Halloween How To: Costumes, Decorations, Parties and Destinations

Fans of Halloween will definitely want to add this reference to their library. While not as slick as some of the competing Halloween books that seem to be flooding the market this year, this is the most comprehensive book I have seen on the subject. The author looks at every aspect of the Halloween celebration. There are enough ideas here to give your family happy Halloweens for years to come, as there is simply too much to put into action all at once. There are fifty great costumes you can make yourself, recipes for everything from fake blood to pumpkin soup, and lists of great movies, CDs, and spooky books.

Chapters Include:

Decorating Your House and Yard
A Pumpkin Primer
Do-It-Yourself Halloween Costumes
Halloween Party How-To
Halloween Music and Movies
Recipes for Halloween
Haunted Expeditions
Halloween Myths and Monsters
What's Next: Trends in Halloween

The Halloween resources offer ways of finding elusive props and items and the extensive bibliography can help you learn even more. Within each chapter are lots of subcategories that explore the larger topic in great detail. Even experienced Halloween-o-philes and House Haunters are sure to find something new here.

For those who prefer not to do it themselves, there is also an extensive chapter on places to visit and community wide celebrations around the country, cemetery tours, pumpkin festivals and more.

One of the nation's foremost authorities on Halloween, Lesley Pratt Bannatyne has shared her vast knowledge of the holiday in television specials for New England Cable News, Nickelodeon, and the History Channel. That extensive knowledge has also resulted in one of the most well rounded books on Halloween ever, covering not only crafts and projects, but also history and heritage.

Reader's Digest Tricks & Treats - The Ultimate Halloween Book

While this may not exactly be the "ultimate" Halloween book, it probably can lay claim to the title of "The Ultimate Halloween Books for Moms." What I mean by this is, if you're looking for truly scary, gruesome, spooky ideas, look elsewhere. But if you have young children, or if your Halloween decorating taste runs more toward cute country charm than early Munsters or Addams Family, you will be delighted with this reference.

Especially helpful is the extensive section on costumes, complete with patterns and easy to follow instructions. There are nine to choose from: Jack O' Lantern, Fairy Princess, Scarecrow, Angel, Dalmatian, Fly, Wizard, Bee and Ballerina. However, a clever person could take these patterns and come up with countless others using the same designs but different fabrics or trims.

The chapter on decorating with pumpkins, squashes and gourds has some nice ideas, simple to accomplish, but very effective. I particularly liked the "ghosts" made from butternut squash and the "cats" made from acorn squash. Other decorating projects include flags and banners, lawn decorations, wreaths and table and home accessories.

Additional chapters include favorite Halloween treat recipes, crafts and even festively decorated clothing items for adults. Easy sewing instructions and tips help you accomplish the projects at home with the same success as the author.

Halloween How To: Costumes, Decorations, Parties and Destinations | Reader's Digest Tricks & Treats - The Ultimate Halloween Book

About the Author:
Cheri Sicard is the editor of FabulousFoods.com, a favorite net destination for recipes, cooking tutorials, health and fitness information, holiday and entertaining ideas, celebrity chef interviews, cookbook reviews and more. Sign up for their free cooking and recipe newsletters!

Did you enjoy this article? Rate It! | Tell Your Friends!