Spooktacular books to read over the Thanksgiving weekend

Thanksgiving is one of the best times of the year. There’s so much to be thankful for. Not only do I get to spend HOURS with my family—many of my extended family members, too!—and I get to eat great food (seriously, my grandma makes a perfect turkey) but I ALSO have extra time to READ. 

And what better to read than SPOOKY stories?

Halloween is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER (yes!), and when I’m not designing this year’s costume or writing a thrilling new short story to celebrate the day, I’m READING. 

So what’s on my toppling To-Be-Read list? Well, a lot of old favourites to be honest. But, here are my five Halloween-ish recommendations:

1. My Teacher is an Alien by Bruce Coville — Admit it, there are times you wonder if your teacher is from another planet, right? Especially when you’re assigned homework on the WEEKEND or given a pop quiz! This funny Halloween book will make you especially suspicious of substitute teachers.
2. The Haunted Mask by R.L. Stine — Or, anything by R.L. Stine, really. When it comes to writing “safe scares” for kids, this author is a master. If you haven’t read any of the books in his Goosebumps or Fear Street series, get reading—there are hundreds of them!
3. Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories — Everyone knows that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of my favourite books, and I’ll read anything by Roald Dahl. While this book isn’t filled with his stories, it’s a great collection of spooky tales by authors he admired. Any friend of Roald Dahl’s is a friend of mine!
4. Teacher’s Pet by Richie Tankersley Cusick — The cover of this book alone is scary, but I dare you not to speed-read through each thrilling page until you get to the surprise twist that will leave you shocked!
5. Beneath the Soil by Dawn Ius & James Grasdal — Okay, maybe I’m a bit biased because this is a Superman Duffy comic, but it’s really spooktacular! Spiders, bugs, amoeba…you’ll be surprised—and maybe disgusted—by what * I * find…beneath the soil. (Order your copy from the Alberta Canola Producers’ Commission via the website at www.learncanola.com.)

So, what did I miss? Leave your suggestions in the comments so we can build the best and biggest list of Halloween reads ever!

Gotta jet. Happy Thanksgiving—and happy Halloween reading! 

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Crafting my way to Halloween

I know what you’re thinking. It’s JUST October 1, and I’m already talking about Halloween. I can’t help it—it’s my FAVOURITE time of the year. I love everything about it—carving pumpkins, eating the seeds, dressing up in costume (I have a GREAT idea this year), and hanging out with my friends trick-or-treating. 

Oh, and scoring all of that sweet candy.

I’ve already started seeing pumpkins everywhere, even on MY doorstep. Mom never puts them out THIS early. Know what that tells me? This is going to be a SPOOKTACULAR Halloween.

This year, I’ve decided to make a lot of Halloween crafts, starting this weekend at Culture Days in St. Albert. The author of the Superman Duffy comics will be there doing a session on using modelling clay today, but there will be OTHER sessions too—most of them to do with crafts and art. Hopefully they ALSO have Halloween on their mind.

Wow! I’m so excited. In fact, I’m going to start looking for ideas RIGHT NOW on Pinterest. Not quite ready for Halloween? No problem. Alberta Canola Producers have a new “crafts” brochure with some great activities to get you through fall. If you can’t wait, Email simone@albertacanola.com and request a copy, before it goes up on  www.learncanola.com.

Will I see you in St. Albert this weekend? I’ll be the one sculpting a giant ball of orange clay into the best Jack-O-Lantern ever! See you there.

Gotta jet! 

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Celebrating Comic Book Day…with comics!

This SUNDAY, September 25, is NATIONAL COMIC BOOK DAY, the official time we celebrate Obadiah Oldbuck, which considered the very first comic—from way back in 1933. (That’s a long, long time ago!)

I know a little something about comics.

It’s not just because I’m the “star” of 14 educational comic books published by the Alberta Canola Producers’ Commission—I actually read comics. A lot of them.

Grandpa thinks they’re kind of silly, but the truth is, comics are a pretty cool way of telling a story. And if you score one that’s as well done as the Superman Duffy comics, they’re filled with AMAZING art! I thought the first Superman Duffy bok, Fields of Home, was great, but the artist, James Grasdal, just keeps getting better and better. In fact, I can’t WAIT for you to see the newest book, IT TAKES A VILLAGE, which is at the press RIGHT NOW. It’s about careers in agriculture.

This Sunday, I plan on hitting up Happy Harbour in Edmonton, my favourite comic book store. Is there a comic book store in your town? If so, how will you celebrate? Leave a message and you could WIN one of the books—maybe even IT TAKES A VILLAGE, when it’s ready, of course.

Happy National Comic Book Day! I hope you read to your heart’s content.

~ Chase Superman Duffy