Thirteen O'Clock

Written by: James Stimson

First line: It was the middle of the late hours, twelve fifty-nine to be precise.

Why you should read this book: In a fairly normal house, a fairly normal baby goth has a creepy clock. When it strikes thirteen, with every toll, a variety of spooky monsters emerge and descend upon the delighted child. With rollicking verse and unearthly illustrations, it creates an appropriately spooky, but not at all scary, Halloween atmosphere.

Why you shouldn't read this book: You don't want an appropriately spooky, but not at all scary, Halloween atmosphere.