Halloween, 2005
The following reviews were presented in our 2005 Halloween feature.
Reviews
Algernon Graeves Is Scary Enough
Peter Bollinger
What is the scariest costume that you could think up? Algernon heads up into his dark, scary attic to try out several. He considers being a ghost, a mummy, a skeleton and werewolf among others. None are suitable-they just aren't scary enough. The solution is more comical than scary, but what is scary are the images that Algernon imagines and Bollinger creates. They appear to be superimposed on the pages and have a 3D effect, probably a result of the computer techniques employed in the drawings. The mummy, vampire and werewolf are certainly intimidating. The pages are appropriately dark and while this is a picture book, it is probably better suited to kids at the higher end of the age range suggested. 2005, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $14.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-052268-2
Boo...and I mean it
Barbara Park
Illustrated by Denise Burkus
Junie B.Jones has a Halloween secret. She's scared of trick-or-treating. She's not a scaredy-cat baby though. Paulie Allen Puffer told her five truths about Halloween that he learned from his eight grade brother that would keep anyone with a brain off the streets on that night. Only, her mother doesn't know these five secrets and June B. Jones would face a wart for a head if she told her. Junie B is forced to get creative and finagle a custome that will keep her safe on the most frightening night of the year. Philip Johnny Bob, her stuffed elephant acts as Junie's confidant and supporter during this holiday. As in the other Junie B. books, this one is another hilarious account of a day in the life of this first grader. A normally fearless girl, Junie B shows a different side of herself, and uses her bravery and creativity to overcome her fear. This book is a great contribution to Barbara Park's already stellar series of books. 2004, Random House, Ages 4 to 8, $3.99. Reviewer: Erin Teagan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-375-82807-9
The Bumpy Little Pumpkin
Margery Cuyler
Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand.
This companion to The Biggest, Best Snowman is about a little girl named Little Nell who lives in a Big house with her sisters, Big Lizzie and Big Sarah, and her mother Big Mama. When pumpkin harvest arrives, everyone goes to the pumpkin patch to find a pumpkin to carve for Halloween. Big Lizzie and Big Sarah find big pumpkins for themselves while Little Nell finds a little pumpkin. But her sisters refuse to help her carve her pumpkin because they think it is little and ugly. While Little Nell is crying in the garden, her friends arrive to help her. Reindeer, Bear Cub, and Hare, as well as Cardinal, Crow, and Sparrow do their part to turn this little pumpkin into a beautiful jack-o'-lantern. When Little Nell brings her creation home, her mother tells her how beautiful it is. The illustrations in this book are large and colorful and will delight any child who cannot read. For those ready to read, the words are simple and easy to understand. 2005, Scholastic Press, $15.95. Ages 1 to 6. Reviewer: Debbie West (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-52835-6
Buster and the Giant Pumpkin
Marc Brown
As part of the "Passport to Reading" series (Level 1) this title will work well with emergent readers. It has facts about growing giant pumpkins and a bit of a storyline about Buster going to visit a family in Oregon that grows "really big vegetables." Many of the pumpkin factoids are revealed in a series of postcards sent by Buster to his friends back home. The combination of real photographs and Brown's usual cartoon illustrations gives the reader a really good idea of what a prize winning GIANT pumpkin actually looks like. The winning pumpkin in the story weighs in at 1,414.5 pounds. (In real life, Al Eaton of Port Elgin grew a world record 1446 pound pumpkin.) Readers may find it a bit jarring that the glossary and what is usually considered back matter appears as the first two pages in this book; but, that does give them some grounding before reading the story. The book also has an advertisement for the PBS show "Postcards from Buster" in which Buster and his dad travel around the country meeting real children and then sending postcards, videos, and emails back to Arthur and all of his buddies back home. 2005, Little Brown, Ages 5 to 8, $14.99 and $3.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-316-15887-9
ISBN: 0-316-00111-2
Come with Me on Halloween
Linda Hoffman Kimball
Illustrated by Mike Reed
It's trick-or-treat time and a Dad and his son, costumed as a rooster, head out into the evening. They end up in a haunted house filled with creepy creatures and slimy food. Finally, it is time to head on home. The rooster never shows any expression, but the Dad certainly seems to be spooked during this outing. In the end, his son says "just stick with me. No need to fear. I'll take you, Dad, again next year." The illustrations have a soft tone and have been created using a combination of traditional and digital media. There are extra touches for humor such as a tree and trash can with eyes to make them appear more human. The closing effect, which should bring a smile, is the night light with a jack-o-lantern giving off a soft glow. 2005, Albert Whitman, Ages 4 to 7, $16.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8075-3132-4
A Dark and Noisy Night
Lisa Thiesing
Peggy has not been sleeping well. Every noise seems to startle her, so she decided to take a nap. A tapping at her window makes her think a witch is trying to get into the house. The creaking of the stairs makes her think a monster is pursuing her. However, she bravely heads for the living room to relax on the sofa and read a book. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be any escape from potential ghosts, goblins, mummies, skeletons and werewolves. When there is a noise at her door, she sees all her friends in their scary costumes and is only too happy to hand out candy. Finally, Peggy heads off to sleep and, as readers can see, nothing can frighten this tired little pig-not even the witch tapping at the window. There do seem to be some inconsistencies. Peggy starts to take a nap in what appears to be the middle of the day, but then she is walking down the dark stairs holding a flickering candle. Yet in the next scene she is on the sofa reading a book with a lamp clearly in place on an end table. The house has electricity and there is no need for a dangerous lit candle. Maybe kids won't pick up on the disconnects, but this reviewer found it a bit jarring. 2005, Dutton/Penguin, Ages 4 to 7, $13.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-525-47388-2
Halloween Howls: Holiday Poetry
Lee Bennett Hopkins, Editor
Illustrated by Stacey Schuett
From the anticipatory opening poem "Something's Coming" by Virginia Kroll to the closing "12:01 A. M." by Lee Bennett Hopkins this title in the "I Can Read Series" (Reading 2 With Help) is packed with fun, rollicking celebrations of the "play-out late, stay-out-late, magical night!"-Halloween. The poems themselves are just the right length for early readers and yet have the power to amuse and set the tone for a fun (only a little spooky) Halloween night. "Trick-or-Treating" by Michele Krueger: "Walk and knock,/walk and knock,/all the way around the block. Door to door,/street to street,/happy tongue, tired feet!" The illustrations are perfectly suited to the poetry and portray a variety of children and costumes in a light vein-no Freddy Kruegers in this charming collection. There is an index of authors and titles. This is a delightful and useful addition to the body of holiday poetry. 2005, Harper Collins, Ages 4 up, $15.99 and $16.89. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-008060-4
ISBN: 978-0-06-008060-0
ISBN: 0-06-008061-2
Halloween Night
Elizabeth Hatch
Illustrations by Jimmy Pickering
Another Halloween book is always welcome especially a clever one by a first-time author. On Halloween night a timid mouse hides inside a jack-o-lantern while overhead a bat "dips and dives" and an owl hoots. On the ground a black cat slinks along. It takes a hungry dog and ghostly child trick-or treater to upset the balance of things and spill the treats that send the bat, owl, and cat scurrying. At last it is safe for little mouse to emerge and nibble his Halloween treats. This cumulative tale in the House that Jack Built style bounces along at a brisk pace and young readers will delight in the turn of events in little mouse's favor. The illustrations with their singular whimsy greatly enhance the story. The package is complete down to the typeset that is aptly named Tremble. For one-on-one or group sharing this will elicit squeals of delight.
2005, Random House, Ages 5 to 6, $15.99 and $17.99. Reviewer: Beverley Fahey (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-385-74622-9
ISBN: 0-385-90887-3
Halloween Sky Ride
Elizabeth Spurr
Illustrated by Ethan Long
Mildred the witch is invited to a Halloween party. How exciting! She jumps on her broom and races off, but along the way a variety of friends ask if they can hitch a ride. First, it is the skeleton, then a jack-o-lantern, ghost, mummy, bat, black cat, and, as one can imagine, the broom finally hits overload and comes crashing to the ground. What good luck; it falls right near the party, but alas all the food is gone. The group decides that it will give trick-or-treating a try and end up at another party with plenty of treats. Mildred finds a mop and with the permission of the family, she loads up all her friends and takes them home. The rhyming text has plenty of humor as do the illustrations. This is a picture book that won't scare its audience, but instead will offer a few laughs. 2005, Holiday House, Ages 4 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8234-1870-7
ISBN: 978-0-8234-1870-1
I'm Not Afraid of This Haunted House
Laurie Friedman
Illustrations by Teresa Murfin
The dark-colored illustrations--predominantly black--in this book depict frightful characters and places. The main character, Simon Lester Henry Strauss, is definitely afraid of this haunted house. Children will join in reading the two lines that are repeated in rhyme several times throughout this story. Simon brags all the way through the story that he is not afraid. Until the end, when he is frightened by the terrible sound from an unexpected creature, Simon stays steadfast and fearless. It is a fun-filled story that teachers, librarians, and parents would enjoy reading to an appreciative audience around Halloween. A discussion about children's fears and things that frighten older people can be held. Children may want to create their own two-line rhymes or make drawings of frightening things. 2005, Carolrhoda Books Inc, Ages 3 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Charlotte M. Krall
ISBN: 1-57505-751-4
I'm Not Scared
Hans Wilhelm
This "Hello Reader," Level 1, captures an ordinary experience of childhood--what shall I wear on Halloween--and engagingly illustrates it with a puppy trying on various costumes: clown, pirate, robot, bat. He wildly rummages through his dress-up trunk until the doorbell rings and he is terrified by a group of ghosts. They turn out to be the friendly neighborhood dogs, come to play. And next year, when this dog grows up, he is going to give THEM a scare! The delightful pictures, engaging text, and connection to a young child's feelings about Halloween--excitement, trepidation--make this book a good addition to the home or school library. 2005, Cartwheel Books/Scholastic, $3.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Elisabeth Greenberg (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-44334-2
Orange You Glad It's Halloween, Amber Brown?
Paula Danziger
Illustrated by Tony Ross
Amber and her best friend Justin are getting ready for Halloween. For the school party, they are supposed to dress up a pumpkin as their favorite storybook character. (Kids may recognize Amber's choice on the opening spread). In addition to preparations for the party at school and an evening of trick-or-treating, there is an undercurrent that sets a darker tone. Amber's parents do not seem to be getting along. But once her Dad takes them to school, things seem to settle down. Amber and her classmates are involved in a variety of activities and Amber accurately deduces that her teacher, Ms. Light, has them playing a game that is really a math lesson. Also on the bright side, Amber's parent make up and Amber appears at the end in a truly unique costume. The late Paula Danziger packs a very interesting and believable story in this early reader. Puns abound and Paula's glimpse at life will resonate with readers of all ages. Tony Ross has a wonderful touch with the pen and ink drawing suffused with soft tone watercolors. Kids new to Amber will clamor for more stories and after completing the easy readers, they will be ready to move on to the middle readers. 2005, G. P. Putnam's Sons/Penguin, Ages 4 to 8, $13.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-399-23471-3
The Perfect Pumpkin Pie
Denys Cazet
A pie eating ghost is the centerpiece of this rambunctious spooky tale. This story of crochety old Mr. Wilkerson and his quest for the perfect pie is full of the kind of goofy, silly details that appeal to the same youngsters who loved the tale of The Little Old Woman Who Was Not Afraid of Anything when they were in preschool. Meant for a more sophisticated listener the story follows the Jack and his grandmother as they encounter the ghost of Mr. Wilkerson who chants "it must be perfect, or a ghost I'll stay, and haunt this house and never, ever, go awaaaaaaaay!" Fortunately for Jack his grandmother has dealt with temper tantrums before and she tells the ghost to "stop all that moaning ...sit down and have some pie." The pie does not meet Mr. W's standards and he starts roaring again but Jack and Grandma just bake another pie. This one does not have enough cinnamon to please grouch ol' ghostly Mr. W. and even Grandma agrees that this is true so yet another pie is baked. After tasting at the gourmet level Mr. W. announces this one "perrrrfect." Jack and Grandma head off to bed confident that the ghost was finally laid to rest "OR WAS HE?" In a typical urban legend twist the pumpkin pie was just the beginning...now he's on to APPLE. "Grandma looked at Jack. Jack looked at Grandma. I'll set another plate, said Jack." Younger listeners may find the pictures a little too scary but for those for whom it is intended it is delightfully spooky and completely satisfying to join in the ghostly chant "it must be round and brown as toast, or I'll haunt this house a hungry ghost." Hope my own recipe would measure up to Mr. W.'s tastes! 2005, Atheneum/Simon & Schuster, Ages 5 to 9, $$15.95.
Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-689-86467-1
ISBN: 978-0-689-86467-4
Peek-A-Boooo!
Marie Torres Cimarusti
Illustrated by Stephanie Peterson
Sights and symbols of Halloween are presented in a large format, interactive, lift-the-flap book. "Guess who?" asks the reader as children look at a witch, a scarecrow, a skeleton, a monster, a bat and a ghost, each of whom has their hands over their faces in a game of peek-a-boo. The pumpkin is hidden behind its vines. The red door opens to a group of trick-or-treaters. Open each window and the door of the haunted house on the final two-page spread to see all the characters from the previous pages. Toddlers and preschoolers can be encouraged to make the sounds along with the characters, as described in the text. Even though the pages are a heavier card stock as are most of the lift-the-flap books, there is still the issue of the fragility of the flaps for library circulation. Buy it for the storyhour collection because it will be a big hit with its inviting and not-too-scary illustrations. It is a good choice for parents looking for a Halloween book for the home. 2005, Dutton Children's Books, Ages 2 to 5, $9.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-525-47435-8
Pumpkin Soup
Helen Cooper
Pumpkins ripen for Halloween, but this tale of good friends is fun for anytime. Cat, Squirrel and Duck live together happily and cook their Pumpkin Soup, "the best you ever tasted," until one day Duck tries to change the order of jobs. He packs up and leaves after an unpleasant argument. Cat and Squirrel, worried about him and the bad feelings, search for him in vain. When they find him waiting for them at home, they decide to let him do more as they all work together happily again, at least for a while. A rather simple story is transformed into a heroic saga by the artist's dramatic vision. We are introduced to the characters on the jacket/cover as they cooperatively share a big bowl of soup. Multiple vignettes and full pages depict the realistic, almost sculpturally rounded friends interacting, searching, despairing, all resulting from Duck's desire for greater respect. The final scenes of frantic soup making, and bagpipe celebrating leave the reader anticipating more friendly squabbles in the future. The final page gives the recipe so we can make our own Pumpkin Soup. 2005 (orig. 1998), Farrar Straus Giroux, $15.00 and $6.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
The smell of good pumpkin soup spreads through the woods as three friends mix their special potion. The bagpiping Cat, the Squirrel who plays a banjo, and a singing Duck all share in the making of the soup. Each friend has his own job as the soup is prepared. Cat slices the pumpkin, Squirrel stirs the water, and Duck adds the seasonings. Then one day, Duck decides he wants to stir the soup and a frenzy of conflict occurs. Once the best of friends, now they cannot agree to live in the same house. This is a delightful story of friendship perfect for sharing with young readers, whether in a classroom or other setting. This is a great gift idea for grandparents. The muted colors of the illustrations add richness to the text. 2005 (orig. 1998), Farrar Straus Giroux, $15.00 and $6.95. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Joyce Rice (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Eighteenth Edition, 2001; H.W. Wilson; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, November 1999; Cahners; United States
Recommended Literature: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve, 2002; California Department of Education; California
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 1999; Cahners; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Volunteer State Book Award, 2001-2002; Nominee; Primary; Tennessee
ISBN: 0-374-36164-9
ISBN: 0-374-46031-0
The Scarecrow and His Servant
Philip Pullman
Illustrated by Peter Bailey
Old Mr. Pandolfo was not feeling well. To make matters worse, there were issues with the soldiers and his cousins, the Buffalonis, who wanted to build a factory to make "weedkiller and rat poison and insecticide." There was not much he could do about those things, but he could make a scarecrow to get rid of the troublesome birds. When the scarecrow is struck by lightning, it comes to life and finds itself a long way from Spring Valley, old Mr. Pandolfo's land. In trying to return home the scarecrow meets a young boy named Jack who agrees to become his servant. It is a good thing; for with a turnip for a head and a pea for a brain, the scarecrow needs the help of this clever lad. As in all good fairy tales, the hero must face a series of trials before he can successfully return home. Indeed, after a series of incidents, the scarecrow and his servant find themselves literally in court battling the Buffalonis as to who is the rightful owner of Spring Valley. The scarecrow's "inner conviction" holds the key. Full page and smaller pen and ink drawings depict scenes from the story and make this inviting for younger readers. This is a terrific read aloud, written with wit and a clever turn of the phrase that had this reviewer laughing over and over again. Loyalty and friendship, environmental concerns, good overcoming evil are all themes that are present but never overwhelm this humorous tale.
2005, Alfred A Knopf, Ages 8 to 12, $15.95, $17.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-375-81531-7
ISBN: 0-375-91531-1
The Spooky Smells of Halloween: A Scratch & Sniff Book!
Mary Man-Kong
Illustrated by Viviana Garofoli
Sammy and his mom and dad give a Halloween party for the neighborhood children and then they all go trick-or-treating together. A perfectly simple story is embellished with the scented "scratch and sniff" spots on the apple (smelled like red delicious to me), pumpkin, "berry brew" punch (smelled just like a flavored drink), and the bubble gum given out by Katie's mom smelled just like I remember that sticky pink treat should. Sammy dresses up like a pirate, Katie comes as a witch , and other children are decked out like a ghost, a mummy, and Dracula. Even the pet cat dresses up like a skunk, which leads to the pivotal joke in the story...an extra black and white stripped "cat" appears at the end for the last scratch-and-sniff spot-A SKUNK (No, I did not have the courage to test that one-you are on your own!). The uncluttered, cartoon-like pictures are endearing, not-too-spooky images that fit the age group quite well. 2005, Golden Books/Random House, Ages 3 up, $8.99. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-375-83285-8
T. Rex Trick-or-Treats
Lois G. Grambling
Illustrated by Jack E. Davis
Joining in the spirit of Halloween, T. Rex creates a very scary jack-o-lantern. But the best is yet to come. T. Rex wants to have a really scary costume when he joins his friends for trick-or-treating later that evening. Perhaps he could be a ghost, but no, his friend Diplodocus is going to dress up as a ghost. And so it goes as he considers a variety of costumes-including a skeleton and a witch, but then he realizes that they are all going to be worn by his friends. When they show up, T. Rex is not ready and the others are impatient to get going while the treats are still available. Their suggestions are all countered with "not scary enough!" Finally, his friends suggest that he go as himself with a "very big frown!" It works, but even more frightening is T. Rex with a smile. That just might be the perfect costume for next year. A not-so-scary picture book for kids who love Halloween.
2005, Katherine Tegan Books/HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 7, $12.99 and $13.89. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-050252-5
ISBN: 0-06-050253-3
10 Trick-or-Treaters: A Halloween Counting Book
Janet Schulman
Illustrated by Linda Davick
Kids get to count down from ten as each trick-or-treater is chased off by a slightly frightening creature-spider, toad, bat, witch, mummy, vampire and the like. The pictures look computer generated and are not terribly interesting. The final page shows Halloween treats and kids can count down or up from zero to ten. It is a sugar-coated counting lesson, but a better example and one that can easily pair with this book is Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O'Connell (2000, Cartwheel/Scholastic). 2005, Knopf/Random House, Ages 1 to 4, $8.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-375-83225-4
ISBN: 0-375-93225-9
Trick-or-treat, Smell My Feet!
Lisa Desimini
This comical twist on the traditional Halloween rhyme stars two wicked witch twins, Delia and Ophelia, who terrorize the neighborhood just for fun. This Halloween they have collected all the neighborhood children's smelly socks for a magic potion. This Halloween the children will not be able to say "trick or treat," only "smell my feet." They will not get any candy at all! Courtesy of a sweet, fresh, clean baby's booty the potion misfires. Delia and Ophelia turn into toddler witch twins, incapable of saying their spells, and the children have a wonderful, full-of-candy Halloween. And what happens to those witches? They are "adopted" by the nicest old lady, dressed in pink. She decorates their witch hats with pink bows, and gives them little black baby blankets to stop their howling. The neighborhood children visit for milk and cookies and try to amuse the witch twins. If they can only get them to smile, just perhaps, "they'll grow up a little nicer this time." A delightful book for a pre-school class or family library. 2005, Scholastic/The Blue Sky Press, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Elisabeth Greenberg (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-23323-2
Walking with the Dead
L. M. Falcone
What is more fun than dressing up in a glorious outfit for Halloween? Try chasing down a renegade corpse needing a gold coin to cross over into the Underworld. The corpse must cross the river and be judged fairly or condemned to an unjust eternity. Alex and best-buddy Freddie, are enlisted to help when the star of the Oddities museum suddenly wakes in his coffin. The journey has only begun when Alex and Freddie are mysteriously transported to the river where the ferryman Charon waits to deliver souls to the Underworld. On the other side is the gate to Hades, a barrier between eternal torment and the chance to get back home. They cross into the Underworld where they encounter deliciously evil monsters barring the path. One problem after the other emerges. Are they clever enough to overcome the challenges and will they be able to travel through time and stop a murder about to take place? A frantic but fun adventure, the storyline advances quickly, calling upon a child's imagination for details already gleaned from videos. Brief description and quick-moving action make this feel like a television show. Greek mythology is nicely woven in with modern details providing the reader with an enjoyable book. 2005, Kids Can Press, $16.95 and $6.95. Ages 10 up. Reviewer: Robyn Gioia (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-55337-708-7
ISBN: 1-55337-709-5
We're Off to Find the Witch's House
Mr. Krieb
Illustrated by R.W. Alley
"We're off to find the Witch's House" chant the four costumed youngsters on Halloween. "Which house?" Yes, the witch's. But "we're not afraid" goes their repeated refrain, a they creep down her street, past an owl, a skeleton, a lurching Frankenstein monster, a ghost, a wolf, Dracula, and a mummy becoming more apprehensive as they go. Finally they are knocking on the witch's door. And there she is, despite her scary shadow, cheerily inviting them and all those they passed--in costume, of course-- to a Happy Halloween party. The rhythmic, repetitive text is filled with alliteration, internal rhymes--like the blinking, winking, howling, scowling, growling owl and the scary glaring wolf (just a dog)--for entertaining reading aloud. Alley makes sure his youngsters show us how justifiably frightened they are by their facial expressions and body language. Double-page watercolors contain all the symbols of the occasion, but are presented in ways to defuse the fright. The several black pages toward the end very effectively add to the mock horror. The final wordless illustration of a pumpkin piñata with its cascading goodies adds a multicultural touch.
2005, Dutton Children's Books/Penguin Young readers Group, Ages 3 to 6, $14.99.
REVIEWER: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-525-47003-4
Who Stole Halloween?
Martha Freeman
No, nobody has made off with the holiday, but rather a black cat named Halloween. Alex and his friend Yasmeen are once again sleuthing. Alex a bit reluctantly, but once into the mystery he gives it his all including using his own pet cat as bait. It seems that there is a catnapper involved and mistreated cats appear to be disappearing from the town right around Halloween. There are red herrings and subplots about the town ghost and a murder that took place many years ago that the kids actually solve. Other facets of the story include Alex's mom who is a police officer and his Dad who is the one who stays at home to take care of his son. Alex's friend, Yasmeen is the real brains of the duo and the despised Sophie turns out to have a real talent--one that helps them crack the case. It is an engaging story that moves at a fast clip and will encourage those who did not read the first mystery--Who is Stealing the 12 Days of Christmas? to seek it out. I wonder what holiday will be next in the series? 2005, Holiday House, Ages 7 to 10, $16.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8234-1962-2
ISBN: 978-0-8234-1962-3
Who Will I Be? A Halloween Rebus Story
Shirley Neitzel
Illustrated by Nancy Winslow Parker
When a little girl receives an invitation to a costume party, she begins to gather clothing and other items from around her house that will be part of her costume. Each of the items becomes a symbol in the ever-increasing rebus rhyme. She is delighted with her Little Bo Peep costume, but her parents' expressions clearly say they are not. She reassembles the items to become Captain Hook. Packages from grandma arrive with just the perfect Halloween costume. Parker's clean design on a white background bring the reader along, from the simple clothing items to the little girl vividly imagining herself as Little Bo Peep or as Captain Hook. Young children will enjoy the mystery and might even try to guess what costume she is making. This is the ninth of their collaborative rebus books and brings with it the fun of deciding what to be for Halloween. 2005, Greenwillow, Ages 4 to 7, $12.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-06-056067-3
ISBN: 978-0-06-056067-6
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Updated 9/30/05
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