Book Review: Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal: Activity Book/Novel Study by Ryan Cowan PLUS Enter A Giveaway! #MrMoonbeamHalloweenCrystal ~

ABOUT THE BOOKS

Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal

Written by Ryan Cowan | Illustrated by Halo Rife

Ages: 8-12 | 252 Pages

Publisher: For the Northern Star Publishing (2019) | ISBN-13: 979-8351181905 (Hardback) and 978-1097952779 (Paperback)

Publisher’s Book Summary: Elliott attends his third-grade class like any other boy, except that Elliott isn’t like any other boy. Endowed with magical powers, Elliott belongs to a secret world called Moonstone—and trouble is brewing. When the evil witch Noir steals The Halloween Crystal, it’s up to Elliott and his third-grade teacher, Mr. Moonbeam, to stop Noir from invading the non-magical world on Halloween night. But can Elliott learn to master his powers in time? Designed with 31 chapters so that parents, teachers, and students can read one chapter a day throughout the month of October!

Purchase Links: Amazon | Bookshop.org

Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal: Activity Book/Novel Study – Grades 3-5

Written by Ryan Cowan | Illustrated by Halo Rife

Ages: 8-12 | 71 Pages

Publisher: For the Northern Star Publishing (2021) | ISBN-13: 979-8761758414

Publisher’s Book Summary: A Novel Study for Improving Reading Comprehension: This activity book includes a series of lessons designed to accompany the award-winning, middle grade book, Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal. The standards-based questions cover all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy and are appropriate for grades 3-5. Complete one lesson a day for 31 days leading up to Halloween!

Purchase Links: Amazon | Teachers Pay Teachers

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ryan Cowan grew up in a small town called Middleport, Ohio. He currently lives in Hawthorne, CA. A teacher with more than 20 years of experience, Ryan has taught all grades from K-6. He currently works as an educator in Los Angeles.

Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal is his first children’s book. He wrote the accompanying novel study to help parents and teachers improve children’s reading comprehension.

Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Amazon Author Page

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Halo Rife is an illustrator from Middleport, Ohio. She was 15 years old when she illustrated Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal.

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MY REVIEW

Book Review: Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal: Activity Book/Novel Study — A Fun Countdown to Halloween!

I absolutely love this time of year, and if your family loves Halloween as much as mine does, Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal: Activity Book/Novel Study – Grades 3-5 is such a fun addition to your October reading plans! There is something extra exciting about counting down to Halloween, and this activity book gives kids a wonderful way to make that countdown even more engaging while strengthening their reading comprehension along the way.

My youngest already loves Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal, so when I found out there was an activity book designed to go along with the story, I knew it would be a perfect addition. She is already excited about using it as she counts down to Halloween! The original story is built around a 31-day countdown to Halloween, which makes it especially perfect for reading one section at a time and enjoying a little Mr. Moonbeam fun each day as the big day gets closer.

What I really love the most about this activity book is that it takes a story the kids already enjoy reading and turns it into an opportunity to think more deeply about what they’re actually reading. The book features a series of standards-based lessons and questions designed to accompany Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal, with questions covering all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. The activities are geared toward children in grades 3-5 and can be used in so many different ways.

Parents and teachers can use the activities as discussion starters while reading together, independent work, shared reading activities, or even homework. I especially like that flexibility because every family can use the book in a way that works best for them. Instead of feeling like extra schoolwork, the Halloween theme makes learning feel like part of the adventure.

And here’s another fun detail that I absolutely love: Halo Rife was only 15 years old when she illustrated the novel! How amazing is that? Knowing that a young artist helped bring the world of Mr. Moonbeam to life makes the book even more special, and it’s a wonderful detail to share with kids who may be interested in art and illustration themselves.

For our family, this activity book feels like the perfect way to combine reading, learning, creativity, and Halloween excitement all in one. Since my kids already enjoy the story, having activities that allow them to revisit the characters and what they’ve read makes the experience even more fun. And with a 31-day countdown built right into the story, I can already see this becoming part of our October tradition!

If you’re looking for a fun, Halloween-themed book experience for the kids in your life, I’d definitely recommend checking out Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal along with this activity book. It’s a great way to get kids excited about reading while encouraging them to understand, discuss, and think about the story on a deeper level. And honestly, anything that makes the countdown to Halloween more exciting gets a big thumbs-up from me! You can find Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal: Activity Book/Novel Study – Grades 3-5 on Amazon here.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Date	Host	Post Type
Tuesday, September 1, 2026	@thechildrensbookreview	Instagram Reel
Thursday, September 3, 2026	The Starlit Path	Book Review of the Novel & Activity Book
Friday, September 4, 2026	Deliciously Savvy	Book Review of the Activity Book/Novel Study
Monday, September 7, 2026	Country Mamas With Kids	Book Review of the Activity Book/Novel Study
Tuesday, September 8, 2026	@KidsLittleFreeLibraryBristolri	Book Review of the Novel & Activity Book
Thursday, September 10, 2026	icefairy’s Treasure Chest	Book Review of the Activity Book/Novel Study
Friday, September 11, 2026	Mary Lanni Reads	Book Review of the Novel
Monday, September 14, 2026	@ABlueBoxFullofBooks	Book Review of the Novel & Activity Book
Tuesday, September 15, 2026	Cover Lover Book Review	Book Review of the Activity Book/Novel Study
Thursday, September 17, 2026	My Reading Getaway	Book Review of the Activity Book/Novel Study
Friday, September 18, 2026	Because I Said So	Book Review of the Novel & Activity Book
Monday, September 21, 2026	Crafty Moms Share	Book Review of the Activity Book/Novel Study
Tuesday, September 22, 2026	Q&As with Deborah Kalb	Author Interview with Ryan Cowan
Thursday, September 24, 2026	@nissa_the.bookworm	Instagram Post
Friday, September 25, 2026	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Book Review of the Novel
Monday, September 28, 2026	Sybrina’s Book Blog	Guest Post
Tuesday, September 29, 2026	Confessions of a Book Addict	Book Spotlight

NOW TO THE GIVEAWAY!

Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win a signed Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal book set!

*Ten winners will each receive a signed hardcover copy of the novel paired with its companion Activity Book.

*One grand-prize winner will receive an exclusive Mr. Moonbeam and the Halloween Crystal T-shirt, plus a signed, out-of-print copy of the original edition featuring its original cover design.