Forget Candy! This ‘Book Lady’ is Handing Out Must-Read Magic This Halloween
Instead of candy, Judy Newman hands out free books on Halloween—and sparks a 30-year legacy
Key Takeaways
- Former Scholastic executive Judy Newman started handing out books instead of candy.
- Her "Trick-or-Read" tradition draws thousands of trick-or-treaters to her front yard.
- Judy now serves a second generation of readers as founder of The United States of Readers.
When Judy Newman discovered many children had no books of their own, she began using Halloween night to help get free books into little ones’ hands. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World.
Every October 31st, former Scholastic executive Judy Newman becomes “The Book Lady.” Having devoted much of her life to helping kids become readers, she welcomes kids to her front yard in Montclair, New Jersey, to choose free books every Halloween.
As a young working mother in the 1990s, Judy regularly ran the book fair at her children’s school. It was then that she realized how many kids had no access to books of their own. I know how I can help! she thought as an idea sprang to mind.
How Trick-or-Read began
That Halloween, from her own front porch, the first Trick-or-Read event was born. Judy offered books instead of candy to thrilled trick-or-treaters.
Hundreds of children came that first year, choosing from piles organized by topic and age group.
Before long, the neighborhood was welcoming thousands of costume-clad kids, all eagerly awaiting their turn to choose a new book. Trick-or-Read soon became what residents now call a treasured ritual each fall season.
Some children travel from nearby counties to visit the book house on Halloween — and many sit down in the front yard to begin reading their books immediately.
But Judy’s favorite part is hearing from the young readers themselves, who come back each year to share with her how much they loved last year’s book or to ask her for the next book in the series.
On some occasions, they confess that they didn’t care for last year’s book, and Judy gladly helps them choose another.
A Halloween tradition that keeps growing
After three decades, Judy now gets the rare gift of welcoming a second generation. She’s been invited to the weddings of former visitors and teenage volunteers. One boy who first came at 8 years old, returned years later, pushing his baby in a stroller, to share with Judy how much the books had meant to him.
Now, 30 years later, Trick-or-Read is still going strong and remains a hallmark of her neighborhood.
Judy, now a grandmother of three, serves as the founder of The United States of Readers, a research-based reading program offering books to children in low-income schools.
She still happily becomes The Book Lady every Halloween. “I love hearing from kids who grew up coming to Trick-or-Read. They write to me, and they remember the books,” Judy says. “Many of them are interested in passing it on to the next generation. It’s thrilling to be connected to the kids and to the neighborhood.”
A version of this article originally appeared in the November 2, 2026 print issue of Woman’s World magazine.
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