Archives for October 16, 2026

Books of the Week: October 16, 2026

So much fun to read!
Unicorn Rescuers: Adventure in Witch Land
(Candlewick Press, for ages 5-7)


The second in a new full-color series set in the magical Unicornia universe, featuring an exciting journey to Witch Land!

Claudia, Pippa, and Sara are off on another unicorn-rescuing mission, this time to Witch Land, where the witches are expert liars and time moves in mysterious ways. Worse still, nobody is allowed to fly! Can the Unicorn Rescuers save the day before their own unicorns fall under a spell?

🔮 “The age-friendly language, complemented by Vicedo’s bright, colorful illustrations, will keep young readers engaged […] Series fans and newbies alike will enjoy reading about the latest high jinks of these intrepid unicorn adventurers.”—School Library Journal

Ana Punset is a best-selling author of books for children, including the other books in the Unicornia series. She lives in Barcelona and has always dreamed of flying with unicorns.

Maud and the Very Eventful Week (Candlewick Press, for ages 5-8)

Follow an adorable little vampire named Maud through a week of ever-so-gently-spooky adventures in this charming vignette-style story—the first in a series poised to engross newly independent readers.

Who would have known on Monday that the week ahead would be such a busy one? It all starts when Maud finds a teapot that is obviously haunted (and very hungry). EEEK! The days continue with Maud’s attempt to sell spiders (and juice) from a sidewalk stand; a mega-toothy discovery; a ghost family taking over the dollhouse; and a visit to Agnes the witch, who brews up a dynamite soup. Then comes Maud’s yard sale, which is a lot of work but a great success, rounding out a very full week. But wait, could that be a teapot coming around again, on Sunday?

In this slightly gothic tour through the days of the week, the delight is in the details as illustrations portray Maud and her family and friends among the familiar objects and activities of childhood, with just enough of a quirky twist to please the young vampire lovers among us.

Lisa Anchin is an illustrator, author, and designer. She has long had a literary love of vampires and often ran around in a red cape and fangs as a child, not only on Halloween. She is the author-illustrator of the picture book The Little Green Girl, which won a Crystal Kite Award, and the illustrator of a number of other books for children. When not in her studio stringing words together and doodling, she loves meeting other kidlit folks and has long volunteered as the illustration coordinator for the Metro New York chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Lisa Anchin lives in Brooklyn with her family.

Pumpkin and Beetle: Super Secret Garden (Holiday House, for ages 7-10)

Two vampire cat best friends plus a mysterious treasure—what could go wrong in this young graphic novel full of gentle spooky fun?

Pumpkin and Beetle are vampire cat best friends who sleep during the day, only eat red foods, and go to school at night! In this adventure, Beetle has found something mysterious. To Pumpkin, this treasure looks like a pile of crumbs. They decide to bury it—and soon their whole town is covered in vines. This plant is hungry! Will they be able to save their town? Will curiosity get the better of these two cats?

Pumpkin and Beetle is a delightful graphic novel series for young readers, featuring two vampire cat best friends and their hijinks around their spooky town.

Born in Hong Kong and raised in Philadelphia, Jannie Ho moved to New York to study illustration at Parsons School of Design. After working as a graphic designer and an art director at many fun places such as Nickelodeon, Scholastic, and TIME Magazine for Kids, she decided that illustration was her true calling. Jannie (also known as Chicken Girl) now specializes in illustrating for the children’s market, with her work appearing in both trade and educational books, magazines, toys, crafts, and digital media. She currently lives in Boston, MA with her husband and daughter.

Where’s Waldo? Spooky Spot the Difference (Candlewick Press, for ages 5-9)

Join Waldo on a pumpkin hunt for Halloween. With hundreds of spot-the-differences to find among zombies, ghosts, vampires, monsters, and more for children aged six and up!

Search for Waldo and the gang on the hunt for some perfect pumpkins. Watch out for hundreds of spooky differences to spot in the puzzles along the way, but beware of a host of hair-raising characters wandering in the places they visit. Spook-tacularly fun entertainment for brave young fans of Waldo and search-and-find puzzles!

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to feature. Cover images were also provided. I highly recommend all books that are featured weekly.

18th Annual Los Angeles Printers Fair – Sat & Sun, Oct 17 & 18

Credit: International Printing Museum.

The Los Angeles Printers Fair at the International Printing Museum in Carson is back bigger and more inspiring than ever! With the backdrop of the Printing Museum’s world-famous collection of working antique presses, the Printers Fair is the largest celebration of letterpress, paper arts, and the book arts in the West.

Over 125 artist-vendors and more than 2,000 visitors are expected to attend this unique art fair, to explore the creative worlds of vintage letterpress printing, handmade books, printmaking, paper marbling, and much more. This year’s exhibitors include some of the finest letterpress and printmaking artists in the region, who will be offering a wide variety of custom posters, prints, hand-printed cards, memorabilia, decorative papers, and antiquarian books for sale. Throughout the Museum’s galleries, visitors can get creative printing their own keepsakes on antique presses, have their name cast in hot metal type, make paper by hand, and learn about Risograph and screen printing!

Headlining this year’s Printers Fair is the legendary New York designer and printer Richard Kegler of Dry Inc. and P22. As founder and principal designer of P22 type foundry, Richard Kegler sought to build a type library informed by art, design, and printing history. His ongoing involvement in typographic and printing organizations, as well as his past management of Book Arts Centers in Buffalo, NY, and at Wells College in Aurora, NY, helped to evolve a deeper involvement into the study of printing and type history. His current focus on letterpress printing is being channeled via his Dry Inc Studio.

Admission to the LA Printers Fair event is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, or $10 for students 5-17. Tickets are good for both days. Parking is free. Tours, printing demos, and activities are ongoing throughout the event. Proceeds from the LA Printers Fair benefit the International Printing Museum, a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to the heritage, preservation, and advancement of the printing arts.

For more information or advance tickets: www.printersfair.com or 310-515-7166

THE 18TH ANNUAL LOS ANGELES PRINTERS FAIR

A Celebration of Letterpress, Paper & Book Arts at the International Printing Museum Saturday & Sunday, October 17 & 18, 2026 | 10 am to 4 pm

315 W Torrance Blvd, Carson, CA 90745 | printmuseum.org | 310-515-7166

10/24 – Kid-Friendly “Monster Mash” event at the Academy Museum

©Academy Museum Foundation, Photo by: Emily Shur.

Celebrate Horror Cinema and Halloween at the Academy Museum this October! Activities include:·       The Horror Show, a special exhibition exploring horror’s cultural impact (all October)·       Monster Mash, a family-friendly vampire celebration (October 24)·       Museum After Dark, a 21+ goth-themed party (October 31) 

THE HORROR SHOW EXHIBITION Just in time for Halloween, the Academy Museum has unveiled The Horror Show, an expansive exhibition that celebrates the cultural power of horror films and the daring creativity of the filmmakers who make them. The Horror Show explores iconic characters and environments, highlighting images and stories that have shaped horror cinema for generations. After entering through an eerie sound installation, visitors will face the infamous horror “Hallway.” Brave your way through to discover six distinctly themed chambers: Gothic, Psychological, Science, Slasher, Religion, and Ghosts, before exiting through the visceral Blood Room. The exhibition features nearly 400 objects, including rare, original props, costumes, production materials, and interactive displays. 
MONSTER MASHOn October 24, join the Academy Museum for a fang-tastic day of special-effects makeup demonstrations, thrilling tours, monster appearances, movies, and activities—all exploring the vampire, the famous creature of the dark. Embrace this year’s theme with Dracula, vampire hunters, and a relaxing monster resort. October 24, 202611am | Movie | Hotel Transylvania (2012) | Ted Mann Theater | Lower Level 2 Free with general admission ticket. 11am–1:30pm | Special effects makeup and hair demo | Grand LobbyA scary-good time with transformations by special effects makeup artists and Academy Award winners Joel Harlow and Howard Berger, plus Patricia Dehaney, Oscar winner and Academy Governor. General admission ticket not required. 12:30–2:30pm | Vampire blood special effects family workshop | Shirley Temple Education Studio | Lower Level 1Get mixed up in the world of horror makeup with a lesson on creating Hollywood-worthy vampire blood, featuring tools used by real artists.All ages are welcome. Free with general admission ticket. 1–5pm | Monster meet and greet | Grand Lobby Meet Universal Studios’ classic movie monsters—Dracula, the Bride of Frankenstein, and Frankenstein’s monster—for a can’t-miss photo opportunity. It’ll be a scream. General admission ticket not required. 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30pm | The Horror Tours | Level 4Open the door and peek inside—if you dare—with a museum educator on a 30-minute guide tour of The Horror Show exhibition. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the representation of vampires and gothic horror in film, and explore the production processes for many horror classics. Free with general admission ticket. 2:30pm | Movie | Blade (1998) | Ted Mann Theater | Lower Level 2 Free with general admission ticket. 4–5pm | Killer Fitness performance and dance-along | Grand Lobby A horror performance and dance-along, where fitness meets fear. Free with general admission ticket. 7:30pm | Movie |Horror of Dracula (1958) | Ted Mann Theater | Lower Level 2 Tickets start at $5. 
MUSEUM AFTER DARKOn Halloween, step into the shadows and join the Academy Museum for special after-hours party. Get into the Halloween spirit with a goth-themed night of brews and bites, tarot reading, spellbinding music, an anniversary screening of a beloved cult classic, a thrilling special guest, and more. October 31, 20267–10pm | After-hours access to The Horror Show 7–9:30pm | DJ, bar, and bites 7–9:30pm | Tarot, palm, and astrology readingsEmbrace your past, present, and future in a fun tarot card, palm, or astrology reading. 8–8:30pm | Inside Horror After Dark: Thrilling Makeup Effects with Ken DiazVenture behind the scenes of your favorite horror films to learn about one of the genre’s most important disciplines with Academy member and special effects makeup artist Ken Diaz (The Thing, My Bloody Valentine…, Sinners). 10pm | Movie | The Craft (1996) | David Geffen Theater Inspired looks are highly encouraged. We want to see your hauntingly glamorous costumes. Adults 21 and over. 
WHEREAcademy Museum of Motion Pictures6067 Wilshire BoulevardLos Angeles, CA 90036 

Jonas, Oct. 16 Pet of the Week

AWWWWWW!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Just ask the Long Beach Animal Care Services (LBACS) vet team, their cat volunteers and anyone who meets Jonas. Jonas is a 9-year-old senior fellow who came to LBACS in June. He was, frankly, a mess—he had mange, conjunctivitis, a few missing teeth and entropion, an ocular condition in which the eyelid margin rolls inward, causing eyelashes and fur to rub on the surface of the eye. But Jonas took it all like the champ he is. He’s been improving big time with treatment: hee got entropion surgery and had a mass removed from the tongue area “like it was no big deal,” LBACS staff said. He’s also FIV positive, but FIV cats can live long, wonderful lives, and Jonas will in the right household. He may need further eye surgery, dental work and routine bloodwork, but Jonas can handle it. He’s had a rough life, but he’s a sweetheart—“I haven’t seem him get annoyed, although he does start meowing when I close the kennel door since he wants more attention and pets,” said volunteer Ona, who spends a lot of time with Jonas. Personality, perseverance, and just the right amount of sass—meet Jonas and see for yourself how beautiful this survivor is. To adopt or foster Jonas, email PetAdopt@longbeach.gov to speed the process, or call (562) 570-7387. Ask for ID# A762667. Better yet, meet him in person at Long Beach Animal Care Services, 7700 E. Spring St., Long Beach, at entrance to El Dorado Park (no parking fee for shelter visitors). Visiting hours are Wednesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m., and Saturday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Spooky Season at Santa Monica Place – Line Dancing, Cooking Classes & More!

Credit: Santa Monica Place

Here’s a quick look at what’s happening:

Western Wednesday: Halloween Edition

Wednesday, October 28 from 6–8 p.m.

HaLouLouWeen Night

Saturday, October 31 at 6 p.m. until late

Kid’s Halloween Baking Classes at The Gourmandise School

Sunday, October 25 from 2–4:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 31 from 10 A.M–12:00 p.m.

Halloween Harvest Date Night at The Gourmandise School

Saturday, October 31 from 6:30–9:30 p.m.

The festivities start with Western Wednesdays, bringing free line dancing to Center Plaza every Wednesday in October from 6-8 p.m. Professional instructors lead dancers of all experience levels, with restaurant happy hours, shopping perks and complimentary giveaways adding to the fun. The series culminates with a Halloween-themed Western Wednesday on October 28, inviting guests to dress in costume and dance the night away, with a $50 Tenshoppe gift card awarded for the best costume!

On Saturday, October 31, LouLou Santa Monica will transform for HaLouLouWeen Night, a glamorous Halloween celebration featuring music, cocktails, dinner and dancing with its signature French Riviera flair! Guests are encouraged to arrive dressed to impress in their favorite costumes and book a table in advance for the fan-favorite Halloween festivities.

Santa Monica Place’s cooking academy, The Gourmandise School will also host a parent & child Halloween Treats baking class, where parents and little chefs from 6-11 can get hands-on creating spooky sweets including vampire sandwich cookies, eyeball cookies and monster haystacks.

For adults looking to get in on the Halloween fun, The Gourmandise School will also host a Halloween Harvest Date Night cooking class on Saturday, October 31, from 6:30–9:30 p.m. Couples can enjoy a hands-on evening of cooking featuring a festive fall-inspired menu, including Graveyard Short Rib Ragu over Creamy Polenta, Blood Red Beet Salad, Midnight Molten Lava Cake and a Witches Brew Cocktail. Costumes are encouraged for an extra touch of holiday fun!

With spooky family fun, free line dancing and Halloween nightlife all in one destination, Santa Monica Place offers plenty of ways to celebrate throughout October.

Campland on the Bay Brings Back Camper-Favorite Howl-oween Celebration for Two Festive Weekends

Campland on the Bay will bring Halloween fun to the shores of Mission Bay during two weekends of its camper-favorite Howl-oween celebration.  The Halloween festivities run Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25, and Friday, October 30 through Sunday, November 1, 2026.

Campers’ families are invited to dress up, decorate their campsites and RVs, and enjoy a spirited lineup of Halloween activities. Festivities will include trick-or-treating, costume and pet costume contests, a pumpkin carving contest, an RV decorating contest, costume dodgeball, bean bag tournaments, and a spooky DJ dance party. 

Howl-oween gives families the opportunity to turn a traditional Halloween celebration into a waterfront getaway. In addition to the scheduled festivities, campers can enjoy RV or tent camping, recreational amenities, planned activities and time together along Mission Bay.

Families may choose either Howl-oween weekend – or return for both. Campsite reservations and additional information are available at Campland.com,  

WHAT:
Campland on the Bay’s annual Howl-oween celebration, featuring two weekends of family-friendly Halloween activities for overnight campers.

WHEN:

  • Friday, October 23–Sunday, October 25, 2026
  • Friday, October 30–Sunday, November 1, 2026

A detailed schedule of activities will be posted closer to the event.

WHERE:
Campland on the Bay
2211 Pacific Beach Drive
San Diego, CA 92109

For the latest Howl-oween details, visit www.Campland.com/halloween-at-campland/.

Credit: Campland on the Bay®