FRIGHT CLUB
by Ethan Long ; illustrated by Ethan Long
The members of Fright Club are in for a surprise when a crew of cuddly critters wants to join and participate in Operation Kiddie Scare.
On the night before Halloween, Vladimir the vampire attempts to coach his fellow scary creatures on “The 3 Traits of Highly Successful Monsters.” But there’s a knock at the door: an innocuous bunny politely requests to join the club. But Vladimir shoos the rabbit away, saying “Fright Club is for monsters only!” In the meantime, the club members are hopelessly not scary. When Vladimir responds to a second knock, he finds the bunny has brought her attorney, Frances Foxx, to plead her case. Vladimir sends them off because only monsters are frightening, not sweet woodland creatures. Opening the door to a third knock, the vampire encounters a gang of animals chanting, “HISS, MOAN, BOO! WE CAN SCARE TOO!”—and proceeding to prove it. How can the monsters turn them down now? Long delivers an original story full of droll humor while also introducing the concept of questioning stereotypes and rules. His gray-toned cartoon illustrations are touched with just tinges of color (green skin, brown fur, the bunny’s cute, pink eyes), and he adds details sure to amuse, such as Frances’ glasses and briefcase and the monsters’ absurd expressions.
Long ably proves that “when it comes to scaring, the more the merrier.” (Picture book. 4-8)