Reviews
Alfred Hitchcock: The Master of Suspense
Kees Moerbeek
While not truly a Halloween book, Alfred Hitchcock produce some of the most suspenseful movies that I have ever seen and therefore, it is appropriate that this oversized pop-up be issued close to the holiday. Until I read the back jacket copy, I did not know that Hitchcock had made more than fifty films, but I was familiar with all but one featured in this clever book. Each spread presents a major scene from the movie and briefly summarizes the plot and names the major actors. Each of the smaller insets shows us Alfred Hitchcock who always made an appearance in his films. It actually became a game sometimes to see if you could spot him in a crowd scene. It was quite interesting to learn that Vertigo was panned by the reviewers, but is now considered one of Hitchcock's greatest movies. Psycho is the one that just about every movie goer of the 60s remembers, but I think for me The Birds was the one that really stuck in my mind. It took a while to look at birds as innocent little creatures. For kids who have never seen the movies, this might be a good chance to seek them out. For parents, teachers and others who remember them, this book may also instill a desire to once again visit these classic suspense films. The paper engineering works and all of the pages pop-up and then fold down quite smoothly. 2006, Simon & Schuster, Ages 8 up, $29.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-689-87595-9
All Hallows' Eve 13 Stories
Vivian Vande Velde
Things that happen on All Hallow's Eve can be unsettling and inexplicable. These thirteen eerie tales all take place on Halloween and might make readers think twice before venturing out. A possessed car stalls in the path of an oncoming train with Justin trapped inside. The school field trip to an old cemetery turns deadly, but not for Janelle who is lured inside a mausoleum by a baby's cries. Brian is certain the Zolla family are vampires; now he is about to find out if they are just pretending. And no one wants a best friend like Nikki, not if you want to stay alive. Not too gory, not too gruesome, but thirteen short stories that are scary enough to raise goose bumps and send shivers down the spine. 2006, Harcourt Books, $17.00. Ages 12 to 15. Reviewer: Anita Barnes Lowen (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-15-205576-9
ISBN: 0-15-205576-2
The Costume Copycat
Maryann Macdonald
Illustrations by Anne Wilsdorf
Every Halloween, Angela's older sister Bernadette somehow manages to have a better time than Angela. The year Angela was a fairy princess, Bernadette was a rabbit. Angela needed to wear a coat over her costume, so only Bernadette's costume was noticed. The next year, Angela wore Bernadette's old rabbit costume. It rained, so Angela had to wear a raincoat, while Bernadette did not as her witch costume was plastic. One year, Angela is tired of copying Bernadette's previous year's costume, so she decides to do something different. Angela ends up having a Halloween completely unlike any before. This tale of sibling rivalry at Halloween is something to which most children can relate. Wilsdorf's illustrations capture all the fun and frustration that Halloween can bring. 2006, Dial Books for Young Readers, $14.50. Ages 3 up. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8037-2929-4
ISBN: 978-0-8037-2929-2
Dora's Spooky Halloween
Sonali Fry
Dora asks the reader for help in deciding on a costume for Halloween. She offers different options (cat, doctor, police officer, astronaut, etc.) and then sees that Boots is dressed as a spooky vampire. She wants to be spooky, too. Saying "Come on!" Dora invites the reader to look for something spooky. She adds different requirements for the costume as she meets different characters that appear with her on the TV series "Dora the Explorer" seen on Nick Jr. Seeing Diego as a pirate with a macaw inspires the desire for an animal companion. Now she's looking for something spooky and includes a cat. If they are old enough to know about witches, children are already predicting what sort of costume she needs. Younger children will need the rest of the clues, which include a pointy hat and a broom. The last page shows the accumulated props as Dora the Witch flies off on the broom with the cat and Boots along for the ride. She does not forget to say "Thanks for helping me find my costume." The bright colors and the culmination of the collected items will appeal to youngsters as well as helping them develop skills of observance and the anticipation of the results. 2006, Simon Spotlight/Nick Jr, $5.99. Ages 1 to 4. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-4169-2482-1
ISBN: 1-4169-4282-5
Feathertop: Based on the Tale by Nathanial Hawthorne
Robert D. San Souci
Illustrated by Daniel San Souci
When Mother Rigby, a colonial New England witch creates a scarecrow for her garden, she calls on her witchcraft to assemble the pieces, and then imbues her creature with human characteristics and the name Feathertop. Feathertop takes to his human form, and willingly strikes out to falsely woo the village judge's daughter. Once he sees Polly Gookin, Feathertop, who is already "beginning to believe what he only seemed to be," falls in love. When he sees his scarecrow self in the mirror, he realizes his mistake and runs away breaking his own and Polly's heart. Based on an original tale by Nathanial Hawthorne published in 1852, this book is a stellar period piece with authentic details of the life and times in 1750's Colonial New England. The author's note states that the ending of the original tale was changed slightly to reflect the epigraph. This quote, from one of Hawthorne's notebooks, underlies Feathertop's transformation into a whole human being when he is touched by love and returns it in kind. The bright and realistic watercolor paintings provide a strong grounding for the narrative and finely realized dialogue. 2006 (orig. 1992), Boyds Mills Press, $10.95. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Melissa Rickey (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59078-382-5
ISBN: 1-59078-382-4
Five Little Bats Flying in the Night
Steve Metzger
Illustrated by Laura Bryant
This little book comes with three crayons because after you read the story of the five little bats then there are a series of activities. The story is simple in tht it counts down from one to five and shows the bats eventually all hiding until a parent comes along and they once again take to the moonlit sky. Then kids are asked to trace the numbers, color pictures, work their way through a maze and crossword puzzle and to find the bats in a hiding in a picture. (The answers are on the last page). There is quite a bit to keep kids entertained so this might be a nice package for a car trip or a perfect item for a party goodie bag. 2006, Scholastic, Ages 3 to 5, $3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-439-77592-2
Halloween Fraidy-Cat
Abby Klein
Illustrations by John McKinley
Freddy Thresher, hero of Scholastic's "Ready, Freddy!" series of not-too-difficult chapter books, is a first-grader prone to fears and hassles. Poor Freddy! He's afraid of any kind of monster or ghost, even if it's only a costume or mask, and now classmate Chloe's giving a cool haunted-house Hallowe'en party. Max, the class bully and Freddy's particular nemesis, is going as a scary zombie, but Freddy (a shark aficionado) will stick to his usual shark costume, made by Mom. This year it'll be a hammerhead. Although big sister Suzie buys a Bride of Frankenstein outfit, Freddy's relieved that his best friends Robbie and Jessie have home-made costumes, too: Robbie's a pirate and Jessie's abuela has made her a Dracula costume complete with bat. For most of the party, Freddy's terrified. It's easy to lose patience with such a super wimp, but kids who sympathize will find satisfaction in Freddy's triumph over his fears and the obnoxious Max. Freddy's world may seem rather remote to some young readers: many of the children buy their costumes at a party store and Chloe's event is catered by a planner who transforms her home into an elaborate haunted house. (Chloe also warns about the expensive living room carpet, which might get wet during apple bobbing. Where are the parents?) For fun, each of McKinley's perky pictures contains the hidden word FIN in the style of Hirschfeld's NINA. Included are a shark fact page, a Hallowe'en crossword, and a plug for Scholastic's Lucky Book Club. 2006, Scholastic/Blue Sky, $3.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-78457-3
ISBN: 978-0-439-78457-3
Happy Haunting, Amelia Bedelia
Herman Parish
Illustrated by Lynn Sweat
Challenged by her literal interpretation of almost everything she hears, Amelia Bedelia has provided many laughs through the years. This title is a level 2 in the "I Can Read!" series and provides emerging readers an opportunity to be "smarter" than Amelia as they anticipate what she will do next. When asked by Mr. Rogers to "crack a window, it has gotten very warm in here." Readers will know that Amelia will use the hammer in her hand to "crack" the window. In this installment, the Rogers are planning a Halloween party for the neighborhood with decorations, goodies, and a prize for the best costume. Mr. Rogers insults Amelia by saying that she wears a costume everyday. Amelia does not consider her maid's uniform to be a costume, and decides to find something suitable. Mr. R. has also bragged that he is not afraid of the scary scarecrow that cousin Alcolu has contributed as a decoration. The neighborhood children's costumes are very creative, I particularly enjoyed the girl in a dress covered with rubber ears -- "I'm all ears!" Needless to say, Mr. Rogers gets his usual come-up-ance when he is, indeed, frightened by the scarecrow - Amelia has donned the scarecrow's clothes and rises up screaming "booooo!" She is awarded the costume prize and everyone has had a great time - especially enjoying all of the food that Amelia has prepared. Serving the "worm" casserole after cleaning up, Amelia tricks Mr. Rogers by telling him that she had run out of spaghetti and used real worms instead! This title will serve to reinforce reading skills with lots of picture clues and it is filled with great ideas for costumes and "scary" foods to serve at your own Halloween party. 2004, HarperCollins, $16.89 and $3.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-051895-2
ISBN: 978-0-06-051895-0
ISBN: 0-06-051893-6
ISBN: 978-0-06-051893-6
ISBN: 0-06-051894-4
ISBN: 978-0-06-051894-3
I'm Not Afraid of Halloween! A Pop-Up and Flap Book
Marion Dane Bauer
Illustrated by Rusty Fletcher
The observant reader will notice that we only see the back of the narrator as we watch him looking out the window on Halloween night. He announces on the very first page that he is not afraid of Halloween as he looks at the typical symbols of the season: jack-o-lantern, bats, moon, black cat, wide-eyed owl, etc. Then there is a knock at the door which requires lifting the flap to discover the ghostie requesting "treats." The next visitor is a pop-out witch who is also given goodies. And so it goes, alternating flaps and sturdy pop-ups. The last group of visitors is clad in bunny, cat, and fairy costumes. The very last pop-up reveals a frightened little hairy monster leaping into the safety of his father's arms because he finds these creatures way "too scary!" Young listeners will enjoy the drama of the pop-up pages and the anticipation of what is under the flaps. The humor of a fanged creature being afraid of cute little children instead of ghosts, witches, monsters, etc. will not be lost on little listeners. 2006, Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, $7.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-689-85050-6
ISBN: 978-0-689-85050-9
The Little Green Witch
Barbara Barbieri McGrath
Illustrations by Martha Alexander
The little green witch lives in a hollow tree with a ghost, a bat, and a gremlin. The little green witch does all the unhousework while her friends do nothing to help. When the little green witch finds pumpkin seeds, she takes care of planting them, watering them, and picking the pumpkins. She then carves them and bakes them into a pie all without help. When it comes time to eat the pie, however, the ghost, bat, and gremlin all want to help. The little green witch has other plans, though! This charming story is made all the more delicious by the little green witch doing what most people want to do in such a situation, rather than what they should do. Martha Alexander's illustrations are simply wonderful, from the vivid colors of the pumpkin patch to her detail of the interior of hollow tree. 2005, Charlesbridge, $14.95 and $6.95. Ages 3 up. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-58089-042-3
ISBN: 1-58089-153-5
ISBN: 978-1-58089-153-0
ISBN: 978-1-58089-042-7
Los Gatos Black on Halloween
Marisa Montes
Illustrations by Yuyi Morales
Marisa Montes describes the traditional images of Halloween in verse in this picture book. She describes black cats, jack-o-lanterns, witches, ghosts, and other monsters that come out at Halloween. However, for many key words, Montes substitutes Spanish (i.e. "Los Gatos Black" for "Black Cat"). This allows children to learn the words in context while reading an entertaining story about Halloween. All the monsters gather at Haunted Hall for their Halloween ball, until they are frightened away by the worst creatures ever: kids on Halloween! Each page has a four-line verse with one or two Spanish words substituted for English, enough to challenge a child, but not so much to make the lesson obvious. There is a glossary in the back as well. Yuyi Morales' illustrations convey lots of action and color in muted Halloween tones.
2006, Henry Holt and Company, $16.95. Ages 3 up. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8050-7429-5
ISBN: 978-0-8050-7429-1
Monster Halloween
Quentin
Surrounded by a border of tiger stripped "fur," this Halloween board book features a bevy of monsters (none too spooky for little people) engaged in the usual activities prompted by the night of trick-or-treat. The monsters enjoy dressing as pirates, princesses, firefighters, queens, and witches. The gigantic dog-creature is draped in a huge swath of white ghost-fabric but he is easily recognized. The group enjoys their version of bobbing for apples (one can expect the two headed beast to be the winner -- one head dressed as a wolf the other as "Little Red" complete with a basket of goodies on her arm). The text is two words per page and a good cadence is provided by the rhyming words: "Monster share, monster keep, monster moon, monster sleep." Youngsters will find this one slightly spooky and soothing at the same time - the fake fur is eminently "pet-able." The reassurance lies in the fact that even monsters are tired at the end of an exciting evening! 2006, HarperFestival/HarperCollins, $7.99. Ages 6 months to 3. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-083153-7
ISBN: 978-0-06-083153-0
Monster House: Dear Diary
Orli Zuravicky
Does every kid's movie generate spinoffs including early readers, games, chapter books, toys and more? I guess that is what merchandising is all about, but some items are truly uninspired. The premise is unusual--there is an evil house that eats kids. Can DJ and his friend Chowder stop it form gobbling up all the little Halloween trick-or-treaters. The solution seems a bit extreme and dangerous for any kid to consider. DJ, Chowder and Jenny led the monster house to a construction site and then blow it up with dynamite. Parents and teachers may want to think twice about this movie and the related book. Part of the "Read-To-Read" series-a Level 3 book. 2006, Simon Spiotlight/Simon & Schuster, Ages 6 to 8, $3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-4169-1820-5
ISBN: 978-1-4169-1820-2
The Mummy
Stephen Krensky
The cover may lead readers to think that this is a horror story, but it is actually a study of mummies from various cultures and circumstances (some are made by occurrences in nature and others are the result of human practices). Mummies have been found all over the world and some are over 5,000 years old. Chapter 2 discusses the fame and popularity of Egyptian mummies. They have gained the attention of authors and movie makers, perhaps, because so many of them that have survived the ravages of time and tomb robbers. Many Egyptian mummies were buried with great treasures and the necessities for a comfortable life in the "next" land. Krensky does discuss various attitudes toward death in different cultures. The pages with white print on black or very dark backgrounds are difficult to read. Some of the side bar information is presented in yellow letters, which is also hard to read, but more disturbing is the fact that at least one section is printed in almost the same size type face and confuses the reader's eye as to the order of the sequence of the text. While covering embalming, the author covers some Egyptian mythology and techniques of creating mummies. Every page shows actual photographs or drawings that make understanding the text easier. Many gristly details of mummification and the lore of mummies will appeal to anyone interested in mummy trivia - in Maine in the 1800's brown wrapping paper was made from mummy wrappings. Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) told in his book The Innocents Abroad that mummies were burned as fuel in the fireboxes of steam trains. Photographs from a number of mummy movies connect the lore to modern times and bring out the legends, curses, and threats associated with mummies. The back matter includes source notes, a selected bibliography, further reading and websites, Movie credits, an index, and photo acknowledgements. 2007, Lerner, $26.60. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8225-5924-2
ISBN: 978-0-8225-5924-5
Oh My, Pumpkin Pie!
Charles Ghigna
Illustrated by Kenneth Spengler
Beginning readers will learn about all the shapes and sizes of pumpkins in these rhymed couplets. "Pumpkins striped in shades of yellow. One looks like a large marshmallow!" Some go to the county fair and end up as pies, muffins and bread. Many become jack-o-lanterns on Halloween night. The text is a litany of the shapes, sizes, colors and uses of pumpkins and has a sing-song rhythm. A storyline is presented in the illustrations. They show happy, ethnically-diverse children visiting an Amish farm and selecting their pumpkins. Word repetition and short sentences are key parts of this "Step into reading. Step 2" series book. Despite the many exclamation points, this is really quite bland. 2005, Random House, $11.99 and $3.99. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-375-82945-8
ISBN: 0-375-92945-2
ISBN: 978-0-375-82945-1
ISBN: 978-0-375-92945-8
Omar's Halloween
Maryann Kovalski
Omar the bear is planning a Halloween party. The invitations are sent and his parents help him buy pumpkins, apples, decorations, and other goodies; but, Omar does not have a really scary costume for himself. At first he wants to be a scary spider but Elsie tells him that spiders are helpful creatures and eat bugs that harm farmers' crops. "Oh," "I didn't know that." Elsie suggests he should be a ghost. Omar does not want to be a ghost - not scary enough. So then he decides to be a bat; but, Thomas tells him that bats are great flyers and catch "nasty" bugs - bats are no longer scary either. Finally, in desperation, he accepts his mother's billowy sheet-ghost costume. As the costumed friends proceed around the village, everyone pronounces that Omar makes a "cute" ghost. He only wanted to be scary--NOT cute. Then a rain storm blows up and everyone scrambles to run to Omar's house (wonderfully decorated and awaiting the revelers). Omar trips on the trailing edges of his sheet and ends up falling into a sticker bush, dragging through a muddy gully, and becomes covered with leaves and twigs sticking out of the mud clinging to him. His arrival at his own home results in the shrieks of dismay and fright that Omar has aspired to the whole night long. "It was Omar's happiest Halloween." The illustrations are cheerful, brightly colored,--simply charming--and they nicely underline the action of the storyline. 2006, Fitzhenry & Whiteside, $19.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-55041-559-X
ISBN: 978-1-55041-559-9
Once Around the Sun
Bobbi Katz
Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Poetry begs for year-round reading and Once Around the Sun can help families extend word play beyond National Poetry Month. Each month gets its own poem bursting with fresh imagery. These delightful paeans to May's "secret song bags," September's "yellow pencils with brand-new eraser hats" and October's "orange sherbet sunsets" celebrate the pleasures of the season and the wonders of language. The simple free-verse form encourages emulation and the book may well inspire budding poets to craft their own hymns to January, December and months in between. Illustrations by LeUyen Pham depict a lively multicultural neighborhood and will have kids looking to their own streets and schools for creative ideas. 2006, Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum (Children's Literature).
The title should give one pause to think--what does go once around the sun? The cover which shows kids in summer, fall, and winter really is the clincher that this book is going to offer a series of poems that takes readers through the months, which in turn make up the seasons and thus the entire year. For those in the northern hemisphere, January can be a very cold month with snow and ice. The poem and its accompanying illustration show city kids enjoying an outing on their sleds and even though they are bundled up, there is still no doubt that it is quite cold. April is one of my favorite months because flowers are blooming, especially the bright yellow daffodils. They all harbor the coming of longer days and warmer weather. By August it is hot and thoughts turn to ways of getting some shade to cool off and then it will not be long until school starts in September. Halloween comes and the days start to get cooler and shorter and then before we know it is December and winter again. Katz and Pham take us on a lovely trip through the year with poems that highlight the things that kids care about in a book that is meant just for them. Teachers and librarians can help students enjoy the special things that each month brings by reading and sharing these poems. 2006, Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 5 to 10. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0152163972
ISBN: 9780152163976
Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin
Mary Serfozo
Illustrated by Valeria Petrone
Peter, a tiger digitally rendered in a furry line and bright contrasts of purple and orange, searches for the perfect pumpkin. Rhyming text has fun with the sounds of words including a few stretches for preschoolers ("Not some squat, lopsided pumpkin,/but a glossy lot of pumpkin"). When he finally chooses one, what will he do? Draw a face on it and with the help of his dad, carve a simply dimply, dumply face. While the pumpkin wins a prize at a county fair, it really doesn't need one. Isn't everyone's Halloween pumpkin a perfect jack-o-lantern? Young children will like the quiet story in this board book, the rolling words, and the friendly-faced tiger and his dad preparing for Halloween without any of the scary baggage that is so often present. 2006 (orig. 2001), Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, Ages 1 to 4, $12.95. Reviewer: Susan Hepler, Ph.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-689-86277-6
ISBN: 978-0-689-86277-9
Precious and the Boo Hag
Patricia C. McKissack, and Onawumi Jean Moss
Illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker
Onawumi Jean Moss is known for her skill as a storyteller, Patricia McKissack for her deep appreciation of African-American culture. Together they have created a story that honors both. Precious is home with a stomach ache, warned by her mama "don't let nothing and nobody in this house" because, as her big brother insists, it might be Pruella the Boo Hag. Pruella does try to get in with all sorts of guises, but Precious obeys her mama, overcoming her fears and surprising her brother with a combination of song and a little presence of mind. The story is perfect for a robust and enthusiastic read-aloud. The teasing older brother and the discovery of both fun and power in being a young girl alone are universal themes offered in an African-American context. Inside each frame of weathered, paint-chipped wood is a full-page illustration fashioned from fabric, paint, photograph and whimsy. The illustrations are beautifully original and like the book, just a whole lot of fun. 2005, Atheneum, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Karen Leggett (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2005 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 2006 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Books 2005: One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing, 2005 ; New York Public Library; United States
Choices, 2006 ; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, December 15, 2004 ; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2006 ; American Library Association-ALSC; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, January 3, 2005 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, March 2005 ; Cahners; United States
SLJ Best Books, 2005 ; Cahners; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
Charlotte Zolotow Award Honor Book 2006 United States
Emphasis on Reading Winner 2006 Grades K-1 Alabama
Irma S. and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature Honor Book 2005 United States
Parent's Choice Award Silver 2005 Picture Books United States
Storytelling World Awards Honor 2006 Stories for Young Listeners United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Emphasis on Reading, 2005-2006 ; Book List; Grades K-1; Alabama
Great Lakes Great Book Award, 2006-2007 ; Nominee; Grades K-1; Michigan
Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award, 2007 ; Nominee; Washington
ISBN: 0-689-85194-4
ISBN: 978-0-689-85194-0
Pumpkin Town!: (Or, Nothing Is Better and Worse Than Pumpkins)
Katie McKy
Illustrated by Pablo Bernasconi
What a fabulous assortment of pumpkins José and his family grow, from Jack-Be-Littles and Happy Jacks to the Big Moons "too large for five boys to roll." In the fall, after the pumpkins are trucked away, the family saves some seeds, "only the best," however. The rest they have always tossed over the edge of a field overlooking town. But one windy October day, the seeds are carried down into the town, onto thatched roofs and into gardens. Spring brings the shock of vines and the fruit that grow and grow, overwhelming the town. Seeing this from their mountain top, José and his brothers feel responsible. That night, they work until they have neatly collected all the vines and pumpkins. The pumpkins are sold for a lot of money. In gratitude, the townspeople give them five large, tasty watermelons, with seeds... Bernasconi uses a variety of found objects and bits of his own collaged original art to visualize the action in lively comic style. The pumpkin vines go about their climbing with esthetic delicacy, but there is nothing delicate about the huge piles of pumpkins they produce. The family are typical farm folk, with round head and eyes, odd noses, and flat faces, while the buildings of farm and town are loosely built shacks. The paper jacket depicts an immense wave of hovering pumpkins, but the completely different cover hints of the ending to come. 2006, Houghton Mifflin Company, $16.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-618-60569-X
ISBN: 978-0618-60569-9
Pumpkins
Ken Robbins
Fall is pumpkin time. Robbins sets the season in both words and illustrations. He begins "the story of the pumpkin" with the planting of the seed. We can see in his clear, carefully composed photographs how the plant grows, the flowers emerge, and the pumpkin grows and ripens, as well as the many sizes and colors of pumpkins there are. We are encouraged to go out into the fields, pick a pumpkin, and design a jack-o'-lantern, to be cut by an adult. After Halloween, the seeds from the pumpkin can be used to start again in the spring. The color photographs tell the simple story, from a close-up of a hand holding several seeds, to a double portrait of a red-jacketed youngster next to a huge pumpkin. A five-page sequence details the creation of a jack-o'-lantern. Robbins's esthetic sensibilities govern the details and design of each piece of the visual tale. The photographs change from detailed naturalism to spooky impressionism when they show Halloween night, while the ultra close-ups of the pumpkin tops and stem on the title page and back of the jacket/cover are powerful visual abstractions. 2006, A Neal Porter Book/Roaring Brook Press, $14.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz.
ISBN: 1-59643-184-9
ISBN: 978-1-59643-184-3
Scare the Moon
Harriet Ziefert
Illustrated by G. Brian Karas
Of all the special days for children, Halloween ranks close to the top for treats, delights, frights and other adventures. The idea of trick or treat and encountering ghosts, ghouls and goblins on All Hallows Eve is enough to enthrall any child. This delightful book will add to beginning reader's delight with this holiday. In this tale, a young witch and warlock partake in a booing contest. Through the smartly illustrated pages of this lift the flap book, they scare whatever they encounter--a rat, a ghost, and a house, to name some of them. The winner is the one who scares the moon. But alas, as each victim is frightened, the moon merely laughs at its ostensible pranksters. Finally, at the end of the book, the witch and warlock team-up for one terrifically thunderous boo, which scares the moon seemingly right out of the sky. Teamwork prevails to make this Halloween-themed book a winner and a sure hit with young trick or treaters. 2004, Sterling Publishing Co, $9.95. Ages 3 to 5. Reviewer: Bruce Adelson, J.D. (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1402717024
ISBN: 9781402717024
Trick or Treat
Melissa Arps
Illustrated by Hector Borlasca
Die-cut in the shape of a pumpkin, this board book has a twisted fiber handle for little hands to grasp. The little boy, dressed in a sheriff's costume, is being followed by a variety of creatures associated with Halloween, all of whom want some of the candy he has collected in his plastic pumpkin basket. He shares with each but cannot figure out how they have found their way to his candy when he discovers that his pumpkin has a "leak" leaving a candy trail that the "monsters" have followed. He does not despair at the loss of his candy because he has a secret hiding place - under his ten-gallon hat! Cute and sweet with a jolly bit of spookiness, this title would be perfect for little ones craving "scary" Halloween stories. The rhyme scheme makes it easy to read aloud. 2006, Random House, $3.99. Ages 1 to 3. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-375-87490-0
ISBN: 978-0-375-87490-1
Wanda the Witch and the Stray Dragon
Rose Impey
Illustrated Katharine McEwen
Wanda desperately wants a pet but her mother, Witchy Witch, says that Cat-a-bogus (Witchy's magic cat who thinks he is the boss of the house), Victor (the old vulture), and Eric (the unfriendly spider) are enough for their family. When a tiny dragon shows up Wanda falls in love with him immediately. Her parents try to convince her to give Dido to a dragon-rescue league but even they cannot leave him in a small cage. So they tell Wanda that she can keep him until he starts to grow too big. Things go along quite well until the day that Dido grows too big to even ride on Wanda's broom. Wanda is desperate to run away and stay with Dido. Cat-a-bogus foils the plan and realizes that Dido is a great help around the house doing many of Cat-a-bogus' chores. So he helps Wanda make a spell to keep Dido small forever. All ends well. The colorful illustrations will be appealing to early readers, who will find the vocabulary suitable for success. The pictures support the text nicely and provide reinforcing picture clues for less confident readers. Part of the "Wanda Witch Scholastic Reader" series, this book is a level 3 reader and was originally published as Titchy Witch and the Stray Dragon in the UK. 2003, Scholastic, $3.99. Ages 4 to 7. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-78452-2
ISBN: 978-0-439-78452-8
Wanda Witch and Too Many Frogs
Rose Impey
Illustrated by Katharine McEwen
In this outing, Wanda is unhappy with school; having gotten in trouble with her teacher, Miss Foulbreath, for giving red spots to the goblin who had "poked her." She has to write on the blackboard "I will not do magic at school." At home she tells Cat-a-bogus, the household's magic cat, that she does not need to go back to school anymore. The cat wisely tells her that she needs to know how to read well in order to do spells without causing problems. Of course, Wanda decides that doing spells is "easy-breezy" and pulls down her mother's big book of spells. She can read some but mixing up words in a spell, even just a little bit, causes big problems. Readers will know that Wanda mistakes "bee sting" for "bee's wing" and "lizard's egg" for "lizard's leg." Her efforts to turn Victor the vulture into a "frog ... I mean a prince..." go awry and suddenly there are lots and lots frogs. All the commotion awakens the napping Cat-a-bogus, who comes to the rescue by making a spell to get rid of the frogs - at least most of them. As Mom and Dad say good-night to Wanda they inquire about her school day. She smiles and replies "I think it will be better tomorrow." Wanda is reading a book of spells and is on the page (shown upside down to the reader on Wanda's lap) "How to turn a goblin into a worm."
Early readers will not miss the moral and will find it funny that Wanda will practice her reading skills in order to learn how to "get even" with the goblin at school. Teachers will have to discuss revenge and its ramifications! This title is part of the "Wanda Witch Scholastic Reader" series level 3 and was originally published in the UK as Titchy Witch and the Frog Fiasco. The back matter includes a "Fluency Fun" page with vocabulary practices and a note to parents. 2003, Scholastic, $3.99. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-78451-4
ISBN: 978-0-439-78451-1
Where Is Baby's Pumpkin?
Karen Katz
Once again the Katz has created a sure-fire hit for little ones, this time the theme is Halloween. Dressed in a velvety (tactile stimulation) black cat suit, baby is hunting for her missing pumpkin. Each page has a sturdy flap to peek under - "Is it under the leaves?" Beneath the pile of bright fall leaves she discovers a black cat (compare to the costume she is wearing herself). Behind the curtain is a friendly ghost, happy bats hide in the closet (double doors open on this spread), hidden by bowls on the table are candy apples, and under the bed is a pointy hat. Finally, Baby opens the door to the outside and discovers her special pumpkin on the porch and heads out to go trick-or-treating with her not-so-spooky friends. Perfect to introduce Halloween to the youngest listeners - sturdy enough to survive multiple readings (and much handling) - this will make a great "treat." 2006, Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, $6.99. Ages 6 months to 4. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-4169-0970-2
ISBN: 978-1-4169-0970-5
Wanda Witch and the Wobbly Fang
Rose Impey
Illustrated by Katharine McEwen
Like most kids with a loose tooth, Wanda wants it to come out. Since she is a witch, she has fangs and she also casts a spell that makes all of her fangs call out. Her mother has told her that the Fang Fairy will leave a present to replace a fang. Cat-aBogus finds out what Wand has done when she has trouble eating the delicious tea of termites on toast. He then casts a spell to return her fangs-all but the wobbly one which is really now out of her gum for good. Wanda does indeed get a nice surprise form the Fang Fairy. A not too scary book featuring a strange family of witches and their familiars. A Level 3 reader in the "Scholastic Reader" series. 2006 (orig. 2003), Cartwheel/Scholastic, Ages 5 to 7, $3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-439-78450-6
ISBN: 978-0-439-78450-4
For reviews Halloween book from features for previous years, click on the following links:
2005
2004
2003
2002
1999.
Updated 9/28/06
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