October

Children's Literature - Elizabeth McMunn-Tetangco

A title in the "Months of the Year" series from Magic Wagon, this book is a lively introduction to what makes October unique from the other months. Alongside cheerful illustrations featuring a multicultural cast of characters frolicking amid an autumnal backdrop, young children will learn a bit about changes in seasons, holidays like Yom Kippur and Columbus Day, and various October eccentricities, like the fact that Fire Safety Week has a home in this particular month. There is not a lot of detail here in terms of facts, and interested children will look for an adult who can explain some of the finer points, such as who Columbus actually was. The book does make up for this somewhat with the inclusion of information on the back page that explains some of the words and instructs children in how to make a paper jack o'lantern, among other information. Overall, this is a happy overview of a month that many associate only with Halloween. It would be well situated in a preschool or elementary school library, alongside the rest of the series. It will be useful especially as an opener to class activities centered around the month. Reviewer: Elizabeth McMunn-Tetangco