Paws-itively howl-arious.
Murray, a scrappy city dog, is less than thrilled when he and his owners travel to the country to stay with Nana and Grampa.
The journey is long and tiresome, and Murray is unhappy with how everything looks, smells, and sounds. Nothing about rural life impresses him; everything seems off-putting. Nana and Grampa have gone all out with the Halloween trappings, and Murray doesn’t approve of any of it, from “the person made of dog treats” (the decorative skeleton) to the “vegetables with frightening faces” (the jack-o’-lanterns). A trip to the pumpkin patch and corn maze leaves Murray so frightened that he scurries back to Nana and Grampa’s home. Wynona, their cat, has watched Murray struggle and introduces him to the pleasures of her turf. She knows that there’s fun to be had, including donning costumes, trick-or-treating, and, best of all, gazing at the stars—and even howling up at them. This dog’s-eye view of Halloween offers ample laughs (as when Murray “CRUUUUUUNCHE[S]” and “MUUUUUNCHE[S]” his way through the decor), though youngsters who find spooky season a bit intimidating will readily sympathize with the pooch’s plight. Moody digital illustrations elevate the fear factor for Murray while also showcasing the beauty of colorful fall foliage. Murray’s human family is multiracial.
Paws-itively howl-arious. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: July 8, 2025
ISBN: 9781419775819
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: April 19, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2025
BOOK REVIEW
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience.
The How to Catch A… crew try for Comet.
Having already failed to nab a Halloween witch, the Easter Bunny, a turkey, a leprechaun, the Tooth Fairy, and over a dozen other iconic trophies in previous episodes of this bestselling series, one would think the racially diverse gaggle of children in Elkerton’s moonlit, wintry scenes would be flagging…but no, here they lay out snares ranging from a loop of garland to an igloo baited with reindeer moss to an enticing candy cane maze, all in hopes of snagging one of Santa’s reindeer while he’s busy delivering presents. Infused with pop culture–based Christmas cheer (“Now I’ve already seen the shelf with the elf”), Comet prances past the traps until it’s time to gather up the kids, most of whom look terrified, for a group snapshot with the other reindeer and then climb back into harness: “This was a great stop but a few million to go / Christmas Eve must continue with style!” Though festive, the verse feels trite and unlikely to entice youngsters. A sprinkling of “True Facts About Reindeer” (“They live in the tundra, where they have friends like the arctic bunny”) wrap up this celebration of the predatory spirit. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
These reindeer games are a bit tired but, given the series’ popularity, should have a large, ready-made audience. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: Oct. 4, 2022
ISBN: 9781728276137
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2022
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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