Why is Halloween is a favorite holiday in the U.S.?
You can dress up and eat candy are two popular responses.
I’d like to explore another response: Halloween is scary. Being scared is not always a bad thing. It allows children to face their fears of night, darkness, and frightening beings. Following are two media that exemplify all that is scary about Halloween:
“Nightmare before Christmas” started out as a poem, was made into a Disney movie in 1993, and has since become computer games, books, dance, theater, concerts, and other media. The film is recommended for ages 7 and up by Common Sense Meda.. Do you think that combining two holidays, Halloween and Christmas, might account for some of the film’s popularity?
“Halloween Hustle” came out as a picture book in 2013 and has since been made into songs, poems, running race events, dances, and other media. The book is for ages 4-8 by Common Sense Media..
Activities Based on “Nightmare before Christmas” and “Halloween Hustle”
What makes these two media phenomena so famous?
Read the Halloween Hustle book or watch the NIghtmare before Christmans film to answer this question yourself.
Read the book with a young child or watch the film with an older child to get their reactions.
Explore other media based on the book or film. Which do you like best?
Create a dance party, highlighted by the music of the film or based on the poetry in the book.
Check out other Halloween picture books from the library.
Other Halloween picture books that you might find fun to reach with young children are the following:
“Monster Needs a Costume” by Paul Czajak, with illustrations by Wendy Grieb
“Dogosaurus Rex” by Anna Staniszewski, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.
“Where’s My Mummy?” By Carolyn Criminal, illustrated by John Manders
Following are links to media for Nightmare before Christmas and Halloween Hustle. Which do you like? Why?
Nightmare before Christmas
Nightmare Before Christmas, 1993 Official Trailer, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr6N_hZyBCk
NighTim Burton’s Nighttmare Before Christmas, 2018 -19 Season, Auditorium Theatre, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lnq-2QmBmRs
Nightmare before Christmas Full Soundtrack, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw1e7M5jkz8
Halloween Hustle
Storyline Online: Halloween Hustle, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfM9RlGrEtM
Song for Doing the Halloween Hustle, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9NDVbj_uGE
Halloween Hustle Dance Video, https://www.youtube.com/watch7?v=r_MscAzf0cg
Halloween Hustle Performed by AllGood (Kids Halloween Dance Song), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuEDYeyFls4
Halloween Hustle by Charlotte Gunnufson | Halloween Read Aloud for Kids | Halloween Book, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-5_g7Ggmik
Halloween Hustle Book Trailer, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgwX2gc0Oq0
Teachers Pay Teachers,, https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/browse?search=halloween%20hustle
Halloween Reader’s Theater Script: Halloween Hustle
Halloween Hustle Toddler Book Companion
Halloween Music Activity - Halloween Hustle- Music Literacy
Hustle song on Apple Music, Paul Kopetko - Rodeo Stampede (Original Game Soundtrack) 2 minutes 49 seconds
Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel, The Halloween MOVE and GROOVE!, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_TaSnExaTw
Back to Disco Halloween Hustle Dance 2009 - part 1 of 2 parts, Frederick Harshbarger, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUgd3XSbSHc
Halloween Hustle, Pyrokynn, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7-P4_Iv_fE, (Scary music)
Halloween Hustle Race, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkyhYeN4a