Behind the Books

Samhain: A Story About Halloween is a nonfiction picture book for children about the history behind Halloween traditions. Written and illustrated by Jacqueline Cooper, it is the first book in the Changing Traditions series. Samhain is also known today as one of the seasonal festivals on the modern Wheel of the Year, and this book explores how older autumn customs helped shape the Halloween celebrations many families know today. Long before Halloween became costumes, candy, and carved pumpkins, people marked the end of the harvest season in many different ways. Families gathered near bonfires, carved turnip lanterns, played games, shared food, dressed up, played tricks, and remembered those who had died. Samhain: A Story About Halloween follows those traditions through time, from ancient autumn customs to the modern Halloween celebrations that we see each year.  The book also includes fun historical details about where some familiar Halloween traditions may have come from, includin...

"Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire." — Gustav Mahler One of the best things about creating the Changing Traditions  series is discovering facts that I never knew myself and bringing them to life in these books. When I started researching Samhain: A Story About Halloween , I assumed pumpkins had always been part of Halloween. After all, these orange glowing jack-o'-lanterns seem just as much a symbol of the holiday as costumes, candy, and trick-or-treating. It turns out, pumpkins weren't the original Halloween lanterns at all. Long before pumpkins lined front porches across North America, people in parts of Ireland and Britain carved turnips, rutabagas, and other large root vegetables into lanterns. And that discovery sent me down a fascinating rabbit hole looking at all the different casts of these lantern carvings like the one below from Ireland.  A traditional Irish turnip Jack-o'-lantern from the early 20th century. Photographe...

“The old that is strong does not wither.”  — J.R.R. Tolkien When I first started working on this series, I knew I wanted it to feel connected to the cycle of the year. I didn't create this logo until I had two book covers finished to get a feel of what would be a good fit between two completely different stories and cover images. I think that the Changing Traditions logo now is a way to bring those ideas together visually. Each section of the circle represents a different season through small natural details: blossoms for spring,  sunlight and greenery for summer,  autumn leaves and berries,  then snow and candlelight for winter.  The logo reflects many of the themes that continue appearing throughout the series: seasonal change, returning traditions, celebrations connected to weather and light, and the way stories are carried forward year after year. I also wanted the design to feel warm and timeless rather than overly modern so have left the text off the cover...

There’s something magical about reading by lamplight in October. The air feels crisp, the pumpkins glow on porches, and little ones start wondering which costume to wear next. Whether your family loves a bit of silliness or prefers a cozy not-too-spooky story, these Halloween picture books are perfect for sharing with children under six. Room on the Broom Buy Room on the Broom on Amazon by Julia Donaldson Illustrated bye Axel Scheffler A cheerful witch, a helpful cat, and a sky full of surprises. This rhyming classic reminds us that there’s always room for one more friend, even on a broomstick. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Buy It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Amazon by Charles M. Schluz This classic Halloween story that we we watch every year is also a book. It’s Halloween night, which means costumes, trick-or-treating, bobbing for apples…and waiting for the Great Pumpkin. Is this finally the year that it shows up? The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything...