Hi, I’m Rebecca. I write books and I write here at This Joyful Mess to inspire everyone to find JOY in the everyday messes of life. Here you’ll find inspiration, educational resources, and so much more. Please explore and connect—I’d love to hear from you!
Adorable Halloween Good Night Wallpapers
Whether for cuteness or story, enjoy the free wallpapers I’ve created featuring some of Ella’s images. And while you’re at it, why not read the book!
Everything You Need for a Full Week of Halloween Learning Fun!
Enjoy this FREE Halloween Unit Study. A full week of Halloween fun for PreK, Kindergarten, First Grade, all centered on the book Halloween Good Night by Rebecca Grabill.
6 Adorable and Easy DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids
Find six of the absolute cutest and easiest DIY Halloween costumes for kids. All no-sew and take less than an hour to make. Plus they’re literary, based on the picture book, Halloween Good Night.
How to Promote Your First Picture Book, or try to...
How *I* promoted my first book, which may not be how you (or anyone else) will want to tackle book promotion, but just in case you're an author with a book releases looming and you're thinking, "What the heck do I do?" you can glean inspiration from me. I’ll share what I did, what I made, what I purchased and I’ll tell you what worked … and what didn’t!
My Last Two Events: What Do You Mean it's Over?
My final two events are passed: Books & Mortar and Hopscotch Children's Store Halloween Party. Halloween is officially over!
The Tenth Night of Halloween: Boggart Tales
Welcome to the Ten Nights of Halloween! Each day I'll introduce you to one of the characters in my picture book, Halloween Good Night.
The Ninth Night of Halloween: A Quick Bite About Vampires
Welcome to the Ten Nights of Halloween! Each day I'll introduce you to one of the characters in my picture book, Halloween Good Night.
The Eighth Night of Halloween: Do you Believe in Ghosts?
Welcome to the Ten Nights of Halloween! Each day I'll introduce you to one of the characters in my picture book, Halloween Good Night.
The Seventh Night of Halloween: Gobblin' Goblins
Welcome to the Ten Nights of Halloween! Each day I'll introduce you to one of the characters in my picture book, Halloween Good Night. Unlike a heap of creatures we've already looked at that date back to the earliest human records, goblins can be traced to European folklore beginning in the middle ages
The Sixth Night of Halloween: Witch Myth is Witch?
Welcome to the Ten Nights of Halloween! Each day I'll introduce you to one of the characters in my picture book, Halloween Good Night. Witches, like many Halloween creations, long predate Halloween itself. In fact, as long as there have been animistic cultures, there have likely been "witches" of one sort or another - women or men who have a deep connection with the spirit world. Witch myths abound across the globe, from Africa or China to Native Americans.