Is there a monster hiding inside one
of your children? Sometimes, we all
probably think there is. But in the case
of Oliver, it seems to be true. His parents
told him to be home after band practice
by 6 o’clock, but while waiting for the
bus he finds that his friends all ran away.
In A Werewolf Named Oliver James
(Arthur Levine Books, New York, 2018,
$17.99), written and illustrated by Nich-
olas John Frith, we learn why. While
Oliver is excited to discover he can run
faster, jump higher, and even his sense
of smell is enhanced, he finds people
are afraid of him. They keep yelling,
“Werewolf!” when they see him! Con-
fused, Oliver makes his way home only
to be concerned that his parents will be
afraid of him, too. But that is not the
case. To solve this mystery you are go-
ing to have to read the book to find out.
It will be a treat for sure!
Halloween can bring out the best
and the beast in us. We can find it fun
and funny, or creepy and chaotic. This is
especially true for children. These books
and others at your local library, book-
store, or online may help your children
find ways to celebrate and cope with the
excitement and the uncertainty of this
holiday of contradictions. As many of
these books point out, it is all in the way
you look at it!
Dr. Donna Phillips is an associate pro-
fessor in the Education Department of
Niagara University, where her specialty
is literacy and children’s literature. She
lives on Grand Island, NY and is the
mother of two adult children.
October 2018 WNY Family 15