unusually fugly,
it shouldn’t have even been born.”
She looked all around
and what this witch found
was unusual even for her
She flinched for a bit
with her wickedly wit,
then she heard that unusual purr
Goodbye my dear kitty
You never were pretty!
I’ll miss your unusual eyes
She picked up her cat
and went, “plop in the vat”
Her unusual stew did a rise
But when word got out
that the cat was in doubt,
unusual things did occur
The children no longer
came far by to wander
inside her unusual door
It wasn’t the witch
after all, that the kids
came to see with unusual fervor
It was the old cat
on his natty, old mat
they found to their usual favor
Now witchy-poo groaned,
she mourned and bemoaned
this unusual turn of events.
Then she walked in her dread
to her usual bed
and never was heard from again.
Robert Zammarchi is an award-winning freelance illustrator who has worked for a wide range of clients over the past 20 years in various mediums. At this point in my career, however I am most interested in pursueing the whimsical world of the children’s illustration field, where my heart truly lies.
Robert Zammarchi’s Childrens’ Illustration Website http://www.robzammarchi.com
Thank you to everyone for your poems and illustrations. It really is a great gift to help us celebrate HALLOWEEN!
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
Filed under:
Poems Tagged:
Carol H. Jones,
Carol MacAllister,
Carol Murray,
Donna Weidner,
Eileen Spinelli Poem,
Halloween Poems,
Jane Resides,
Kelly Ramsdell Fineman,
Pia Garneau,
Robert Zammarchi,
Vivian Kirkfield,
Wendy Greenley 
Love Michelle’s art