Halloween books for young readers

• First published 17 years ago, "My First Halloween" (Grosset & Dunlap, $5.99), written and illustrated by Tomie dePaola, remains THE classic Halloween book for the youngest readers because of the simple way that dePaola explains a holiday that can be terribly frightening — or confusing— to little ones. If you've got a baby or toddler, this is the book for you. (Ages infant-3.)

• A young boy goes searching for a monster, but it has to be just the right one as author/illustrator Timothy Young shows in his entertaining, interactive book, "I'm Looking For a Monster!" (Random House, $9.99). (Ages 3-5.)

• In "Ghosts in the House!" (Roaring Brook, $12.95), author/illustrator Kazuno Kohara offers a simple text, paired with simple illustrations done in three colors — orange, black and white. Young readers will love this story of a girl who is really a witch and who knows how to vanquish ghosts, and they'll delight in Kohara's creative, unusual illustrations. (Ages 3-6.)

• Anyone who loves books and libraries will love "Bats at the Library" (Houghton Mifflin, $16), written and illustrated by Brian Lies. Following up on the critical and popular success of "Bats at the Beach," Lies shows what happens when a library window is left open and bats head to the bookshelves. The rhyming text is just right, while children's book lovers will especially love the references in Lies' illustrations to classic volumes like "Make Way for Ducklings" and "Goodnight Moon." (Ages 4-7.)

• In "Frankenstein Takes the Cake" (Harcourt, $16), author/illustrator Adam Rex mixes humor with horror with wonderful results. Following up on his best-selling "Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich," Rex continues the adventures of the hapless Frankenstein, who is trying to finalize plans for his wedding. But that's just one of the storylines in this book, in which Rex uses comic strips, rhyming couplets and wild collage art, among other devices, to tickle readers' funny bones. (Ages 8-12.)

• Lisa Wheeler's wacky, rhyming text blends perfectly with the comical illustrations by Mark Siegel in "Boogie Knights" (Atheneum, $16.99). Kids who love monsters and kids who love knights will both love this book that spotlights a castle's annual "Madcap Monster Ball." By the end of the book, young readers will be up and dancing to the beat. (Ages 5-10.)

• Young readers will laugh out loud at Michael Rex's parody of a classic bedtime tale in "Goodnight Goon" (Putnam, $14.99). Rex uses the rhyming scheme of Margaret Wise Brown's "Goodnight Moon," but populates his book with all manner of scary creatures. Kids will particularly love the surprise ending. (Ages 7-10).

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