Is your little trick-or-treater a PBS fan?  The children’s network has come out with special episodes, books, costumes and even a trick-or-treat bag to celebrate the spooky holiday.  And one lucky Caffeine and a Prayer reader can win a copy of the book, The Spooky Scavenger Hunt, see the end of this post for details.

Halloween Episodes

For Dinosaur Trainfans, don’t miss the new episode Haunted Roundhouse/Big Pond Pumpkin Patch premier October 20 on PBS Kids, with repeats on October 24, 28, 30 and 31.  Check local listings for the time.  Description:   “In Haunted Roundhouse, dad takes the kids on a special Night Train to Troodon Town, where the Troodons have decorated their Roundhouse into a “haunted house” for a spooky party. The kids end up meeting a strange new nocturnal creature – a mammal named Vlad Volaticotherium, who was hiding in the roundhouse trying to get some sleep.  And in Big Pond Pumpkin Patch, the Pteranodon family learns more about the customs of their neighbors, the Lambeosaurus family, when they are invited for the first time to accompany them to the Big Pond to celebrate “Gourd Day” – a kind of Mesozoic Halloween. The kids see their first pumpkins, and Larry Lambeosaurus even shows our family how to hollow them out and carve faces into them.”

Sid the Science Kid watchers will enjoy the new Spooky Science Special, which premieres October 17 on PBS Kids (check local listings) and repeats October 25, 28, 30 and 31.  Description:  “In Halloween Spooky Science Special, it’s Halloween time and Sid and his friends have dressed up in the spookiest and scariest costumes possible.  Sid is a bat with big fangs.  May is a spooky black cat.  Gabriela is a furry, yucky spider.  And Gerald is a super spooky skeleton that goes boo!  Susie (dressed as a silly mad scientist) loves their costumes, and helps the kids discover that Halloween can be spooky and scientific!  The kids investigate how bats are helpful creatures that catch mosquitoes, spiders are expert engineer web builders, cats are leaping aerial acrobats, and skeletons help hold up our body frames!  At the Halloween party, the kids also investigate how to make icky, gooey green slime.  Susie then ends the day with a special “Halloween Parade” song so the kids can march around and show off their spooky and scientific costumes!”

Costumes to Buy or Make

• Buddy from Dinosaur Train – you can buy one, sew one, or make a no-sew version.  There’s even a video to help you if you choose to sew!
• Tiny from Dinosaur Train – you can buy one. 
• Sid the Science Kid Halloween Costume – make your own.  

Complete the look with a Sid the Science Kid Happy Halloween black trick-or-treat bag, which can be bought online and personalized with a name.

Dig Into a Book

The Spooky Scavenger Huntfrom Grosset & Dunlap is a great read for the season.  Featuring the characters of the Dinosaur Train, the book is based on Mr. Pteranodon taking Buddy and Tiny on an evening outing to the Big Pong for a nature walk using their senses.  The Conductor explains to them that he has night vision because he is nocturnal.  The book is a simple read with brightly drawn illustrations and is a nice story about using your senses to explore nature.  It would be a fun extension activity to take your child for a nighttime walk in your own neighborhood to see what you can explore by focusing on your sense of sight, hearing, and smell.  Soon available wherever books are sold, for $3.99.

Giveaway Details!

PBS is providing one copy of The Spooky Scavenger Huntfor me to give to a lucky reader.  To enter, simply leave a comment below telling me either what your child’s favorite Halloween costume is, or what your favorite Halloween treat is and why.  You must leave your email address so I can contact you to let you know if you have won.  Due to PBS’s shipping restrictions, the winner must live in the US.  Contest runs until midnight Eastern time November 1.  Winner will be chosen at random from eligible entries.  Extra entries allowed by tweeting about this contest and posting a link to the tweet in the comments section.  Winner must respond to notification email with 24 hours or I will have to move to another winner.  Prize will be shipped directly from PBS.  Good luck and thank you!

AND THE WINNER IS…. JILL!  Congratulations and thank you Jill and Latonya for participating!

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Disclosure:  PBS provided me with a copy of The Spooky Scavenger  to review and is providing a second copy to give away.