Just finished reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, it’s a lovely book. I loved the movie as a kid but never read the book for some reason. The movie is very different but I still love a lot about it. Both are great things.

Eric got me the book, he made sure to get a very old copy that used to belong to a library, thick cover, old smells, perfect.

Another Halloween book recommendation!

The Amazing Screw-On Head by Mike Mignola

This book is perfect for Halloween and a great place to start if you are new to Mignola. You don’t have to buy a ton of books, Screw On Head is all collected here. This book is hilarious with gorgeous artwork, spooky and atmospheric.

The collection also contains one of my all time favorite short comics written by Mignola’s 7 year old daughter, which you can read here:

http://io9.com/5604593/this-comic-by-mike-mignola-and-his-daughter-is-the-most-heartwarming-thing-youll-read-all-day/gallery/1

I really recommend everyone read Hellboy, it’s rich and dark and beautiful. Three wordless panels from Mignola are all I need to make me feel the fall breeze or the dusty silence of an old abandoned place.

I had fun posting about my favorite childhood Halloween book, so I thought I’d post a few more Halloween book recommendations!

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury, cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon.

You may have heard of it, I only just read it, and it’s really lovely. It makes me wish I was a kid again, when it was so easy to get lost in the feeling and imagining of something, when Halloween felt really thick and vibrant and real. Oh man, how I wish I could still go trick or treating >_< !

My only qualm is that Bradbury writes about boys as if boys have the exclusive ability to get lost in fantasy and adventure, when it’s something all kids have. I didn’t know many girls who preferred to sit inside when everyone else was playing manhunt outside! My sister, cousin and I got into plenty of mischief. Running around the neighborhood like wild things (especially on Halloween) is what childhood is all about, not just boyhood. 

Anyway, it’s a nice quick read full of beautiful, emotional descriptions of the Holiday that will get you into the Halloween spirit. I’ll admit, I got a little teared up reading it. And holy crap, the cover art is GORGEOUS!

My little Joey Comeau library. If you want book recommendations from me, here they are.
Most of these are available on Amazon and there are samples to read here: http://cargocollective.com/joeycomeau

Some of the stories are sexy, some of them are scary, all of them are great.

Joey and I also did a book together called We Are Become Pals! Which you can read on Tumblr here: http://wearebecomepals.tumblr.com/TOC.html

♥ ♥ ♥