Halloween is my least favorite day to celebrate! Valentine's day is not far behind on my list, but there's just something about Halloween. I never liked Halloween, not even as a kid. Maybe it was because my little brother dragged his trick or treat bag on the ground every year and all his candy treats fell out the hole. Maybe it was because I got the flu the last year that I was officially "still young enough" to go trick or treating.

When I had my own children, they loved Halloween. (Perhaps because their father ran around in a mask frightening the neighbors.) I still didn't! Maybe it was the "Barbie bride" costume that we purchased for my daughter which fell apart when she put it on. Then again, maybe it was because my son left his whole bag of chocolate treats on the floor and the dog ate them - paper and all. The result of that was just what you would expect.

Judging from the large inflatable Halloween figures on lawns and the orange lights in trees, not everyone shares my view of Halloween. So if you are a Halloween lover who makes gross looking cupcakes, covers the house in black streamers and old bones, and enjoys getting dressed up in funky clothes, here are some books to put you in the mood!

A ghostly good time: the family Halloween handbook
Wormy apple croissants and other Halloween recipes by Brekka Hervey Larrew
Halloween pumpkins and parties: 101 spooktacular ideas editor Carol Field Dahlstrom
Death makes a holiday: a cultural history of Halloween by David J Skal
Halloween fun: 101 ideas to get in the spirit editor Carol Field Dahlstrom
Illegally easy Halloween costumes for kids by Leila Peltosaari
Videos are always good for Halloween. Martha Stewart strikes again with Martha's Halloween ideas. Of course, if we're talking about videos, I have to mention the only parts of Halloween I do like - Freddie, Jason, and Michael Meyers!!