An affirming Halloween tale that provides a lesson in self-love.
How intimidating should a pumpkin be?
Before the family who lives at 62 Irving Street heads out to trick-or-treat, they task the O’Lantern brothers with handing out holiday candy. Jack’s wild eyes, crooked teeth, and wicked smile practically personify Halloween; little brother Jeff is all kind eyes, straight teeth, and warm smile. Is he up to the job? Jack immediately assumes command, yelling at costumed kids to take “JUST ONE!” The youngsters each cautiously select a piece and scram. But despite Jeff’s best efforts, he can’t pull scary faces, and his “boo” just makes the youngsters giggle. The tickled trick-or-treaters take advantage of his unthreatening demeanor to grab gobs of goodies. After Jeff trips and rolls off the porch into the street, he meets a crying girl whose bucket has broken, spilling all her candy. He offers to help her trick-or-treat, and after collecting more candy, the grateful girl shares the wealth, filling the empty O’Lantern bowl with treats. Jack assumes that Jeff must have terrified her into complying, but Jeff knows better: “I was myself.” Greenwald threads his cheery tale with a message of self-acceptance, supported by an extensive note that encourages parents to support their children’s individuality. Van Antwerpen’s well-composed pages pack in all the standard Halloween motifs; the cartoon style and use of neon orange, magenta, and green place the emphasis on fun, not scares.
An affirming Halloween tale that provides a lesson in self-love. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
ISBN: 9781433848469
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Magination/American Psychological Association
Review Posted Online: June 15, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2026
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans.
It’s time to look for the elusive Daddysaurus.
In this latest installment in the seemingly never-ending series about a group of diverse kids attempting to trap mythical creatures, the youngsters are now on the lookout for a big mauve dinosaur with an emblazoned D on his stomach and a superhero cape. The fast-moving Daddysaurus is always on the go; he will be difficult to catch. Armed with blueprints of possible ideas, the kids decide which traps to set. As in previous works, ones of the sticky variety seem popular. They cover barbells with fly paper (Daddysaurus like to exercise) and spread glue on the handle of a shovel (Daddysaurus also likes to garden). One clever trick involves tempting Daddysaurus with a drawing of a hole, taped to the wall, because he fixes everything that breaks. Daddysaurus is certainly engaged in the children’s lives, not a workaholic or absent, but he does fall into some standard tropes associated with fathers. The rhyming quatrains stumble at times but for the most part bounce along. Overall, though, text and art feel somewhat formulaic and likely will tempt only devotees of the series. The final page of the book (after Daddysaurus is caught with love) has a space for readers to write a note or draw a picture of their own Daddysaurus. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: April 1, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-72826-618-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Jan. 11, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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