Happy Halloween, Mittens

Mittens

by Lola M. Schaefer, Lola M. Schaefer

Mittens the kitten wants to help Nick get ready for Halloween. But when Mittens tries to paint spooky faces, put up spooky cobwebs, and make orange cookies, he makes a mess instead! Halloween activities take center stage in this sweet beginning reader about Mittens. This My First I Can Read Book is perfect for shared reading with toddlers and very young children. Basic language, word repetition, and whimsical illustrations make this book just right for the emergent reader.

Genres: Halloween, Picture Books, Childrens, Cats, Holiday, Fiction, School

23 pages, Paperback

First published July 27, 2010

About the author

Lola M. Schaefer is an educator, writer, and gardener, and the author of many acclaimed books for children about math, art, science, technology, animals, and nature. She uses shovels, hoes, rakes, and scissors when she works in her garden. Lola M. Shaefer grew up in Indiana, and now lives in northern Georgia.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 5 year old loved this. It’s cute but probably three stars for me. I think it will appeal to fans of the Biscuit the dog books.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book to learn reading. she likes the kitty cat and their adventures

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mittens tries to help decorate for Halloween, with several missteps, until her specific skills are required.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, cute story, with lovely drawings (paintings?). A cat wants to help his person decorate, but he just keeps getting in the way ... until a tool he possesses saves the day!

[Peacegal · Rating 2 out of 5]

A child and his kitten decorate their home for Halloween. The illustrations are adorable, but I can't get behind a book that depicts an animal becoming tangled in fake cobwebs as funny and cute. This stuff is a menaceto both pets who have the misfortune to ingest it and wild birds who get entangled. It's time to start looking at fake cobwebs in the same way we look at tinsel and spun glass angel hair--a no-no for pet-keeping households.

[Happy LittleReaders · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s Halloween, and Nick and Mittens are getting prepared. Nick paints spooky faces, and Mittens tries to help, but creates abstract art. Nick makes cookies. Mittens tries to help, but gets frosting all over him. Mittens licks himself until he is all clean. Nick hangs up a ghost on the patio, but it’s just not scary enough. Mittens comes along too. The wind suddenly blows the ghost towards Mittens, and he scratches the cloth. Now, the ghost is very spooky.
Reason for recommendation: This book is a part of the classic Mittens series, and is a cute book about pets getting ready for Halloween.

[Kendra Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a perfect option for a read-aloud with younger children, from 0-3 years old. There are short sentences with easy wording, which is perfect for young readers. The illustrations are very simple and the colors are vibrant but not too harsh on the eyes. I would recommend this as a short read-aloud book.

"Nick puts up a spooky cobweb
Mittens put up a cobweb, too
oops!
The cobweb fell on Mittens."

[Ms Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book about a kitten named Mittens who wants to help decorate for Halloween. But he creates messes instead.  Oh no! He does get to enjoy a tasty treat created by one of his messes! 🤗 You will enjoy reading this book to discover how Mittens is able to finally help!
This book is great in keeping young readers interests by using basic language and repetition with adorable illustrations.
You can also read along with me on my YouTube channel!
https://youtu.be/PdvtgGDBXzw

[Heather Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

lily fall reading 2018, early reader, easy reader, series, mittens, holiday book, halloween, helping

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adorable reader perfect for the holiday!

[Aloysiuss · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book is for babies, obviously

[Kri O'Kellas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not very pleased with Nick’s tone towards Mittens, who is just trying to help prepare decorations and treats for Halloween. Glad in the end that Mittens does achiever in helping Nick though.

[Cheryl]

Aw.... It's not required to like Halloween to enjoy this very simple story with the theme that everyone has something to contribute to a project.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maddie read this to us. It’s cute.

[Darius Billings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the ghost and the spooky stuff.

I liked that Mittens helped on the last page.

[Lucifer "Argyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very cute, quick story. Involving a cat trying to help their person decorate for Halloween.

But I have a question.

Where were this kid's parents?!

[₊˚⊹ L I L L Y ₊˚⊹ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very adorable read! A perfect way to start the fall season for Halloween! I feel like if you have a pet, you can relate to your pet “trying to help”. A really nice children’s book!💀👻🎃

[Jennifer Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy Halloween, Mittens is one of many books in the Mittens series by Lola M. Schaefer. In this story, Mitten's owner, Nick, is getting ready for Halloween. Mittens wants to be a part of the excitement, but seems to only make a mess of things. After feeling like nothing more than a burden, Mittens finally finds a way to help Nick and have a Happy Halloween after all.

The basic language and word repetition in this book make it a great choice for emergent readers, grades Pre-Kindergarten to 1st. It could be used as a read-alone or read-aloud and is a particularly good choice during the month leading up to Halloween.

Schaefer, L. M., & Hartung, S. K. (2010). Happy Halloween, Mittens. New York: Harper.

[Linda Branich · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Harper I Can Read! My First Shared Reading Book in the Mittens, the kitten series of books. Mittens and his human, Nick, are preparing for Halloween. Mittens tries to "help" Nick make and put up decorations and make cookies, but as you can imagine, a kitten is not much help. Finally Mittens DOES help with something and Nick is pleased and praises Mittens.

This is a cute little Halloween book for a beginning reader to read with an older sibling or adult. There are many words that a beginning reader can read while the more experienced reader can read the rest. The story is easy to follow and the illustrations really enhance the story.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I happen to like Mittens better than Biscuit, but they are harder to find at the library. Read this one about Halloween to both kids. Mitten wants to help, but keeps getting in the way. Neither child had a strong reaction to it.

[Sherry Thornberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a mischievous kitten. I liked it. It reminded me of my two dogs and the things they do. One is forever eating my lunch. In the story, the kitten is just trying to help. I wonder if my dogs are just trying to help?

[Sarah A · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun early reader Halloween book. Mittens causes problems as nick is trying to get ready for Halloween but his kitten isn't helping until he provides the most help of all. Fun and nice early reader book.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute 'my first shared Reading' book. A little kitten tries to help her little boy decorate for Halloween but she helps make a mess more than helps,... until.... she puts the best decorations on the porch.

[Cassie McCown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for early readers. Mittens is a favorite in our home! :-)

[Amalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice next step after Biscuit. Large print and repetitive pattern to text with a interesting enough story provides nice support for early readers.

[Jaime]

Cute halloween book for children!

[Lareesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son is learning to read. He loved this book because once I helped him through it the first time, he was able to read most of it himself. I also thought it was a cute Halloween story.

[Haydin Kurtzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halloween my favorite holiday

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great books for beginning readers.

[WSL Library]

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