Friends of Montclair Library

According to the sign in the donut shop window, October is National Donut Month. They may be a little biased, but a month devoted to donuts doesn’t sound like a bad thing.

Here, to help you celebrate, are a dozen children’s books featuring donuts:

The Hole Story of the Doughnut by Pat Miller (J 641.8653 MILLER) (not at Montclair) – How a 19th-century cabin boy with a knack for creative problem-solving invented the donut.

Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony (J PICBK ANTONY) (not at Montclair) – Mr. Panda has a plate of doughnuts to share, but most of the other animals forget to say “Please.”

The Donut Chef by Bob Staake (J PICBK STAAKE) – In this delicious tale, a baker hangs out his shingle on a small street and soon the line for his donuts stretches down the block. But it’s not long before the competition arrives and a battle of the bakers ensues.

Homer Price by Robert McCloskey (J FIC McCLOSKEY) (not at Montclair) – Six episodes in the life of Homer Price including one about a donut machine on the rampage.

The Great Doughnut Parade by Rebecca Bond (J PICBK BOND) (not at Montclair) – When Billy buys a doughnut and ties it to his belt with a string while walking down Main Street, he unwittingly sets off a chain of events that amazes and delights the entire town.

Who Needs Donuts? by Mark Alan Stamaty (J PICBK STAMATY) (not at Montclair) – Young Sam leaves home to satisfy his craving for donuts, finds a job with a donut collector, and discovers the answer to the question, “Who needs donuts when you’ve got love?”

If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff (J PICBK NUMEROFF) – Chaos might ensue if you were to give a dog a donut.

Okie Dokie Donuts: Open for Business! by Chris Eliopoulos (J 741.5 ELIOPOULO) (not at Montclair) – In this graphic novel, pastry pioneer Big Mama has made Okie Dokie Donuts the best little donut shop in town. But running a donut shop isn’t easy! Trouble is always poking holes in Big Mama’s fun.

Stick Dog Tries to Take the Donuts by Tom Watson (J FIC WATSON) – “To snatch some breakfast treats for his hungry pals, Stick Dog will need to stop a moving truck, outfox a man on a telephone pole, and calm down a very caffeinated Karen.” (Publisher)

Curious George Learns the Alphabet by H.A. Rey (J PICBK REY) (not at Montclair) – Curious George discovers that when he can read and write, he can change a donut order from 1 dozen to 10 dozen.

Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller (J PICBK KELLER) (not at Montclair) – Arnie the talking doughnut convinces Mr. Bing that not all doughnuts are meant to be eaten. According to the NY Times, Arnie is “a chocolate-covered doughnut with sprinkles, infectious optimism, a wide emotional range, surprising resourcefulness and a handy facility with a cordless phone.” (And if you like Arnie, Keller has a whole series of juvenile fiction about him.)

The Case of the Missing Donut by Alison McGhee – This one’s not in OPL (although it is available through Link+, but you can’t really talk donuts without a dozen. A little boy in a sheriff’s hat and his dog deputy are bringing donuts home when the “Sheriff” is unable to resist getting rid of a slightly squished powdered donut, then wonders how everyone knows he ate it.