Look, I’m just not going to be ok with missing out on a Full Moon Saturday Halloween.

The closest analogy I can come up with is missing out on your birthday party at school because of a snow day. I mean sure, the day still happens, but the air is just taken out of it.

Even though I don’t have thirteen amazing parties lined up over the next few weekends, I’m still quite tempted to dig in my closet to throw together a costume and just sit around the house, being spooky by myself (and really is there a better way to be spooky?). For some reason, I really want my (at this point completely hypothetical) costume to be literary or bookish in nature. I guess it’s all about environment for me. Last year, when I was still an art teacher, I was teaching a dual lesson on Dia de los Muertos and tied in the work of Mexican surrealist Frida Kahlo. So for Halloween, OF COURSE I dressed up as Frida, because who wouldn’t???

So this year, as I surround myself with bookishness, I’m thinking I might want to go that route for any costumes I create to cheer myself up and eat a pack of mini Reese’s Cups all by myself. I combed Instagram (and a few of the better lit corners of the internet) for some inspiration, and I thought I’d share.

First,I will never not love a pet in a costume. Second, my dogs will never love being put in a costume, so I have to live vicariously through the pets of others.

Offred (The Handmaid’s tale)

Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (Alice in Wonderland)

The Trial of Lizzie Borden

I love clever turns of phrase, and plays on words...

Reading Rainbow

Fifty Shades of Grey

I’m a huge fan of family and group costumes.

Mr. Men and Little Miss Books

The Wizard Of Oz

Where the Wild Things Are

The Day the Crayons Quit

I love any costume that utilizes a great wig or a ball gown:

Coraline

The Starless Sea

This is a gorgeous literal interpretation of one of my favorite books:

The Time Traveler’s Wife

Here a couple books I haven’t read (yet), but I am looking forward to:

Red Rising

Leah on the Off Beat

Note: this costume and this quote from the book had me running to Libby to check out the book: “I hate yellow. And florals. I should hate the crap out of this dress. But I can’t explain it. It’s just so badass. No one wears a floral prom dress.”

And just a few more that I love:

Viola Swamp (Miss Nelson is Missing)

Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies)

Moaning Myrtle (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)

Arthur 

The call back to the famous meme is just the best.

And even though this costume isn’t bookish, it’s High Grammar Snob, and that’s literary-adjacent enough for me!

Semi-colon:

I hope everyone stays safe and cozy this Halloween! 

Wear your mask - the one that keeps everyone safe and healthy, not just the one that makes you look amazing!