It's that time again for the ghosts and the goblins, and the sound and songs of kids at the front door -- "Trick or treat, trick or treat give me something good to eat.'' Clasped with plastic bags or paper bags -- anything that can carry their loot -- kids dress in an array of Hallowe'en costumes from witches and clowns to the latest cartoon characters.

At Toys N' Stuff Jackie Rodill said the theme for some of this year's kids costumes are storybook characters.

"Government schools seem to be telling students to dress as storybook characters,'' Ms Rodill said.

She added: "It's making it kind of hard for the kids to find costumes. But, luckily in every book there are princesses and brides and we have those.'' Ms Rodill said what seems to be popular this year are the Star Wars characters, which have really made a comeback, Spiderman and Disney characters including Pocahontas.

Meta Davidson of Jack N' Jill said Power Rangers are going to be the costumes this year including the Ninjas, Superman, Batman and of course the witches and cowboys and Indians along with Pocahontas.

"The thing we find most interesting is that with the schools asking kids to dress up as storybook characters, kids are creating their own costumes at home,'' Ms Davidson said.

She added that with candy, the store will be selling the traditional candy.

"People like the wrapped candy, jelly beans and candy corn.'' At the Phoenix Stores, corporate controller Sharon Shanaham said the store has Russell Stover candy in US prices and the usual pumpkins and chocolates.

"One of our regular sellers is the candy corn,'' Ms Shanaham said.

She added that as far as costumes the store carried had a policy that they would not carry really scary masks and no latex masks with blood dripping out.

Phoenix employee Kyle Smith said the popular costumes are Power Rangers from the popular Saturday morning cartoon, new Walt Disney characters from the movie Hunchback of Notre Dame including Kwazimoto, Phoebus, all Ninja characters, skeletons costumes, devils and Tiny Tune characters.

"We also have Super Heroes such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Catwoman and Cat Girl,'' Mr. Smith said.

He added: "Everyone has been asking for skeleton costumes and the grim reaper. Masks alone also seem to be popular from Frankenstein to Dracula and the cartoon characters.

"The store also carries "The Mask'' from the cartoon Ace Ventura, and X-men characters from the popular comic book.'' And there are also make-up paints for clowns, fake blood, moustaches and beards and fangs. "We have plenty of accessories for costumes.'' Don't forget this message from Nutrition Services! Trick or Treat! Almost all children love to dress up and go from door to door collecting treats for Halloween; however, if you are trying to reduce the 125 pounds of added sugar your child probably consumes each year, this is the place to start.

You will have little control over the treats your child receives when knocking door to door unless you give your neighbours some alternative suggestions for healthy treats.

Good edible treats include popcorn, fruit or sugarless gum, non food items such as pencil, eraser, balloon, sticker, comb or coins are practical and fun treats too.

If your child does collect candy you can make an arrangement to either dole it out on an occasional basis, or buy it from him and throw it away (don't make it an excuse to eat it yourself!).

If you want to keep your child off the road why not have a Halloween party at home. Serve pizza or other healthy snacks such as fruit or popcorn and play traditional games such as bobbing for apples, eating marshmallows off a string or pin the tail on the donkey.