Catholic picture book explores meanings of Halloween, All Saints’ Day, All Souls’ Day

All Hallows’ Eve, a new children’s picture book by Anthony DeStefano, aims to help children understand the true spiritual meaning of Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day, giving them the chance to enjoy a spooky story with an uplifting purpose.

“There is something more enthralling than the usual tales of vampires, monsters, and ghouls,” says the book’s description on the website of Sophia Press, the Catholic publisher that released the book Sept. 23. “In All Hallows’ Eve, bestselling author Anthony DeStefano takes young readers on a lighthearted but spine-tingling journey that unveils the true spiritual meaning of Halloween.”

The book tells the story of a group of children who encounter a strange figure in a graveyard on a dark night. The mysterious woman turns out to be taking part in her annual tradition of praying at a cemetery. She tells the children about purgatory, prayer, and penance.

DeStefano has written more than 25 books, including A Travel Guide to Heaven, The Donkey the No One Could Ride, and How Angels Got Their Wings. A Catholic, DeStefano wanted to encourage others in the faith to reflect on the true spiritual purpose of Halloween.

“For too long, Christians have allowed the secular culture to dominate what is essentially a deeply religious holiday,” DeStefano said, according to Ignitum Today. “With this story, I reclaim Halloween by placing its emphasis not on evil spirits, monsters, and pagan and occult practices, but where it belongs — on the countless souls who have died in God’s grace and long for deliverance into the Heavenly realms.”

The book features illustrations from Erwin Madrid, who has illustrated dozens of picture books, including many of the Judy Moody series.

All Hallows’ Eve has been praised by several prominent Catholics, including Father Peter Stravinskas, the president of the Catholic Education Foundation.

Fr. Stravinskas says the faithful shouldn’t be afraid of Halloween and the book can encourage them to celebrate it properly.

“Too many Catholics have joined the war on Halloween, forgetting its thoroughly Catholic roots,” Fr. Stravinskas remarked, according to Sophia Press. “All Hallows’ Eve is a noble attempt to reclaim this celebration. Parents, teachers, and Catholic school librarians will find a valuable resource here.”