TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1
National Raccoon Day
The Kissing Hand read by Barbara Bain
School is starting in the forest, but Chester Raccoon does not want to go. To help ease Chester’s fears, Mrs. Raccoon shares a family secret called the Kissing Hand to give him the reassurance of her love any time his world feels a little scary.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2
World Farm Animals Day
Turkey Trouble read by Marc Maron
Turkey is in trouble. Bad trouble. The kind of trouble where it’s almost Thanksgiving…and you’re the main course. But Turkey has an idea—what if he doesn’t look like a turkey? What if he looks like another animal instead? After many hilarious attempts, Turkey comes up with the perfect disguise to make this Thanksgiving the best ever!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4
World Animal Day
A Tale of Two Beasts read by Sarah Silverman
There are two sides to every story. In Part One, a little girl finds a strange beast in the woods and takes it home as a pet. She feeds it, shows it off to her friends and gives it a hat. But that night it escapes. Then, in Part Two, the beast tells the story of being kidnapped by the girl, who force-fed it squirrel food, scared it with a group of beasts and wrapped it in wool. Can the two beasts resolve their differences? A Tale of Two Beasts is an eye-opening story that makes you look at things from a different perspective.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4
World Animal Day
Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo read by John Lithgow
A concert gets out of hand when the animals at the neighboring zoo storm the stage and play the instruments themselves in this hilarious picture book based on one of John Lithgow’s best-loved tunes.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5
World Teachers’ Day
Thank You, Mr. Falker read by Jane Kaczmarek
Little Trisha is overjoyed at the thought of starting school and learning how to read. But right from the start, when she tries to read, all the letters and numbers just get jumbled up. Her classmates make matters worse by calling her “dummy” and “toad”.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8
Face Your Fears Day
Jabari Jumps read by Sheryl Lee Ralph
Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. He needs to figure out what kind of special jump to do anyway, and he should probably do some stretches before climbing up onto the diving board. In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11
International Day of the Girl Child
The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen read by Oprah Winfrey
Kameeka is confident that today she will finally beat her rival, Jamara, and become the Hula-Hoopin’ Queen of 139th Street. But then Mama reminds her that today is their neighbor Miz Adeline’s birthday, and Kameeka has a ton of chores to do to get ready for the party they are hosting. Kameeka’s disappointed to be stuck at home and can only think about the hoopin’ competition. Distracted, Kameeka accidentally ruins Miz Adeline’s birthday cake, and has to confess to her that there won’t be a cake for her special day. But then Miz Adeline’s confesses something too: she’s also got the itch—the hula-hoopin’ itch! Her fingers start snappin’. Her hips start swingin’. Soon everyone’s hips are swinging as the party spills out onto the street. The whole neighborhood’s got the itch—the hula-hoopin’ itch!
MONDAY, OCTOBER 14
National Dessert Day
The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake read by Wanda Sykes
When crime happens, especially when food goes missing on Ed’s farm, mouse crime fighters and food detectives Wilcox and Griswold are the animals to call. When Miss Rabbit’s carrot cake goes missing, they do what it takes to track down the thieves.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 21
National Reptile Awareness Day
Private I. Guana read by Esai Morales
Leon the chameleon is missing! But Ace detective Private I. Guana is on the case. This engaging adventure will tickle your funny bone.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 21
National Reptile Awareness Day
Snappsy the Alligator read by David Harbour
Snappsy the alligator is having a normal day when a pesky narrator steps in to spice up the story. Is Snappsy reading a book … or is he making CRAFTY plans? Is Snappsy on his way to the grocery store … or is he PROWLING the forest for defenseless birds and fuzzy bunnies? Is Snappsy innocently shopping for a party …or is he OBSESSED with snack foods that start with the letter P? What’s the truth?
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23
National Mole Day
No More Noisy Nights read by Tony Hale
Who is making so much noise and how will Jackson ever get to sleep? Despite some silly, sleepy mistakes, genteel Jackson finds a fun and quiet activity for each of his noisy neighbors. He finally gets a great night’s sleep — and discovers three new friends in the morning.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25
World Pasta Day
Strega Nona read by Mary Steenburgen
Strega Nona – “Grandma Witch” – is the source for potions, cures, magic and comfort in her Calabrian town. Her magical ever-full pasta pot is especially intriguing to hungry Big Anthony. He is supposed to look after her house and tend her garden, but one day, when she goes over the mountain to visit Strega Amelia, Big Anthony recites the magic verse over the pasta pot, with disastrous results.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25
International Artist’s Day
Sophie’s Masterpiece read by CCH Pounder
Sophie’s no ordinary house spider. She’s an artist; and every web she spins is more wondrous than the one before. But don’t mention that to the guests at Beekman’s Boardinghouse, because they don’t like spiders.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25
International Artist’s Day
When Pigasso Met Mootisse read by Eric Close
What begins as a neighborly overture between a painterly pig and an artsy cow escalates into a monumental modern art mess! Before you can say paint-by-numbers, the two artists are calling each other names and building a fence between them. But it turns out that what divides them also reunites them.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29
National Cat Day
Me and My Cat read by Elijah Wood
Late one night Nicholas sees a witch enter his bedroom and hears her say some magic words. When he wakes up the next morning, it doesn’t take him long to realize something very strange is going on — especially when he pulls at his whiskers!
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29
National Cat Day
Romeow & Drooliet read by Haylie Duff
Romeow the cat and Drooliet the dog are two star-crossed lovers who meet by chance, marry in secret and are kept apart by a snarling rottweiler, appalled owners and the animal control warden.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29
National Cat Day
Mice Twice read by Ty Burrell
Cat and Miss Mouse become involved in a round of uneasy hospitality when Miss Mouse accepts Cat’s dinner invitation. While Cat expects her to walk right into his trap, Miss Mouse outsmarts him by asking her close friend Dog to join her. The animals perform a literal game of cat-and-mouse through dinner invitations, continuously amping up their efforts until a hilarious and fitting conclusion results. Mice Twice is a charming, funny and thoughtful fable about friendship, cleverness, irony, self-awareness and manners.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
Halloween
I Need My Monster read by Rita Moreno
Ethan is a little boy who can’t fall asleep without the ragged breathing and claw-scratching of his favorite monster, Gabe. But Gabe has left a note that he’s gone fishing, so Ethan knocks on his floor to summon a series of substitute ghoulies.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
Halloween
Hey, That’s MY Monster! read by Lily Tomlin
When Ethan looks under the bed for his monster, he finds this note instead: “So long, kid. Gotta go. Someone needs me more than you do. –Gabe” How will Ethan ever get to sleep without his monster’s familiar, comforting snorts? And who could need Gabe more than Ethan does? Gabe must have gone to Ethan’s little sister’s room! She has been climbing out of bed every night to play, and obviously needs a monster to help her get to sleep – but not HIS monster! Ethan tries to help his sister find her own monster, but none are the perfect blend of cute and creepy. Just when it seems that Ethan will lose his monster forever, an uninvited, tutu-toting little monster full of frightening fun appears.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
Halloween
How I Met My Monster read by Nancy Cartwright
One night, when Ethan reaches under his bed for a toy truck, he finds this note instead: “Monsters! Meet here for final test.” Ethan is sure his parents are trying to trick him into staying under the covers, until he sees five colorful sets of eyes blinking at him from beneath the bed. Soon, a colorful parade of quirky, squeaky little monsters compete to become Ethan’s monster. But only the little green monster, Gabe, has the perfect blend of stomach-rumbling and snorting needed to get Ethan into bed and keep him there so he falls asleep—which as everyone knows, is the real reason for monsters under beds.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
Halloween
Halloween Hustle read by Joel McHale
In the dark, a funky beat. Something white with bony feet. Skeleton dancing up the street, Doing the Halloween Hustle. Skeleton is dancing his way to a Halloween party―but as he grooves across town, he keeps stumbling, tumbling, and falling apart! Can Skeleton stay in one piece long enough to make it to the party?
