By David L. Richardson 

I love autumn for many reasons. First and foremost, it heralds a season of sharing. From trick-or-treating to harvest celebrations to Thanksgiving, these are times to gather together to share gifts.

Autumn also ushers in a busy time for me. I spend much of my time speaking at conferences and running in-service programs for local faculties. My boss calls it work, but I can’t. It’s too much fun sharing my recent discoveries and talking with true children’s book aficionados.

Here are some of the books I’ll be sharing this fall. From the humorous to the inspirational, I hope they make you enjoy this autumn as much as I will. And if they do, when you gather together with friends and family, share them.

Even Monsters Need Haircuts by Matthew McElligott (Walker, 2010, $14.99, all ages)

Even Monsters Need Haircuts is a welcome departure from the typical trick-or-treat and “monsters who won’t go to sleep” books seen each Halloween season.

McElligott creates a clever and comical story of a young boy who uses his father’s barbershop to cut monsters’ hair every month during the full moon. Just about every known creature (and many unknown ones) arrives for a trim. All is well until a human customer shows up. That is, they all think he’s human.

Parents need not worry about the creatures being scary. McElligott’s illustrations are meant to be humorous and inviting. And his take on what one would do to style certain creatures’ hair is quite amusing.

Bad Kitty vs. Uncle Murray: The Uproar at the Front Door by Nick Bruel (Roaring Brook, 2010, $13.99, ages 7 and up)

Bad Kitty is back! This time his owners go on vacation and leave him with the burly, but unsuspecting Uncle Murray. Uncle Murray treats Bad Kitty the way he thinks all cats should be—quiet, calm, and gentle. But Bad Kitty isn’t any of those things, and hilarity ensues. Nick Bruel’s comical illustrations are integral to the humor of the book, and Bad Kitty’s expressions are priceless.

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea (Delacorte, 2010, $16.99, ages 10 and up)

A stunning and moving first novel.

Told through the voices of the students in Mr. Terupt’s class, readers learn that Mr. Terupt is a new and somewhat unconventional teacher. But it’s his differences from other teachers that lead to a tragic and unavoidable event for which everyone in the class, including Mr. Terupt, must accept responsibilityity.

This poignant tale about acceptance and forgiveness is a must-have for every library and classroom.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean (Harper, 2010, $16.99, ages 2 to 10)

Who doesn’t love a brand new pair of white tennis shoes?

Pete the Cat certainly does. He even sings a song about them. But when he steps in some strawberries, his white shoes turn red. Does he get upset? Cry? No. He just sings a song about how he loves his red shoes. In fact, each time his shoes turn a different color, he takes it all in stride.

Pete is one cool cat. And James Dean’s ink and watercolor illustrations make him even cooler.

It’s the perfect story for learning to deal with life’s little setbacks, and comes complete with a free downloadable sound track.

Swim! Swim! by Lerch (James Proimos) (Scholastic, 2010, $16.99, ages 4 to 10)

Goldfish don’t have much to do in their bowls each day except swim… and swim. When Lerch the goldfish decides to find a friend, he discovers nothing in his bowl will talk to him. Not the bubbles, not the pebbles, not even the diver man. He’s all alone until someone discovers him—the cat.

Even though Lerch introduces himself clearly, the cat calls him Lunch, not Lerch. That’s where the real trouble begins. All is not lost though; we soon learn the cat has other ideas for a funny, but satisfying ending.

Scumble by Ingrid Law (Dial, 2010, $16.99, ages 10 and up)

Someone is turning 13 in the Beaumont family, and from Law’s Newbery Honor-winning first book, Savvy, we know this can only mean trouble.

This time it’s nine years after Mibs’s infamous Bible bus ride, and it’s her cousin, Ledge, who must learn to “scumble” his savvy. And he needs to learn quickly.

When his savvy lets loose, fences, cars, even whole buildings fall apart. And worse, because of him, his whole family (and their special abilities) may be exposed by a nosy but talented girl who publishes her own town newspaper.

Filled with the same wonderful humor and suspense as Savvy, Law has created a worthy companion novel.

For the older crowd:

Dirt Road Home by Watt Key (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010, $16.99, ages 11 and up)

Bruiser by Neal Shusterman (Harper Teen, 2010, $16.99, ages 12 and up)

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic, 2010, $17.99, ages 12 and up)


David L. Richardson, a former junior high school language arts teacher, is a freelance writer based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Autumn heralds a season of sharing…so many books. (October 2010). Reading Today 28(2), 32.