Halloween School Parties...What Do I Do?

Reviews and Testimonials

 

"Parents planning parties for their own little human monsters can cull ideas from Halloween School Parties…What Do I Do?®"

—Publishers Weekly, September 1996

 

"Halloween School Parties...What Do I Do?® by Wilhelminia Ripple is chock-full of ideas for Halloween fun. Well organized for easy reference, the chapters include games, crafts and favors, treats, drinks, and parent costumes. The illustrations are delightful and can easily be adapted for bulletin board displays or party invitations. 'No bones about it,' parents, teachers, and anyone looking for clever Halloween ideas will want this one on their shelves."

—Sue Kruise, Librarian, Littleton, Colorado

 

"In the mail today I received a copy of your book Halloween School Parties…What Do I Do?® All the girls on staff were totally impressed. It’s a great book!"

—Maxine Ganske, Director, Russell Public Library, Russell, Kansas

 

"Wilhelminia Ripple’s Halloween School Parties…What Do I Do?® (charmingly illustrated by Heather Anderson) is a parent or teacher how-to manual for putting on safe and fun Halloween parties for children of all ages. Halloween School Parties features 8 themes, 60 games, 55 crafts and favors, 49 treats, 8 drinks, 8 parent costumes, 22 educational facts, more than 50 helpful hints, 52 interviews from children and adults, 225 illustrations, a chapter on 'What, Why, and How,' and an index for ease of use. Halloween School Parties is, quite simply stated, the best Halloween party book ever published and a MUST for school and community libraries everywhere."

—James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review, Oregon, Wisconsin, August 1997

 

"This book is wonderful—the best I’ve ever seen."

—Cindy Garvin, Satisfied Customer, Colorado

 

"It’s a great book. I will use it for years while helping to plan my children’s classroom Halloween parties."

—Julie Krohn, Satisfied Customer, Colorado

 

"Full of one-of-a-kind ideas. I’ll definitely be using it for my first-grader. Great for us non-creative moms. I had fun reading it."

—Allison Franco, Satisfied Customer, Colorado

 

"After reading this book, even a rookie room parent can throw a great party."

—Ben Blea, Satisfied Customer, Colorado

 

"What a wonderful resource for Halloween school activities."

—Jim Weatherill, Ed.D., Superintendent, Littleton Public Schools, Littleton, Colorado

 

"What I love best are the facts and interviews in the outside columns. All of the ideas look like things that can easily be used in the classroom. This book offers quick and easy access to all the ideas, which works for teachers who are short on time."

—Jackie Snyder, Title I Reading Specialist, Colorado

 

"The book is easy to follow. I give it four stars. My favorite parts are the interviews and the cute little black cat page numbers."

—Dolores Arcuri, Satisfied Customer, Illinois

 

"The Halloween book is unbelievable!"

—Lisa Moffatt, Satisfied Customer, Colorado

 

"My friend and I love, love, love Halloween. This book is fantastic."

—Moira Fischer, Satisfied Customer, California

 

"A lot of information is in this very good book."

—Diana Mason, Satisfied Customer, Nebraska

 

"This book answered all the questions I asked. Great ideas!"

—Shirley Sternola, Owner, Bo Peep Books, Lakewood, Colorado

 

"I have found this book not only great for school parties but I’m having an R.L. Stein Goosebump birthday party for my son and have found many wonderful and useful ideas. Mummy Wrap, Ghoulish Popcorn Hands, Tombstone Favor Cup, and Rattling Bone Brew are just a few of the choices that we have narrowed it down to. I love this book and highly recommend it to every parent and teacher."

—Debbie Alles, Teacher, Colorado

 

"I LOVE your Halloween Book—I bought a copy to share with my homeroom parents—it’s being passed around all over the school!"

—Linda Stephens, Teacher, West Virginia

 

"Halloween School Parties…What Do I Do?® has so much to offer. The ideas are great."

—Donna L. Garcia, Owner, Kidz Kampus Daycare, Thornton, Colorado

 

"This book was written with teachers in mind. It gives detailed information for the ideal classroom party. It has been a wonderful resource for me."

—Donna Arcuri, Teacher, Minnesota

 

"I’m a first-time kindergarten homeroom mom for my only child, and your Halloween party book was a blessing. I went from idea-disabled to party-crazed. I thank you for providing resources that will serve me through my daughter’s entire elementary adventure."

—Pam Kennedy, Satisfied Customer, Pennsylvania

 "A wonderful book full of Halloween ideas. I used several of the ideas for my home daycare because they were fresh, fun, and easy to adapt to my age groups. This book is filled with things to create for Halloween, complete with illustrations. I highly recommend it."

—Amazon.com Customer, Minnesota

 

"This is the most complete how-to book for children’s parties I have ever come across. But don’t let the title fool you into thinking this book is only for Halloween! Many ideas can be adapted for other themes! We used some spider games and turned them into octopus games for our 'under the sea' party last summer. We used the Mummy Wrap for an Egyptian party. Skeleton games with a bone theme can be turned into dinosaur games. Along with the Pennywhistle books, this book is a must-have for all room moms and creative (and not-so-creative) birthday moms."

—Amazon.com Customer, Illinois

 

"My favorite chapter is Ripple’s advice on room parenting. You just know that she has already ‘been there, done that’ with every bit of advice she offers."

—Sharon Galliger Chance, Times Record News, Wichita Falls, Texas, October 1996

 

"I just did my son's first Halloween party. The kids loved the party. Now I need your Christmas book."

—Tina Scaturro, Satisfied Customer, Illinois

 

"I thoroughly enjoyed Halloween School Parties."

—Donna Erdman, Satisfied Customer, Pennsylvania

 

"Not having kids, it was a pleasure to use this book to help plan parties for my nieces and nephews."

—Rhonda Jacob, Satisfied Customer, Vermont

 

"It’ll be a very fortunate classroom of children whose parents and teachers consult this gem of a book to get ideas for memorable Halloween parties at school—or at home. Games, party favors, refreshments, and quick-and-easy parent costumes are all described here in detail. For those organizing parent groups, there’s even a chapter on room parenting, how to fund parties, and how to be well organized. A Party Report Form can be duplicated to use many times. Supplies needed for games and favors are basic things found around the home. Patterns and instructions are easy to follow. The treats are quick and easy to make and carry such kid-pleasing names as Frankenstein’s Eyeball Unbaked Cookies, Flaming Ghosts, Easy Haunted House Cake, Peanut Butter Pumpkins, Skeleton Cupcakes, Spider Popcorn Balls, Mini Witches’ Hats, and Halloween Stained Glass Cookies. I certainly wouldn’t limit this book’s use to school parties. Parents and children would have a great time working together at home to make the treats and decorations."

—Sarah Sue Goldsmith, The Advocate, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, October 1998

 

"Another mom in my son's classroom lent me this book when I was giving my six year old a Halloween-theme birthday party. I made the popcorn hands treat which was a HUGE hit. It's a good thing I made extra as I saw parents munching away. Not one was left after the party. We also played the Mummy Wrap game and the parents loved it as much as the kids. I'm a room mom for two classrooms this year. We'll be having a classroom Halloween party and again, I'll be making the popcorn hands. This time I'll put black and orange M&M's in the fingers. One mom loved the Mummy Wrap game so much she will be hosting it at our classroom party. This was such a useful and resourceful book that I have ordered all the What Do I Do?® books to help me out this year!"

—June E. Seto, Amazon.com Customer, Hawaii

"You volunteered to help in your child’s classroom, and now you’ve been assigned the job of coordinating the classroom’s Halloween party! Now what do you do? Award-winning author Wilhelminia Ripple shares some secrets in her step-by-step book, Halloween School Parties… What Do I Do?®"

—Boise Family Magazine, Boise, Idaho, October 2000

"You say that after you’ve prepared the orange-and chocolate-frosted cupcakes, you don’t have the foggiest idea what to do for your kid’s Halloween party? Say hello to the face-saver book. There are all kinds of choices for party games, crafts and favors, and drinks, as well as treats to eat in this wonderful idea and instructional book. Best of all, they’re REALISTIC suggestions, so readily achieved that they don’t intimidate those of us who lack the arts-and-crafts gene. As a matter of fact, many of the ideas are so simple—yet undeniably clever—they’ll make you wonder why you didn’t think of them yourself.

The 'tricks, treats, and tips' in this book are addressed to room parents, who come into school to assist teachers. In fact, the first part of the book explains how parents and teachers can cooperate in planning and staging a Halloween party. But the fact is, these ideas are perfectly applicable to parties staged at home, even small gatherings of neighbors.

The book’s 6 how-to chapters are on 'Games,' 'Crafts & Favors,' 'Treats,' 'Drinks,' and quickie costumes that parents acting as hosts can whip up for themselves. The book makes it easy to theme a party, since each chapter has ideas falling into these categories: bats, cats, Frankenstein, ghosts, pumpkins, skeletons, spiders, and witches. The illustrations help clarify the instructions and provide patterns for some of the projects.  In Frankenstein’s Laboratory game, sealed boxes contain items that kids can’t see but must touch. Cooked spaghetti is supposed to be brains, peeled grapes are eyeballs, dried apricots are ears, and cocktail franks are fingers. In Mummy Wrap, kids are divided into teams of two and provided with a roll of toilet paper. On the word 'go,' one kid tries to wrap his partner in paper, leaving his nose, mouth, and eyes alone. Sample crafts include a cute Cat Rock Paperweight, Ghost Glue Necklace, and Pumpkin Candy Jar. Skeleton Favors can easily be made from white twist ties. In the refreshment category, Barbecued Bat Wings are actually chicken wings. Jack-o-Lantern Ice Cream is simply ice cream in oranges that have been hollowed out and carved like Jack-o-lanterns. And Oreo Spiders are Oreo cookies doctored up with black string licorice and cinnamon imperials for eyes. In the drink department, the offerings include Spooky Ghost Milk, Spider Cider, and Witch’s Bubbling Brew."

—Richard Tambling, Manchester Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Connecticut, September 1999

"This is a wonderful series of party books—perfect for classroom-size groups of all elementary ages. A couple of years ago, I had two weeks to pull my third-grader's class party together after the room parent had moved. I planned the entire party out of this book. The kids had a great time! It was such a great help that our PTO bought multiple sets of the series as references for our Party Parents!"

—Amazon.com Customer, Illinois

 

"I found your Halloween book at a mall in Kalamazoo (Michigan) and bought the only copy they had left. I loved all the ideas. I was so impressed! ‘Why didn't I find this earlier?' I asked myself. I went back and had them order the Christmas book. These books are wonderful—lots of ideas. Now I need the Valentine books!"

—Sandy Knoll, Satisfied Customer, Michigan

 

"This is a fabulous book! Every page is packed with great ideas on games or snacks or crafts or costumes! It is very detailed in all aspects. I can honestly say that each page has something I will use in the future for my Brownies troop. (I'm going to have to make these parties very long because I want to use every single idea.) Wilhelminia Ripple has provided a very useful and fun book!"

—G. Sullivan, Amazon.com Customer, New Jersey

 

"I love throwing Halloween parties for my three children and their friends and this is by far the greatest book of ideas for Halloween I have ever seen! My kids had a hard time choosing all the things they wanted to do! This is a must for anyone who enjoys parties for Halloween, either for home or school, children or adults! You'll love it!"

—Dee Dee, Amazon.com Customer, Pennsylvania

"I checked Halloween School Parties out of the library and had more fun with it doing a first-grade party and a home party. Now I need the Christmas Parties book."

—Jennifer Gantner, Satisfied Customer, Illinois

"When I used ideas in Halloween School Parties, other parents said I had ‘the most awesome Party!’ Send me all the other books in the series."

—Kimberly Barber, Satisfied Customer, Virginia

 

"I loved your Halloween School Parties book."

—Carol Altman, Satisfied Customer, Pennsylvania

 

"Wilhelminia Ripple’s idea of throwing a Halloween party at school is a lot more than a plate of ghost cookies and a couple of spider webs slung across the door. Ripple has been known to organize everything, from arranging for costumes for the parents to writing a Halloween play. This year, she’s doing a scarecrow theme, complete with Rice Krispies balls wrapped in cellophane imprinted with computer-generated scarecrow faces. How does she do it? More to the point, why does she do it? 'I’ve always enjoyed doing parties,' she says. 'I like the challenge of being creative and unusual, and I like being involved in the kids’ classes so I can watch them in action.' As for how she does it, the Littleton author and mother of three—Mark, 15, Nick, 12, and Michelle, 9—explains it in her book Halloween School Parties…What Do I Do? ® The book, clearly written by someone with impressive organizational skills, includes not only the how-tos in crafts, games, and food, but also supply lists and helpful hints."

—Marty Meitus, Food Editor, Rocky Mountain News, October 1997

 

"The title says it’s a guide to Halloween School Parties, but all the ideas in the book can be used at home. It’s full of great ideas for games, party favors, crafts, and delicious treats. The instructions are easy to follow and all the supplies and ingredients called for are inexpensive, easy-to-find items. The book also contains some simple but fun costume ideas for parents."

—Central Penn Parent, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, October 1998

 

"Whether you’re a teacher or a parent, you might find yourself in charge of planning activities for a Halloween party this year. In her new book, Halloween School Parties…What Do I Do?®, author Wilhelminia Ripple introduces games, recipes, and crafts that will make any Halloween party FRIGHTFULLY FUN!"

—Island Family, Ewa Beach, Hawaii, October 1998

 

"Here’s the answer to the question, what do I do for Halloween gatherings? Halloween School Parties...What Do I Do?® is chock-full of ideas for games, snacks, favors, crafts, treat bags—even costume ideas."

—The Thinking Cap, Butler, Pennsylvania, October 1996

 

"Halloween School Parties…What Do I Do?® offers great suggestions on themes, games, crafts, treats, and costumes."

—The Parent Planner, Stafford Springs, Connecticut, October 1998

 

"A teacher of ours had checked out Halloween School Parties...What Do I Do?® from the library. I noticed it in her room, picked it up, and couldn’t put it down. I looked at it for 45 minutes. I have boxes and boxes of resource books from being a teacher for nine years. However, what I liked best about Halloween School Parties was the simplicity of it, yet it was organized and detailed at the same time. There were some ideas that I had never seen before even with all my years of teaching. The supplies needed were those we already had; we wouldn’t have to shop for anything. This book is great! I’m ordering the whole series for myself and a set for the childcare center."

—Julie Costello, Director, Warrenton Area Childcare Center, Warrenton, Missouri

 

"Parents, teachers, homeroom moms, and activity directors will find recipes and everything else they need to have a 'spooktacular' Halloween party in Wilhelminia Ripple’s book, Halloween School Parties… What Do I Do?®"

—Space Coast Parent, Rockledge, Florida, October 1997

 

"Halloween School Parties" is one of the hottest books Reinke Brothers carry. We are constantly receiving rave reviews from teachers and the general-public how great of a resource tool it is for them. We definitely recommend this book for anyone who is looking for ideas for the classroom or their own private parties."

—G.A. Reinke, President, Reinke Brothers, Littleton, Colorado

 

“Halloween School Parties…What Do I Do?® is an awesome book, it’s just wonderful.”

—Marian Wenman, Satisfied Customer, Wisconsin

 

“I just loved your Halloween book. I read every page from the front to the back cover.”

—Jana Fuller, Satisfied Customer, Utah

 

“I love Halloween School Parties!”

—Shari Armstrong, Satisfied Customer, New York

 

“This book is a lifesaver for the brave souls who plan Halloween parties for classrooms full of little monsters. Tailored to treat spooks in kindergarten through sixth grade, the text gives concise, step-by-step directions for more than 60 ghoulish games and 50 creepy crafts, oodles of original snacks and drinks, and even some easy-to-make costumes for grownups. Supply list, hints, and report forms make party planning organized and easy, And since no Halloween party could be complete without delights like Ghost Bingo, Wandering Spider Hats, Barbecued Bat Wings, and Spider Cider, all ideas in the book can also be adapted for parties outside of school.”

—Kelly de la Rocha, Parents Express, Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, October 2001