Halloween, 2004

   The following reviews were presented in our 2004 Halloween feature.

Reviews

An I Can Read Halloween Treat: Three Books for Beginning Readers!
   Three of this publisher's most popular Halloween titles have been packaged together: Arthur's Halloween Costume by Lillian Hoban (1984), In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories retold by Alvin Schwartz (1984), and A Know-Nothing Halloween by Michele Sobel Spirn (2000). Hoban's chimpanzee, Arthur, is having a difficult time deciding on his costume. No store bought costumes for him. Instead, Arthur goes searching through the trash can to see what he can use. Schwartz, a folklorist, includes six tales and a poem that over the years have become some of the most popular among children. Spirn provides loads of slapstick humor in her "noodlehead" story starring four best friends: Boris, Morris, Doris and Norris. Spirn's silly humor, Schwartz's spookiness and Hoban's universal dilemma are just right for second graders. All three books were well-received when they were first published. Each is a Level 2 Reading With Help "I can Read Book." 2004, HarperTrophy/ HarperCollins, Ages 6 to 8, $11.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-06-054237-3

Annie Was Warned
Jarrett J. Krosoczka
   Brave Annie is determined to go to the "creepy old Montgomery mansion" on Halloween night. As she set out with her flashlight, she "wasn't afraid of anything." But as she walked along, there were some peculiarities. When she crossed the churchyard, she felt something tickle the back of her neck. She was relieved to discover it was only the leaves falling from the trees. When she arrived at the mansion, a sign on the door told her not to open it. She did. Inside were all her friends in costume scaring her and surprising her with a birthday party. Children whose birthdays are on Halloween will enjoy this just spooky enough story. Annie's flashlight is used effectively throughout the illustrations. A sense of the wind blowing, the peculiar perspectives and the dark colors give it an eerie look. 2003, Knopf, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-375-81567-8

Biscuit Visits the Pumpkin Patch
Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Pictures by Pat Shories
   Shades of orange, pumpkins and fall leaves let readers know that this board book might be appropriate for autumn and of course Halloween. Biscuit and his mistress are off to the pumpkin patch. They have a great variety of shapes and sizes to choose from, but they eventually fill their wagon with selections to carve and paint and perhaps use for pumpkin pie. While at the patch, they run into Puddles, the kitten and another new friend a rabbit. The sturdy board book has a slight story, just a recap of an outing with little if no tension. Appropriate for kids who may be getting ready for such an outing, but keep in mind that pets are usually not part of the scene. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 6 mo to 2, $4.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-06-009466-4

Black Cat
Salina Yoon
   The best feature of this small board book is the soft way it introduces the youngest children to Halloween--literally and figuratively. The cover is a puffy plush black cat, complete with an embroidered moon and green eyes. The cartoon drawings include witches and ghosts, skeletons and mummies, bats and spiders, but all in bright colorful drawings that are filled with smiles. The short verse is not memorable but adds to the notion of a familiar holiday: "Mummy's cookies and witch's brew are ghoulish treats made just for you." The entire package makes all the things that can be scary about Halloween seem quite fun and silly instead. 2004, Little Simon:/Simon & Schuster, Ages 6 mo. to 3, $5.99. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 0-689-85393-9

Boo!
Robert Munsch
Illustrated by Michael Martchenko
   Once again, Robert Munsch has written a book that will make readers ponder the unlikely, delve into the extreme, and revel in the ridiculous. Lance is a young boy determined to paint his face for Halloween in such a way that his father will fall over in fright. His first attempt is unsuccessful; the painted face with "worms coming out of his hair, ants crawling on his cheeks, and snakes coming out of his mouth" is not enough. However, upon revealing his revised design, the response is magical. His parents fall down flat as they see "green brains coming out the side of his head, one eye falling down over his face, and orange goop coming out of his nose." Lance makes his way out into the neighborhood for some candy only to find that his astonishing paint job has similar effects on his neighbors. Because they are incapable of handing out the treats, Lance is forced to help himself. The story continues as every child's dream comes true; Lance gets all the candy he wants! The illustrations are full of expression, action, and suspense as Lance walks about his neighborhood under a sheet, reveals his face, and watches people flee in fright. Readers will love this wild tale and teachers will appreciate the many springboards for creative responses it offers. 2004, Scholastic Inc, Ages 4 to 10, $3.99. Reviewer: Andrea Sears Andrews
ISBN: 0-439-62331-6

Edgar Allan Poe's Tales of Mystery and Madness
Illustrations by Gris Grimly
   No one writes of the macabre in a more chilling vein than Edgar Allan Poe. These four selections, slightly abridged, include The Black Cat, The Masque of the Red Death, Hop Frog, and the essential Poe, the Fall of the House of Usher. Each may be abbreviated in length but each retains the essential intricate language, the chilling details, and the grotesque plots so terrifyingly penned by Poe. What sets this book apart from other Poe collections is its accessibility to those in middle school and its ghoulish and cadaverous illustration. The aptly named Gris Grimly renders these in pen and ink with watercolor. His style is reminiscent of Edward Gorey and he makes use of borders, and marginal drawings as well as full page illustrations to not only break up the ponderous text but to create the visual nightmares suggested by Poe's words. This is a fine introduction to the master of the gruesome. Better get several copies. This one won't be a shelf-sitter. 2004, Atheneum, Ages 12 to 14, $17.95. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey
ISBN: 0-689-84837-4

The Fierce Yellow Pumpkin
Margaret Wise Brown
Illustrations by Richard Egielski
   This never before published story by one of the country's most endearing authors will indeed be a welcome addition to the Fall/Halloween season in any home or library. Though it's not frightening to readers it is terrifying to any mice that might be in your audience. A small, sweet, little apple-sized yellow pumpkin wishes to be a big fierce pumpkin - as fierce as the hot sun that bakes down upon it, and would scare the field mice away. Soon thereafter the sun was not as fierce and something in the air tingled the pumpkins sides. The pumpkin notices it is not small and yellow, but the color of the hot burning sun - a fiery orange-yellow. Surely the pumpkin is frightening to mice now. Some children are not afraid; in fact they think the pumpkin is their most perfect, terrific, terrible pumpkin. Will the pumpkin be the fierce pumpkin it wants to be? At night, after the children have cleaned out the pumpkin and carved a ferocious face, the pumpkin is placed on their porch with a lighted candle inside so everyone can see how fierce - yet how happy - a pumpkin can be. The colors are brilliant, adding intensity on each page from the somber mellow hues of a hot, sultry, summer day to crisp, bright, frisky autumnal shades. The illustrations alone are exuberant and can relate a story of their own. This is one that will be hard to keep on the shelves, at least for one season! 2003, HarperCollins Publishers, Ages 3 to 6, $15.99. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young
ISBN: 0-06-024479-8
ISBN: 0-06-024481-X

Franklin's Pumpkin
Sharon Jennings
   All of Franklin's friends are growing fruits and vegetables to get ready for the fair. Beaver is saving his cherries to make the best cherry pie, bear was tending his blueberry bushes and Franklin told both of them that he wanted a piece of the pies. At home he found that the birds had finished off his raspberries, the apples were all wormy and his sister had polished off the strawberries. Franklin is a little discouraged until he finds a pumpkin that he carefully tends. He is going to make a winning pumpkin pie, but alas he learns that big pumpkins don't make the best pies. Undaunted, he decides to try and win a blue ribbon for the biggest pumpkin until he learns that pumpkins are not part of the contest. Harriet wants to win a prize for her costume and she goes dressed as a princess and so did a lot of other little ladies. The best part of the story is how Franklin saves the day and helps his sister win a prize, and as befitting his generosity and cleverness Franklin also gets to enjoy his friends pies. The book is not specifically focused on Halloween, but since pumpkins are such a part of the holiday and the fall season, it would be an appropriate book for that time of year. A level 2 book in the "Kids Can Read" series aimed at those reading with help. 2004, Kids Can Press, Ages 5 to 7, $3.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 1-55337-495-9
ISBN: 1-55337-496-7

From Seed to Pumpkin
Wendy Pfeffer
Illustrated by James Graham Hale
   Pumpkins always make me think of Halloween and Thanksgiving. One for the jack-o'-lanterns and two for the delicious pies. Pfeffer takes kids through the cycle of how the bright orange vegetable comes to be. It all starts in the spring when the farmer plants the seeds. The water and nutrients in the soil help the plant that tiny sprouts from the seeds grow bigger and push their way up out of the soil. The roots draw up the water while the leaves make food for the plant using energy from the sun air and water. Pumpkins hug the ground and the vines spread like a carpet. Then bright orange flowers appear. After pollination the fruit begins to grow and by fall pumpkins have gone from green to yellow to orange. Then they are harvested and used for decoration and as a food source. Even the seeds make a tasty treat. At the end of the book there is more information, a recipe and an experiment. The growth process is clearly described and depicted and will make a nice adjunct to a beginning science collection and also a perfect book for the fall. A Level 1 book in the "Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science" series. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-06-028038-7
ISBN: 0-06-028039-5
ISBN: 0-06-445190-9

Halloween
Jennifer Blizin Gillis
   A topic that all children enjoy is Halloween. Once they are old enough to understand the fun in dressing up and collecting treats, Halloween is a holiday much anticipated. With colorful photographs on each page and a cohesive text, this book is one that will have great appeal. After stating and showing readers the Halloween they know and love, the text explains the roots of this holiday and how it evolved over thousands of years. Kids may be amazed to learn about "lantern men" and how these lost spirits carried a light inside a turnip to help them find their way. And they may marvel that candy was not always given out! Readers will also learn how witches and black cats came to be associated with Halloween. Americans have put their own personal stamp on this holiday, which has elements from the Celtic and Roman traditions. A glossary, date line, and recommendations for additional reading are provided at the back of this book, which is a title in the publisher's "Holiday Histories" series. 2003, Heinemann Library, Ages 5 to 8, $22.79. Reviewer: Jeanne K. Pettenati
ISBN: 1-4034-3506-5
ISBN: 1-4034-3691-6

Halloween Alphabet
Beverly Barras Vidrine
Illustrations by Alison Davis Lyne
   The alphabet is used as the device for a basic introduction to Halloween. A brief history and a variety of symbols associated with the holiday are presented ranging from Apples to a child in a Zorro costume with an eclectic alphabetical assortment in the middle. After a brief foreword about the Celtic harvest celebration, each letter is presented in uppercase, appearing rounded and slightly abstracted with the object it represents incorporated into it. For example, two bats in different positions appear in the orange letter B and also in the background on the page, accompanied by the text: "B is for bat...This creature of the night really scared people of long ago." This is worthy attempt to combine historical information with contemporary activities in an engaging fashion. The format, however, makes the book appear to be appropriate for younger children than are likely to grasp the concepts introduced. 2004, Pelican Publishing, Ages 5 to 9, $ 7.95. Reviewer: Maria Salvadore
ISBN: 1-58980-242-X

The Halloween Cat
Christine Ricci
Illustrated by Zina Saunders
   Dora and her friend, Boots, agree to help a lost black cat return home in time for the Halloween party. Viewers familiar with the "Dora the Explorer" television show will recognize the pattern to this story. With the help of Map, Dora and Boots escort the cat to the haunted house, through the spooky forest and on to the good witch's candy castle. This is #6 in the "Ready-To-Read" Level 1 series. Rebuses are found in each short sentence and will give pre-readers an opportunity to participate with their parents in the reading of this book. While there are a few difficult words, there is plenty of repetition. Readers will identify with Dora in her dinosaur costume and will discover clues to the text in the illustrations. 2004, Simon Spotlight/ Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 6, $3.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-689-86799-9

Halloween Night on Shivermore Street
Pam Pollack and Meg Belviso
   An appealing trio of adventurous, costumed kids jumps out of a pumpkin on the cover to cavort through the pages of this Halloween party in a haunted house. The witches and goblins partying inside might be frightening were it not for this grinning, frolicking threesome. After each new party activity, a new hour chimes on the clock until "the moon's pea green. It's Halloween--and time for the clock to strike thirteen!" And indeed it does. "YIKES!" shout all the partiers with fantastic looks of bug-eyed amazement at a grandfather clock chiming thirteen. The rhyming story of the events on Shivermore Street flows easily in this perfect Halloween read-aloud. The illustrations are filled with detail, wonderfully colored, a tiny bit scary and very often funny. The sky is a perfect midnight blue around that pea green moon. It's a holiday book that a teacher or family would look forward to bringing out year after year. 2004, Chronicle, Ages 5 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 0-8118-3946-X

Happy Haunting, Amelia Bedelia
Herman Parish
Illustrated by Lynn Sweat
   The hapless Ameila Bedelia tries to help Mr. and Mrs. Rogers prepare for a Halloween party at their house. She "cracks the window," puts "a leaf or two" in the table, and stumbles over "witch/which" directions. But the party is a huge success, and Amelia wins the best costume award after tricking Mr. Rogers and not coming as the ghost he had predicted. Readers are treated to plenty of ideas for party food or for punny costumes ("I'm all eyes" says a child decked out in flashing eyes) and, as usual, the kindly Amelia Bedelia prevails although this time, it's without the usual sweet treat, but instead a wormy trick. Fans won't be disappointed by this volume, a part of the series written by Peggy Parish's nephew in the tradition of his aunt. 2004, Greenwillow, Ages 4 to 8, $16.89. Reviewer: Susan Hepler
ISBN: 0-06-051893-6
ISBN: 0-06-051894-4

The Haunting of Alaizabel Cray
Chris Wooding
   The gothic story of Alaizabel Cray's haunting will continue to haunt its readers long after the book has been read. Set in a rather Dickensian alternative London, this is the story of 17-year-old Thaniel Fox, a wych-hunter, who must solve the puzzle of what is haunting Alaizabel Cray, in order to figure out how to prevent the forces of evil from taking over his world. He knows that if he doesn't get to the heart of what's happening, no one will. It is a big task for the young man, but he has inherited his father's skills and reputation as the most-talented wych-hunter. Although Thaniel is brilliant at his trade and he pursues the wych-kin with dedication and intensity, the evil spirits are becoming stronger and stronger. The wych-kin, created from the material of Londoners' worst nightmares, were set loose when Prussians bombed the city south of the Thames into rubble. They are creating havoc all over the city and the situation keeps getting worse. Overcoming them seems almost impossible. Thaniel gathers an unlikely bunch of allies and commandeers an airship to get to the center of things, but the odds are against him in this exciting story whose dramatic conclusion will leave readers with much to ponder. Mr. Wooding, who lives in London, has sixteen books and several short stories in print. The 27-year-old author was commissioned to write a screen play for this book that has won the Silver Award of the Nestle Smarties Prize and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal. 2004 (orig. 2001) Orchard Books/Scholastic Inc, Ages 12 to Adult, $16.95. Reviewer: Janet Crane Barley
ISBN: 0-439-54656-7

Heir of Mystery: The Second Unlikely Exploit
Ardagh, Philip
Illustrated by David Roberts
   Young Fergal McNally died in the First Unlikely Exploit. In this second, his preserved brain has been stolen and spirited away to Fishbone Forest and the laboratory of the terrifying Mr. Maggs. Although no one has been known to return once entering the Forest, Fergal's spunky siblings follow the trail and their instincts and enter the Forest on a dark and stormy night. The story has several twists and turns, along with significant backtracking to fill in readers who have not read the first book. There are several really unusual characters, but none more so that Mr. Maggs, the teddy bear clutching "scientist" who is trying to bring Cary Grant back to life. Other characters are more humorous that scary. The authorial asides a la Lemony Snickett, the winding trail, and the awkward way of bringing readers up to speed may deter some readers. Others will be drawn in by the humorous science fiction and Roberts' menacing black and white drawings. 2004, Henry Holt and Company, Ages 9 to 12, $9.95. Reviewer: Peg Glisson
ISBN: 0-8050-7477-5

Here They Come
David Costello
   The delightful illustrations bring an instant grin in this book about the Halloween night gathering of various ghoulies and ghosties. The little green skinned, long-tailed, pointy toothed creatures gather on their mother's lap to hear her say, ' "You children are in for a treat A good scare can knock you right flat off your feet and make your eyes pop and your heart beat like thunder." She says that it's fun, but we do have to wonder.' The rhythm makes this a fun and easy read aloud "Here come some hopping hobgoblins hobnobbing, with pumpkins for carving and apples for bobbing." ok, not so easy, try saying that line quickly three times, but still fun. The various creatures tell sing, dance, bob for apples until "....and then comes the call: HERE COME THE SCARIEST CREATURES OF ALL!" We are then treated to four wordless spreads (both pages) of illustrations, showing theghoulies et al putting out the fire, hiding all signs of their activities, then hiding in the bushes and behind trees. On the third spread we see a parade of these frightening beasts, children dressed in costumes walking through the forest as the creatures WE think are scary are cowering in fright. The last spread has them coming out slowly as they make sure the children are gone and the book finishes with, "That was a fun scare-our mother was right. See you next year on Halloween night!" 2004, Farrar Straus and Giroux, Ages 3 to 6, $15.00. Reviewer: Sharon Levine
ISBN: 0-374-33051-4

Hunters of the Dark
Darren Shan
   Things are really heating up in this novel, the seventh installment in Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freak series. Darren Shan--the character shares his name with the author of the series--is a half vampire, and now one of only five Vampire Princes in the world. Vampires are six years into "The War of Scars," against their blue-veined cousins, the vampaneze. Vampeneze are creatures that, unlike vampires, kill their victims after they feed on them. The powerful yet shady Mr. Tiny has prophesied that Darren and two of his brethren will have four chances to kill the Lord of the Vampeneze. Darren, together with his mentor, Mr. Crepsley, and another Vampire Prince, Vancha March, set out on a mission to hunt down and destroy the vampaneze. First, they visit a powerful witch named Lady Evanna, who sometimes provides aid to vampires but more often refused to take sides in the war. Darren is briefly reunited with his friends at the Cirque Du Freak, but soon is engaged in deadly combat with the enemy. Well-paced and smoothly flowing, Darren Shan has crafted another finely wrought effort in the bestselling "Saga of Darren Shan." 2004 (orig. 2002), Little Brown and Company, Ages 10 to 14, $15.95. Reviewer: Christopher Moning
ISBN: 0-316-60596-4

Jeoffry's Halloween
Mary Bryant Bailey
Illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles
   Just as the sights and sounds of night can frighten a child, so too, do they concern Jeoffry the cat. In a rhyming text, and through Jeoffry's eyes, the reader wanders through the pumpkin patch, the bog, and the hillside. The frightened dog returns home but curiosity keeps Jeoffry following the witch and the goblin until they lose their flashlight. He then leads them out of the forest and discovers they are children. Here is one cat who has had his fill of the creepiness of Halloween night. Jeoffry is glad to be home where "a mouse is just a mouse,/ where cream is cream, fish is fish,/ a dog's a dog, a dish a dish." Soft, muted colors with foggy swirls enhance the spooky tone of the text. Interesting perspectives, expressive faces and the cat's body language make each page interesting and encourage the reader to keep turning the pages. Occasionally the rhyme is forced, but overall it works and tells the story. The cover is eye-catching with the cat in a gold witch's hat, his hound dog friend behind him and a bat flying above. A good additional title for Halloween. 2003, Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 4 to 7, $16.00. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-374-33677-6

Junie B., First Grader--Boo...and I Mean It!
Barbara Park
   Halloween becomes a bigger holiday every year, but what if the thought of monsters and witches just makes you scared? Join Junie B., whose hilarious antics and conversation make it okay for any little kid to be scared by a holiday that is supposed to be enchanting. Junie B. solves the problem by talking to her stuffed animals and dressing up as a clown who is supposed to tease the monsters and scare them back. In this case the only one who is scared is Junie B.'s dad, who returns from a business trip to find her asleep in bed wearing all her clown make-up. This chapter book is a perfect read-aloud in families or classrooms both because of the sensitive, realistic way it deals with common childhood fears but also because there are so many lines that will make both adults and children giggle or grin: "Me and Philip Johnny Bob (a stuffed elephant) took a real nap. It was an accident. 'Cause both of us are too old for naps. But sometimes naps just happen." And then there is the etiquette of Halloween: "I got raisins. And a pencil. And a box of trail mix. I said thank you to all of those people. 'This is the fibbingest day of my life,' I told my mother." Junie B.--and Barbara Park--are at their funny best once again. 2004, Random House, Ages 4 to 8, $11.95. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 0-375-82806-0

King o' the Cats
Aaron Shepard
Illustrated by Kristin Sorra
    Telling wild stories can get a person in a lot of trouble. And so young Peter Black found himself working at the last job he would find in his town. He was the sexton of a church, and Father Allen told him that the wild stories would have to stop. However, one night when Peter couldn't sleep, he saw the lights on in the church. Much to his amazement, the church pews were filled with cats. He watched as a cat in bishop's robes placed a gold crown on a kneeling cat's head. He tried to tell Father Allen the next day, and thought he saw Father Allen's black cat listening intently. Of course, Father thought it was another of his wild stories. But the next night, another amazing sight occurred and this time, Father Allen believed him. Shepard has expanded the traditional British "King o' the Cats" in a retelling that adds marvelous detail and expands the story without losing the flavor or the storyline of the original. Sorra's illustrations, with their slightly off-kilter geometric shapes are perfectly suited. Midnight in a graveyard, black cats and shadows make this a fine choice for Halloween or anytime throughout the year when a good, spooky tale is warranted. 2004, Atheneum Books For Young Readers, Ages 5 to 9, $16.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-689-82082-8

Moonlight the Halloween Cat
Cynthia Rylant
Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
   Come follow this black cat as she wanders through town and enjoys her favorite evening of the year. Smiling pumpkins, the comfortable lap of a man made of straw, children in costumes, a full moon, and wild animals such as owls and raccoons are all welcome sights. The oversize book with its lush colors make this a Halloween treat. One double-page spread shows a street of houses with witches, a princess, a bee and others going door-to-door for trick-or-treat while another shows the cat from the back perched on a branch and looking at a huge moon ("yellow and wide"). It is perfect for preschool storyhour and for parents who are introducing their young children to this holiday. It is positive and upbeat, focusing on the light side and leaving out the spooky. The text is short and simple, yet expressive. "Pumpkins smile at her. Straw laps welcome her." This will be very popular with the preschool set. 2003, HarperCollins, Ages 2 to 5, $14.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-06-029711-5

Monsters Party All Night Long
Adam J.B.Lane
   Count Dracula has decided the only way to soften up his image is to hold a party and invite everyone to his castle. A mummy with a chain drooped at his waist spins and scratches the records on his turntables, a werewolf with a hairy chest dances under a disco ball, zombies flaunt clothes by "Christian Die-or" and "Ghoulvin Klein." The menu will appeal to young boys' delight at gross images: earwax chips and toenail tips. The rhyme is adequate and concludes with a moral ("Great wealth and fame just aren't the same/If they can't be shared with friends"). The illustrations truly make the book. They Photographs of imaginative, three-dimensional characters are often framed in gilded macaroni, dance floor lights, black roses or rocks, and include several spooky renditions of famous paintings by Toulouse Lautrec, Munch and Mondrian. Youngsters might enjoy imagining their own creatures after seeing what jumps out of Adam Lane's pages. 2004, Chronicle Books, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 0-8118-4304-1

Mouse's Halloween Party
Jeanne Modesitt
Illustrated by Robin Spowart
   The day before Halloween, Mouse joyfully dons his new costume and asks Mother Mouse if he can have a Halloween party. When Mother agrees, Mouse sets out to invite his friends Hedgehog, Squirrel, Bunny, Mole and Pig. His invitations are all readily accepted until he gets to Pig, who bursts into tears upon hearing of the party. Mouse discovers that Pig was planning her own Halloween party for their friends. A saddened Mouse heads to the swings and there he hits upon an idea. He and Pig can throw a joint Halloween party at the park. The last wordless spread shows Mouse, Pig and all their friends enjoying the party in the park. A sweet story of friendship, caring and compromise, this book covers a lot of ground with a very simple story. Included at the end are directions for two games for Halloween parties. Spowart's soft and simple crayon-like illustrations are perfect for the gentle tone of the book. 2004, Boyds Mills Press, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Sharon Oliver
ISBN: 1-56397-950-0

Mrs. McMurphy's Pumpkin
Rick Walton
Illustrations by Delana Bettoli
   This is a warm and friendly Halloween story with no witches or ghosts and only the tiniest bit of suspense. Mrs. McMurphy is a kind, sweet farmwoman who is very much in charge of her animals--and her pumpkins. One pumpkin appears each day with one more addition to his face (and it's worth noting how expressive the pumpkin can be with nothing more than a change in the line of his mouth). This pumpkin promises to eat Mrs. McMurphy as soon as he has teeth, but she has other plans. Mrs. McMurphy firmly sends the pumpkin to the porch, then the shed, then floating down the river and even in a package to the North Pole. When the pumpkin finally shows up with a mouthful of carefully carved teeth, Mrs. McMurphy turns it into warm, sweet pumpkin pie for her trick or treaters. The illustrations are reminiscent of Pennsylvania Dutch folk art with warm fall colors, flat farm paintings and delicate borders of pumpkin blossoms. The story would be fun to read aloud, with children predicting what might happen or creating their own conclusions. It's a perfect example of creating a story with a new twist for a popular holiday that has already generated thousands of books. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 7, $8.99. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 0-06-053409-5

My Halloween Sound Book
   The six pages of this half toy, half book for very young children has a round push button in the lower corner that issues five different sounds connected with Halloween-a scream, something that might be an animal hissing or growling, children yelling "trick or treat", a cat's meow and a spooky organ intro. The text is minimal, sometimes declarative, sometimes poetic, nothing memorable. The illustrations are photographs: an arched cat, jumping toads, a scarecrow, two children in costumes and a table set for a Halloween. These are enhanced with small bits of artwork including spiders and webs, bats and stars, ghosts holding hands and a witch on a broom crossing the moon. The large pumpkin on the cover notwithstanding, the whole is not equal to the sum of its parts. 2004, Kingfisher, Ages 2 to 4, $7.95 Reviewer: Eleanor Heldrich
ISBN: 0-7534-5739-X

Mystery and Terror: The Story of Edgar Allan Poe
William Schoell
   Draped in the mysteries of his life and works, Edgar Allan Poe has for generations been an enigmatic figure. Here is a clearer picture of Poe's life and psyche. Abandoned at six months by his father and orphaned before he was two, Edgar was taken in by the Allan family of Virginia. The battle of wills between John Allan, the man who would never adopt him, and Edgar, who would never conform to a bourgeois career, left its mark upon the sensitive writer. Edgar's search for a family, his struggles for financial stability, and the early death of key women in his life added to his torment. He was drawn to the abnormal psyche and to alcohol which caused him to self-destruct. In spite of these problems--or perhaps because of them--in a short forty years Poe turned out an impressive amount of writings. Caustic reviews made him infamous in his day, but his literary criticism, poems, short stories, and novellas made him famous after death. His works launched a new kind of gothic horror, the science fiction genre, and the mystery story. A young adult should find Poe's antagonistic and romantic nature of special interest but may also come to recognize the discipline that underpinned his writing success. A number of photos and portraits of Poe, his friends, and his adversaries are included. Lists of Poe's major works, timeline of his life, sources, bibliography, and index are included. 2004, Morgan Reynolds Publishing, Ages 12 to 18, $21.95. Reviewer: Carol Raker Collins, Ph.D.
ISBN: 1-931798-39-7

One Dark and Dreadful Night
Randy Cecil
   Maestro Von Haughty is attempting to put on a depressing night of theatre with the Wayward Orphans' Theatre Company. The first tale 'A Wolf in the Woods of Woe' is supposed to be Little Red Riding Hood, but the actress is less than cooperative. In the illustrations, she has little asides such as "Do you thing we can talk wardrobe into doing something about this outfit?" or when the narrator says "...and all the sharp pointy things grew sharper and pointier." she says, "Excuse me. The sharp pointy things are briars and brambles." She finally rebels at the end of the story, refuses to be eaten by the wolf and changes into a fairy princess with wings. The other two stories, The Beans of Doom (Jack and the Beanstalk) and Lost in Foggy Forest (Hansel and Gretel), hilariously break down in the same way. The children in the theatre company rebel, rewrite the stories the way they want them to be and finish with "A western with a giant bunny and kittens and butterflies." Children will love the fun and creative way that the production is hijacked from the grownup and turned into a child driven creation. 2004, Henry Holt and Company, Ages 5 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Sharon Levine
ISBN: 0-8050-6779-5

Pumpkin Time
Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
Illustrated by Christopher Santoro
   The Cat family: mother, father, child and baby go to the pumpkin patch and select just the right ones. They carve them and then all dress up for trick-or-treating. This simple introduction to Halloween, without any scary features, is just right for the toddler crowd. The happy faces on the anthropomorphic cats shows what fun they are having. The text describes the autumn events in uneven rhyme. Some lines read fluently, while others trip with too many syllables and lines that have no rhymed couplet. Just ordinary. 2004, HarperFestival/ HarperCollins, Ages 2 to 3, $5.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-06-053788-4

The Ragwitch
Garth Nix
   Julia felt compelled to unwrap the strange, doll-like object, and as she did she became a captive of the Ragwitch. Paul, her mild mannered younger brother who always looked to his sister for leadership is really torn. He knows that Julia needs his help, but does he have the courage to face the Ragwitch and her evil forces. It is a heartstopping good versus evil struggle with a variety of people and hideous creatures. One aspect that sets Garth's story above the rest is his multiple perspectives-the story as told through the eyes of Paul, the Ragwitch and Julia and Julia's struggle to keep her own persona against a monstrous evil. Readers will race through this one and feel gratified at the end, but wanting to know more about many of the characters-a sequel seems to be in order. If you haven't already read the "Abhorsen" trilogy by the same author, it should be next on your list after reading this book. 2004 (orig. 1990), Eos/HarperCollins Ages 12 up, $6.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-06-050807-8

Sixteen Runaway Pumpkins
Dianne Ochiltree
Illustrated by Anne-Sophie Lanquetin
   Sam tells her Gramps that she is going to take the wagon and pick lots of pumpkins. As she returns with a full wagon, it "wobbles" and "tips" and the pumpkins roll down the hill. Four of them "dash through the open front door" and lie cracked on the floor. Not to worry, however. Gramps knows just what to do with them. He and Sam make pumpkin pies. The rhyming text flows jauntily along and includes many sure-to-please descriptive words and phrases, such as "chunky pumpkins" and "lumpy pumpkins" as well as "a stump-bumping, ditch-jumping slide." The illustrations add another whole storyline about a little mouse that has made its home inside one of the pumpkins. It can be seen sitting on the wagon with its suitcase. A little bird and a black cat follow along as Sam gathers the pumpkins. There are multiple classroom uses here: for math: the multiplication; for language arts: the rhyming text, the descriptive words and phrases, and a discussion of the storyline. It will certainly be a good choice to read during the fall and through Thanksgiving. Making Sam and her family members anthropomorphic raccoons adds to the fantasy element here. 2004, Margaret K McElderry/Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-689-85090-5

One Witch Laura Leuck
   A witch has a cooking pot to fill. She goes around to her fiendish friends to gather the ingredients for a gruesome stew. The friends are interesting--cats, scarecrows, goblins, vampires, mummies, owls, ghosts, skeletons and werewolves. They each give some bizarre thing such as a fish's tail, a blackbird claw, slimy slugs, fresh blood juice, a musty moth, a rattlesnake, a hunk of hair, a finger bone, and some spider soup. She then sends her bat messengers around to deliver invitations to the party bash. The delivery is clever because it describes where the bats found the creatures. There is little text on each page but it is cleverly used. The illustrations by S. D. Schindler are great in supporting the words. The last pages about the party are busy and funny. It makes a great Halloween season picture book. 2003, Walker & Company, Ages 5 to 7, $15.95. Reviewer: Naomi Butler
ISBN: 0-8027-8860-2

Skeleton Bones & Goblin Groans: Poems for Halloween
Amy E. Sklansky
Illustrated by Karen Dismukes
   Get ready for Halloween! Twenty-one breezy and rhythmic poems await the reader. Imaginative verse ranges in style, subject, and length. From choosing a costume to scary characters such as vampires and witches, the mood for the fun-filled day is set. "Jack o' Lantern, Jack o' light. Jack o' darkness. Jack o' night. Jack o' scary, Jack o' mean. Jack o' lantern, Halloween!" The artwork is cleverly executed and adds to the joy of the holiday. Artistic bead work set on bold fabrics is stunning to behold. Bright vivid colors display a gangly skeleton, a haunted house, and frolicking ghosts. Turn the book upside down to view the bat and sideways to meet Frankenstein. So, rustle up some of your favorite goblins and enjoy the fun of Halloween! 2004, Henry Holt and Company, Ages 5 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Laura Hummel
ISBN: 0-8050-7046-X

The Skull Talks Back and Other Haunting Tales
Collected by Zora Neale Hurston
Adapted by Joyce Carol Thomas
Illustrated by Leonard Jenkins
   These six tales were originally published in Hurston's folklore collection entitled, Every Tongue Got to Confess: Negro Folk-Tales from the Gulf States. Tales of spirits, skeletons, a witch who can slip off her skin, and the origin of the Jack-o'-Lantern can be found here in retellings that will be perfect to read on a dark and stormy night. There is a feeling of "otherworldliness" to the black and white illustrations. Jenkins captures the creepiness of these tales in the look of a black cat staring out of the page at the reader, a disembodied pair of feet, and the myriad skulls and bones that can be seen throughout. Thomas' "Adapter's Note" is little more than a summary but Hurston's original sources are noted at the beginning of the book. Brief biographical information on Hurston, Thomas and Jenkins are given. This is an accessible collection and a fine beginning point to spur interest in regional folklore. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 10 up, $16.89. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-06-000634-X

Spiders, Bats, and Pumpkin Eaters: Halloweeen Fun with Mother Goose
Illustrated by Jerry Smath
   Creepy crawly creatures and a giant pumpkin fit right in with the season. Without any fiddling with the original rhymes, Smath has illustrated them with a Halloween theme. There is a carved jack o' lantern next to Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater; children in costume watch the eensie-weensie spider as he comes out the water spout; trick-or-treaters are at Mother Goose's door as the mouse runs down the clock and across the floor; the three blind mice are seen running through an apple orchard; and a witch is baking a special cake for her bat. Each page has its own touch of glitter that will attract the attention of the youngest listeners. Preschoolers will enjoy the details in the pages, the humorous touches and the facial expressions. Since so many children today do not know the traditional nursery rhymes, here is a new perspective in which to present a few. 2004, Cartwheel Books/ Scholastic, Ages 2 to 5, $5.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-439-62333-2

Spooky Hour
Tony Mitton
Illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees
   Books that count down instead of up are great fun and a nice change from the 1,2,3 books (not that there's anything wrong with those, yadda yadda). Spooky Hour by the wonderful poet, Tony Mitton (check out his Plum when you get a chance) starts out at midnight and counts down eleven witches, ten funny floaty ghosts etc. Bright,vivid illustrations of furry, sly, puffy and sleek cats wonderfully complement "Leaping high and creeping low, seven scary cats with eyes that glow!" A joyful Halloween read. 2004, Orchard Books, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Sharon Levine
ISBN: 0-439-60373-0

Spooky Pumpkin
Salina Yoon
   The best feature of this small board book is the soft way it introduces the youngest children to Halloween--literally and figuratively. The cover is a puffy plush bright orange pumpkin with a big toothy smile. The cartoon drawings include pumpkins and costumed children, but all in bright colorful drawings that are filled with smiles. There is a variety of simple pumpkin faces for families to try to copy on their own pumpkins. The short verse is not memorable but adds to the notion of a familiar holiday: "Watch me glow in the dark of night. Boys and girls shriek with delight." The entire package makes all the things that can be scary about Halloween seem quite fun and silly instead. 2004, Little Simon/Simon & Schuster, Ages infant to 3, $5.99. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 0-689-85392-0

The Story of Halloween
Carol Greene
Illustrated by Linda Bronson
   The origins of Halloween traditions are presented here in a lively text with an upbeat tone. Readers will learn about the Celtic year-end harvest celebration that occurred on October 31, the Roman harvest offering of apples and nuts to the goddess Pomona, the importance of All Saints' Day and All Hallows' Eve to those of the Roman Catholic faith, and the English tradition of begging for soul-cakes and making mischief. Greene shows how these traditions and historic events led to the development of the American Halloween. Bronson's stylized illustrations, with unusual perspectives and angles, are a nice complement to the text. Unfortunately, the last page depicts a woman dressed up as a Native American handing out Halloween treats, a stereotype which Native Americans have been protesting for years. This mars an otherwise well-crafted book. A few corny riddles and several ideas for pumpkin art complete the book. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 7 to 10, $15.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-06-027946-X
ISBN: 0-06-029560-0

Tell Me a Scary Story...But Not Too Scary!
Carl Reiner
Illustrated by James Bennett
   A computer-generated likeness of Carl Reiner tells a little girl who is in her bed, "I hope you'll like this story, but if it gets too scary for you, just say, 'Stop reading!' and I'll stop, because I love you very much." And thus begins his story of when he was a little boy and Mr. Neewollah moves in next door. A marble that looks like an eyeball falls out of a box that Mr. Neewollah is carrying into his house. At midnight, the little boy decides to return the marble. There is a light on in the basement and the little boy falls through the window and is confronted by his new neighbor with the crooked smile. After scaring the boy he explains that he makes monster costumes for horror movies and lets the boy wear a mask home to scare his parents. The text is broken up with the narrator asking the reader if it is getting too scary. "Is it getting too scary for you? Should I keep going?" Unfortunately, this breaks the tension and detracts from the story. He explains at the end that "Neewollah is Halloween spelled backward" just in case the reader didn't catch it. Bennett, who illustrated Seinfeld's Halloween last year is back with his unusual perspectives and a ghastly monster mask that will surely scare the timid. An audio CD is included. Reiner's voice and pacing are on spot as he reads the story. The accompanying sound effects add to the mood. 2003, A Byron Preiss Book/Little Brown, Ages 8 up, $18.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-316-83329-0

The Teeny Tiny Ghost and the Monster
Kay Winters
Illustrations by Lynn Munsinger
   Most of the young ghosts in class think that the Spook and Spirit Club's contest to create the scariest monster just in time for Halloween is a terrific idea; that is, everyone except the timid and teeny tiniest ghost. He and his small black cats are tremendously intimidated by the thought of it. Plus he's called a wimp by Wilma and bothered by Buster. But the teeny tiny ghost shows great creativity and ultimately triumphs, winning not only the contest (to the great surprise of both Wilma and Buster) but also a healthy dose of self-confidence. The descriptor "teeny tiny" is repeated throughout the story, reminiscent of the early English folktale of the same title. That is where the similarity ends. The story is completely recast. The lively text is rhythmic, rhyming and alliterative accompanied by lighthearted, very humorous cartoon-like illustrations. Together they sweep across each double page spread to the satisfying conclusion and will remind human children that they, too, can overcome almost anything when they put their minds to it.2004, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $14.99. Reviewer: Maria Salvadore
ISBN: 0-06-028884-1

Wee Winnie Witch's Skinny: An Original African American Scare Tale
Virginia Hamilton
Illustrated by Barry Moser
   James Lee knew enough to stay away from owls and gnats and cats, especially cats. Cats knew the most about witches. When a black cat fell out of a sassafras tree and landed on Uncle Big Anthony, James Lee was both frightened and fascinated. Sure enough a Wee Winnie showed up at Uncle Big Anthony's house. She braided his hair for a bridle, took off her skin and hung it next to his overalls, and jumped on his back for a ride. As they flew through the air, Wee Winnie swooped down and grabbed James Lee right through his bedroom window. His amazing ride was silhouetted by the harvest moon. Some of the folks below had alerted Mama Granny, a far-seer who could read the future and the past. She hurried over to Uncle Big Anthony's house with her special hot spice potion and poured it into the witch's empty skin. When Wee Winnie put her skin back on she was in for a huge surprise! Uncle Big Anthony and James Lee were never bothered by witches again, but they still enjoyed retelling their story every Halloween. Moser's colored wood engravings set the mood for this scary tale and contribute to the eerie tone. A distinguished book for mature readers and listeners. 2004, Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, Ages 10 to 14, $16.95. Reviewer: Phyllis Kennemer
ISBN: 0-590-28880-6

Wild Witches' Ball
Jack Prelutsky
Illustrations by Kelly Asbury
   Jack Prelutsky's 1976 poem is as wonderfully full of fun and rhyme as ever, even if children do have to guess or learn the meaning of words like "crones" (with moans and groans) or "sorceresses" (with mangy tresses). The read-aloud poetry, however, is not enhanced by the new illustrations. The colors are bright and many of the witches' expressions are wild and funny, but the drawings have a New Yorker-style scrawl without the New Yorker's spareness and white space. So witches and squiggles and paraphernalia are crowded onto each page making it difficult to count the "queer dears" or "witches eight" or distinguish the six witches in rags from the five old hags, as both the poem and the jacket suggest. The best page is the very last, where everyone will have fun trying to figure out just how many witches made it to the annual wild witch witches' spree. 2004, HarperFestival, Ages 4 to 7, $8.99. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 0-06-052972-5

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Updated 9/27/04

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