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On a quiet street in the Village of Kendale, a unique Halloween tradition has been captivating children and families since 2021—not with candy, but with the magic of books. Each year, as the sun begins to set on October 31st, the circular driveway at 10325 S.W. 99th Street transforms into a literary wonderland, where costumed children sort through tables not for sweets, but for stories.
The woman behind this imaginative effort, Ossie Hanauer, a former higher education professional whose second career spanned 15 years at the Kendall Campus of Miami Dade College. As the Director of the Center for Civic Engagement and Democracy, she worked closely with faculty to infuse service-learning into their courses and organized campus-wide events that encouraged students to innovate and take action in their communities. Her background in civic engagement shines through in this community-centered initiative, which combines creativity, literacy, and joy.
What started as a small gesture has blossomed into a much-anticipated neighborhood tradition. While the free little library in front of her home is open 24/7 year-round—inviting children to browse and take as many books as they’d like — the Halloween Book Giveaway is something special. It kicks off around 5:00 PM and continues into the night, with hundreds of books flying off the tables into eager young hands. Last year alone, nearly 500 books were given away, and possibly double are expected this season.
“It is an absolute joy to offer an alternative to candy on Halloween,” Hanauer says. “Kids say it’s their favorite house. The result counters the notion that all our youth are interested in are video games.”
This simple yet powerful tradition reminds us that stories still spark imagination, and that Halloween can be about more than costumes and candy—it can be a celebration of learning, literacy, and love for books
