An unusual, funny take on the typical Halloween story—and a reminder to dress appropriately.
Even monsters need help in nasty weather.
It’s Halloween; a boy dons his Frankenstein’s-monster get-up. But whenever he tries to step outside, his parents stop him to hand over inclement-weather duds: galoshes, scarf, parka, earmuffs. By his third attempt, he’s burdened with a camping lamp, fanny pack, and snack. The kid finally roars, “FRANKENSTEIN DOESN’T WEAR EARMUFFS!” and exasperatedly chucks everything. Finally outdoors, he sees costumed kids bundled up. Conceding his parents were right, the kid gratefully accepts the warm clothes, then joins fellow tricksters. This humorous tale establishes a rollicking pattern, juxtaposing opening atmospheric, holiday-themed rhymes accompanied by spooky, painterly illustrations with a more cartoony style for the rhyming admonitions from the boy’s parents when adding to his wardrobe. The dark verses are interrupted strategically with page turns introduced by capitalized grown-up warnings in speech balloons: “HOLD IT!” When the spooky rhymes/illustrations resume, they comically depict/describe Frankenstein wearing his newly acquired garb, then eventually cease altogether when the verses describe only kid, accoutrements, and his unprotected misery outdoors. Fortunately, his parents have followed with the necessary gear. Neither they nor other adults join the trick-or-treaters, however, a depiction of adult concern that some may wish had been included. The bouncy rhymes read and scan well; the humorous, energetic artwork very ably serves the text. The boy and parents (the grown-ups are faceless) have brown skin; other youngsters are diverse.
An unusual, funny take on the typical Halloween story—and a reminder to dress appropriately. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: July 21, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-06-294114-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
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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