Kids love three things about Halloween — candy, costumes and being scared (but not too much). So here's my last 2008 roundup of the best of Halloween books that are fun to read (and just a little frightening).

The first four books are geared for ages 9 and older. There's a Dead Person Following My Sister Around, by Vivian Vande Velde, is a blend of scariness and historical fiction. When eleven-year-old Ted discovers that his little sister is seeing ghosts in their house, he finally sets out to investigate and discovers more than he bargained for. The family home was used to house runaway slaves and two ghosts, who were slaves of long ago, are seeking help. The story is told through Ted's eyes, and the author has captured and relieved some tense moments with Ted's funny and realistic humor.

Strange Happenings, by Avi, is a collection of unusual short stories with surprise endings. These five stories are a good introduction to unusual settings, themes and endings in the shorter story form. But more than that, these stories invite intrigue and mystery into the quick drama format. The first story sets the theme with “Bored Tom.” Tom is always bored until one day he meets a talking cat who seems to have the better life. When Tom decides to switch with the cat, he discovers much more to his old life than he realized or appreciated.

Gilda Joyce: The Ghost Sonata, by Jennifer Allison, is the third installment of her mystery series. Gilda has figured out how to go to England with her best friend, Wendy, for a piano competition. But once she's in the UK , she finds that her psychic intuition is leading her toward some unusual circumstances that seem awfully ghostly. This is a good, haunting mystery.

Ghost Letters, by Stephen Alter, is an exchange between two different times and over two different continents. When Gil finds himself living with his grandfather for a few weeks and with nothing to do, he finds his life becoming embroiled in a most unbelievable circumstance. He has begun to communicate with another young man, Sikander, across the ocean and nearly 100 years earlier! He and Sikander are about to help deliver three letters that had never been delivered because of unfortunate circumstances. They will be able to alter history if they can finally deliver the letters.

This last fiction book is geared for younger readers, ages 7 to 9 and has larger font as well as more spacing between lines. There are also fun black and white illustrations by Jimmy Pickering throughout. Araminta Spookie: Ghostsitters, by Angie Sage, is the fifth book in a series based on a young and fun loving Araminta. But her house is about to be turned up-side-down when two rambunctious ghosts arrive and she doesn't like it one bit!

The next books are picture books celebrating this fun holiday. Bone Soup, by Cambria Evans, is a lively story with even livelier pictures about Finnigin, a delectable monster, who loves to eat. But hunger ensues when he can't find food to be shared by the villagers . Bring your utensils for this most appetizing story.

Bats at the Library, by Brian Lies, is great rhyming fun with bats blazing and “into the sky,” and “got to fly,” “Bat Night at the library!” So open your books, but be prepared to duck because if you're in the library, they may just “hang out by a lamp instead / to talk about the books they've read.”

There's No Such Thing As Ghosts!, by Emmanuelle Eeckhout, is a cute little book about a young boy who has just moved into a new neighborhood and decides to go to the old house that his mother tells him, “ People say it's haunted.” He's determined to “catch” a ghost with his butterfly net. He looks in every room and every crack and never finds a ghost. But what he doesn't know is that sneaky little ghosts are peeking at him everywhere.

The Little Bit Scary People, by Emily Jenkins, and illustrated by Alexandra Boiger, showcases how unfamiliar people may seem different and even perhaps “a little bit scary” until you get to know them. The shy girl begins to reflect how her family must look to those who don't know them. There's a good lesson here!

Pumpkin Town ! (Or Nothing is Better and Worse Than Pumpkins), by Katie McKy, and illustrated by Pablo Bernasconi, is quite the story to celebrate all those round orange squashes. The town becomes overrun with pumpkins. And what will happen will make you desiring for more and more pumpkins.

The last books are easy readers. No More Monsters For Me!, by Peggy Parrish, and illustrated by Marc Simont; Spooky Hayride, by Brian James, and illustrated by Bryan Langdo; Halloween Fun, by Margaret McNamara, and illustrated by Mike Gordon; Max & Mo's Halloween Surprise, by Patricia Lakein, and illustrated by Brian Floca and Bunnicula and Friend: Creepy-Crawly Birthday, by James Howe.

My last book is over-sized and full of imagination. Ghost Files by Eugene Yelchin and Mary Kuryla, is full of pull-tabs, separate booklets, letters, maps and more and will have you learning “The Haunting Truth.”