A totally unscary addition to the Halloween shelf, useful in the few weeks leading up to the holiday.
A Halloween-themed variation on the traditional song.
A costumed cast of children acts out verses set to the familiar tune. The white type of the verse is easy to read against dark backgrounds. One word in each verse is highlighted and set in all-caps: “If you’re WITCHY and you know it, mix a brew” is paired with a white child wearing glasses and a witch’s hat. A light-skinned child with curly hair and false fangs is “fiendish”; a brown-skinned kid in a wolf costume howls with a dog under a smiling moon; an Asian-presenting child wears a scarecrow costume. There’s also a “spooky” ghost, a “greedy” pirate, etc. All eight characters appear for the last verse, which ends predictably, “If you’re scary and you know it—Trick or Treat!” The attempt to represent racial diversity is admirable, though the drawings are little more than cartoon stereotypes. The costumes (particularly the “frightful” scarecrow) may be puzzling for youngsters not already familiar with Halloween tropes, making this an introduction to the observance, but the five-line verses are wordy for toddlers for whom board books are required. Maintaining the predictable rhyme scheme of the original helps address that concern.
A totally unscary addition to the Halloween shelf, useful in the few weeks leading up to the holiday. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Aug. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-64170-146-4
Page Count: 20
Publisher: Familius
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2019
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes.
A lift-the-flap book gives the littlest trick-or-treaters some practice identifying partygoers under their costumes.
Little Blue Truck and his buddy Toad are off to a party, and they invite readers (and a black cat) along for the ride: “ ‘Beep! Beep! Beep!’ / says Little Blue. / ‘It’s Halloween!’ / You come, too.” As they drive, they are surprised (and joined) by many of their friends in costume. “Who’s that in a tutu / striking a pose / up on the tiniest / tips of her toes? / Under the mask / who do you see?” Lifting the flap unmasks a friend: “ ‘Quack!’ says the duck. / ‘It’s me! It’s me!’ ” The sheep is disguised as a clown, the cow’s a queen, the pig’s a witch, the hen and her chick are pirates, and the horse is a dragon. Not to be left out, Little Blue has a costume, too. The flaps are large and sturdy, and enough of the animals’ characteristic features are visible under and around the costumes that little ones will be able to make successful guesses even on the first reading. Lovely curvy shapes and autumn colors fade to dusky blues as night falls, and children are sure to notice the traditional elements of a Halloween party: apple bobbing, lit jack-o’-lanterns, and punch and treats.
Beloved Little Blue takes a bit of the mystery—and fear—out of Halloween costumes. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-544-77253-3
Page Count: 16
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery.
A troop of cats traverse a spooky landscape as they make their way to a party hosted by ghosts.
Each double-page spread shows the felines’ encounters with the likes of an owl, jack-o’-lanterns or a bat. One or two of these creepy meetings may be too abstract for the youngest readers, as the cats hear eerie noises with no discernible source on the page. The text, which consists of one rhyming couplet per scene, mostly scans despite a couple of wobbles: “Five black cats get a bit of a scare / As the flip-flapping wings of a bat fill the air.” The sleek, slightly retro art, likely created using a computer, depicts the cats cavorting at night through a shadowy cityscape, the countryside and a haunted house; they may scare some toddlers and delight others. A brighter color palette would have given the project a friendlier, more universal appeal. Luckily, the well-lit, final party scene provides a playful conclusion.
For toddlers unafraid of typical Halloween imagery. (Board book. 2-4)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-58925-611-8
Page Count: 22
Publisher: Tiger Tales
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2014
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