Princess in Black and the Trick or Treating Trouble!

Get ready for some Halloween fun, y’all! Shannon Hale, Dean Hale, and LeUyen Pham are bringing the Princess in Black magic to Decatur for one big Halloween Extravaganza. This is your chance to celebrate their latest book, Princess in Black and the Trick or Treating Trouble, with the powerhouse team themselves.

This event is all treats and no tricks, perfect for the whole family to kick off Trick or Treat Week. You can expect to hear Shannon, Dean, and LeUyen chat about the new book, dive into a costume contest, help judge a pumpkin decorating contest, and even take home some candy. It’s happening on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the DeKalb County Public Library Decatur Branch, located at 215 Sycamore Street.

Speaking of contests, you definitely want to get in on the action. For the costume contest, wear your Halloween best, and they’ll snap a polaroid. Then, attendees will vote for their favorite with tally marks, and the winners will score a Little Shop gift card. If you’re more of a pumpkin artist, decorate a pumpkin (no carving, please) and drop it off at Little Shop between October 21st and 23rd. The winning pumpkins will get to decorate the stage at the event, and those winners also snag a Little Shop gift card!

The new book, Princess in Black and the Trick or Treating Trouble, sounds like a riot. Princess Magnolia is rocking her Princess in Black costume for trick-or-treating, but things get wild when a little orange monster starts eating everything from onions to rocks and politely asking for goats. With half her monster-fighting gear at home, Princess Magnolia has to figure out how to save the day at Duff’s goat shack. It’s a Halloween adventure full of hijinks and heroics, a real treat for everyone.

Shannon Hale and Dean Hale are the award-winning husband-and-wife duo behind the Princess in Black series, and LeUyen Pham is the amazing illustrator. Shannon has also written other beloved books like the Newbery Honor Book Princess Academy and the New York Times best-selling graphic novels Real Friends, Best Friends, and Friends Forever, also illustrated by LeUyen Pham. LeUyen Pham has illustrated many other children’s books as well. This is a chance to meet the creative minds behind these stories.

Tickets are super straightforward. Admission to the event is free, which admits one person. If you want a copy of Princess in Black and the Trick or Treating Trouble, you can get the Admission + Book ticket for $16.99, which admits one and includes the book. If you’re hoping to get your books signed, Shannon, Dean, and LeUyen will all be signing. Just make sure you purchase a copy of Princess in Black and the Trick or Treating Trouble from Little Shop to get into the signing line. They’ll personalize the new book and sign one additional book you bring from home or buy at the event.