The title beckons readers into the dark house pictured on the cover. What will be found?
Each double page-spread shows a typical household item on the left, for example a refrigerator, and asks: “What’s in the fridge in the witch’s kitchen? Open it left or right. Will you like what you see? Or will it give you a fright?” Curious readers can open the sturdy flap one way to find “BATS WITH FLEAS!” Gross! Opening the other way, they'll get “TASTY CHEESE!” Yum! Six similar spreads follow, with most of the answers rhyming: “Nasty! Goblin’s pee! / Nice! Strawberry tea!” and “Rabbit plops! / Lollipops!” This silly humor will elicit many giggles while reinforcing the learning of directional concepts of left and right and up and down. Pictures pop in bright, saturated colors defined by thick black line. In addition, young readers will find Halloween images—snakes, bats, spiders, frogs, witch’s brooms, ghosts, moons and stars—in the patterns used to create many of the illustrations. The final spread holds a special surprise: “If your frazzled nerves can’t take any more, make your escape through the witch’s back door!” “BOO!” screams the witch leaping out from the page in her Halloween finery.
Share dramatically with a group (“Which way should this open first?”) or enjoy Sharratt’s interactive rhyming fun one-on-one. (Picture book. 3-5)
