The place in the road where zombies,wolves, ghosts,vampires, and monsters roam and Halloween is celebrated.
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Oh my goodness the zombies have been out in full force this week. I think I might have some of mine removed for the last few days.
Anyway, If you have kids that love a good zombie story and want to be entertained for a bit, check out this series I found by Steve Barlow and Steve Skidmore.
There are several books to this series and all so fun as kids (and adults) becomes monster hunters.
Note: No monsters were harmed by this post.
~Crypt keeper, Michelle
Even though I run this zombie blog, I am not sure why anyone in their right mind...wait that's the problem...
Anyway, as I was saying, I do not know why anyone would want to grow a zombie. It is enough that we have people walking around zombified as it is. Why grown one?
Well, someone thought it would be a great idea to grow one for their kid. Geeze people, zombies were formally human and well, can't we just leave them alone? They aren't pets that you bring home ya know!
However, just in case you happen to think you need one, here is how to start. Don't say I didn't warn you when all of a sudden, you are missing part of your brains or well, all of it.
YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!
~Crypt Keeper, Michelle
I think it is safe to say that Vincent Price is still the King of Scare. Agree?
He absolutely fits in this crypt and the number one nomination for #FrightFriday.
This person conglomerated 50 of his top movies. Perfection!
~Crypt Keeper, Michelle
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I picked up a discarded book at the local town center. This book full of intriguing photos about the British Countryside. In it was the photo above entitled, "British Bats." Now, I have seen bats in the wild before, in a cave, in the US, but never thought about the fact that maybe they exist somewhere else.
I learned from this page that actually there are 900 different species in the world and 14 of the variety live right here in the UK. The ones above are apparently the most common. Who knew? Certain not me!
So listed above is: The Lesser Horseshoe Bat, The Greater Horseshoe Bat, Natterer's Bat, Pipstrella Bat, Saubenton's Bat, Noctule Bat, Whiskered Bat, and the Long-eared Bat.
Fascinating!
I particularly liked that a couple of them were named after people. How peculiar and simply quite batty. Now I want to know the other countries that might have bats exclusive to their country and what ours are in the U.S.
Fly high.
~Crypt Keeper, Michelle
I admittedly will tell you that this is a fictional book, but the character is so full of life! One local witch with a pen (possibly her broom) that does not quit, and you have Nanny Ogg. She is a whimsical character that fits right into everything Halloween and beyond. I would love Nanny Ogg as my grandmother.
About the book:
They say that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach which just goes to show they're as confused about anatomy as they gen'rally are about everything else, unless they're talking about instructions on how to stab him, in which case a better way is up and under the ribcage. Anyway, we do not live in a perfect world, and it is foresighted and useful for a young woman to become proficient in those arts which will keep a weak-willed man from straying. Learning to cook is also useful.
About the book:
The curse of the 10th birthday is about to strike when family pets disappear. But where do these animals go and why? Digby Griffin, his sister Mog, and best friend, Tai are about to find out and discover Beastopia.
My review:
When I began reading this book, it started out a bit slowly. It described the family and their pets and that they simply disappeared on the happenstance of a 10th birthday. Weird! As pages went on, a weird washer turned portal and kind of an underworld became apparent as to where these animals had disappeared to.
I enjoyed finding out about their alter status and how they remained it what was called Beastopedi The children had special roles and how those came about is the meat of the book. Of course I am not going to reveal that. Read the book!
A few illustrations in black and white are dispersed throughout the book. They do not really lend much to the book but are well placed. This book is meant for upper elementary. If you or your kids like fantasy creature and what they do, this book is for you!
I give this book 31/2 pumpkins.
~Michelle, Reading Authors Network
About the book:
A gentle tale about overcoming fear, the comfort of friendship, and how even the smallest light can shine the brightest when it's shared.
My review:
This book is totally about facing your fears, in this case what goes bump in the night. The character of mole shuts himself in his cozy home in order to block out his fear of the dark. However, creatures arrive dressed in costumes not only asking for treats but for light to find their way. This shared experience prompts mole to go out and at the same time, face those fears.
What a beautiful book this is! Even though the book is Autumn and Halloween centered, it gives such a greater message of being kind, sharing your wealth, and more importantly sharing yourself (the light) when possible. Children will certainly get the dual messages. It is a book to be shared by all.
Done in muted colors and Autumn colors this is a terrific book to add to your home and school collections. Such a winner of a book and great lessons!
5 big lighted pumpkins!
Disclosure: This book was obtained at a local library. The views here are 100% my own opinions and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network
Find the authors:
She had no clue as to what was going to happen, but we had a good time and a bit of laughs.
Crypt Keeper, Michelle
About the book:
When something HUGE comes clumping through the forest, all the animals are scared. But it's only their friend, Blue Monster.
My review:
This has to be the most non-scary book about being scared that I ever read. The monster in the book goes around and scares all of his friends because, well, he is a monster. However, he has no idea what being scared means. So, his friends help him learn in a most unusual way.
Is it horrifying? Absolutely not. If anything, it is simply cute and that is what makes this book so adorable. As a soft Halloween kind of book, it can certainly fit the bill. I loved monster and all of his animal friends in the forest.
The illustrations for this book were large and in autumn kinds of colors which adds to the feel of the season. What makes them interesting and stand out is they are also done in a crayon resist and pencil drawing. The character colors do not necessarily stay in the lines as you would expect from children's books illustrations. It is different and I like it!
Go Blue for 4 pumpkins!
Disclusre: This book was obtained through a local library. The view here is 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~Michelle, Reading Authors Network
This post has completely gone batty and why not?! It is Halloween season after all and our friendly bats have come out of their homes to play. Of course we can play too with them in all these fun games I have found. Check them out.
Crypt keeper, Michelle
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| Photo copyright & Recipe |
I don't know about you but one of the things I love about Halloween is the foods. I do not mean the gobs of candy. I mean the baked goods and yummy dinner parties curated by Halloween looks. Think zombie brain Jello, squishy worm spaghetti, and witch hat brownies. Oh yum!
I have a time or two watched bake offs including the show, British Bakeoff where several bakers compete for the top prize. Check out some of the recipes at the link above or HERE. Pumpkin pie anyone?
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| Photo Copyright |
I have been in the UK for a couple of months now and I found out there is a Bat Conservation Trust here. This is their website link if you would like to read more about them. Bat Conservation In the UK
The site has so much information on it including how to build bat houses and what bats actually do for the eco system. One of the coolest things that I found out from the site is that you can actually adopt a bat. Seriously, who doesn't want to have your own pet vampire that someone else takes care of! ha!
Check it out and become a member if you want.
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Every year my friend, Michelle (I like that name 😉) hosts the "Something Wicked Fall: Castle Macabre" all October. This includes a readathon, and loads of Halloween themed books and graphics. I am pretty sure it is not too late to join in or at very least checkout her blog. There is always something lurking among the pages there. BOO!
Fame is a curse—and on the Isle of Man, that’s literal.
Max Dalvert is a romantic at heart with a very simple plan: become a knight and avoid anything involving the word “viral.” But when he’s thrust into the mystical fog of the Isle of Man, he discovers that saving the girl means saving the “craziest paranormal show on earth.”
Pansy Peony and her witch mother have a hit on their hands with The SuperMoon Show, a viral sensation featuring three famous (and hilariously opinionated) ghosts. But where there’s a massive audience, there’s a shark. Ruthless media mogul Rollo Mansell wants the show for his global empire, and he doesn’t care who—or what—he has to crush to get the contract.
Now, Max must navigate a gauntlet of hitmen, corrupt empires, and a voodoo queen who didn’t sign up for this corporate circus. In a world of witchcraft, modern magic, and supernatural suspense, Max is about to learn that true serendipity is just a fancy word for narrowly avoiding a public disaster.
Date Published: 09-15-2026
Publisher: Oculus Print
ZOMBIE ZOO is Book 1 in a five-book middle grade adventure series for readers ages 8-13, blending paranormal mystery, zombies, unlikely friendship, and STEAM-powered problem-solving.
To find a cure, Felix must team up with Ninja, a shadow-dwelling orphan who trusts her instincts and never backs down. Intense and razor-sharp, she notices what others overlook and lives up to her name as the island's most mysterious sleuth. With their eccentric mentor Doc Brunne compromised and the town's water supply contaminated by a glowing bioluminescent substance, the two mismatched investigators must combine scientific observation with sharp intuition to stop the outbreak before their island home is devoured.
Featuring diverse protagonists, quirky humor, spooky-but-fun scares, and strong female and male leads. ZOMBIE ZOO is ideal for reluctant readers and fans of Max Brallier's The Last Kids on Earth, B.B. Alston's Amari and the Night Brothers, and Goosebumps. Comprehensive educator resources-including discussion guides, vocabulary lists, STEAM extension activities, and printable maps-support classroom use, library programming, book clubs, and make this title ideal for cross-curricular lessons bridging ELA, STEAM, and SEL.
About the Author
Instagram: @byMelanieAbed
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