Our very favorite story for Halloween was Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman. It appeals to the children because it is beautifully illustrated and Scholastic has an awesome taped song that goes with it. The song is so catchy that your kids will want you to play it all year long!

The first few times we listen to the song we just look at the illustrations in the book and spoke about the sequencing of the characters. Then when the children seem to be catching on to the lyrics I give each child a set of finger puppets that match the characters from the book. I purchased them at the dollar store. The children keep their fingers busy while they add the puppets to their fingers as the song is played.

Once the children know the song really well, I have then dress up in the costumes from the story and we act the story out as we play the song. I usually change my playhouse into a haunted house and put a tape recorder in side so that the kids can act the story out during center time. It is often mentioned as a favorite activity as the children and I reflect on the year at the end of June.