Cozy, witty, and brimming with charm—a perfect introduction to chapter books for spooky-loving young readers.
A young vampire’s week goes gloriously, chaotically sideways.
Satisfying bite-size chapters organized by days of the week (“Tuesday: Spiders and Juice,” “Thursday: The Dollhouse”) see Maud navigating a series of colorful escapades: a spectacular tooth discovery, a ghostly infestation. Meanwhile, her desire for the perfect teapot anchors the narrative. The comedy is both verbal and visual and laced with just enough creep: When Maud’s possessed teapot sprouts hairy legs and goes rogue through the house, the illustrations capture the absurdity and the genuine menace—steam hissing, Maud and her friends fleeing—before the whole situation resolves in the most wonderfully ridiculous fashion. Anchin’s pencil, ink, gouache, and digital color illustrations produce rich compositions—cluttered shelves of curiosities, a dollhouse overrun with dozens of tiny shrieking ghosts—rendered in warm sepia tones punctuated by mossy greens and dusty pinks. The humor is never mean-spirited; Maud is genuinely lovable, and when her best friend, Agnes the witch, appears on Friday to make catastrophically explosive soup together, their friendship radiates an easy, lived-in warmth. The worldbuilding feels effortless; though populated with mummies, wolves, and other supernatural creatures, this neighborhood is as loving as any real-life community. Maud and her family have paper-white skin; Agnes is darker-skinned.
Cozy, witty, and brimming with charm—a perfect introduction to chapter books for spooky-loving young readers. (Chapter book. 5-8)Pub Date: July 28, 2026
ISBN: 9781536239300
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 4, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2026
Frightful and delightful: a comforting (to some, anyway) reminder that no one sleeps alone.
In a tardy prequel to I Need My Monster (2009), candidates for that coveted spot under the bed audition.
As the distressingly unflappable young narrator looks on, one monster after another gives it a go—but even with three mouths, the best roar Genghis can manage is a puny “blurp!”, silly shadow puppets by shaggy Morgan elicit only a sneeze, and red Abigail’s attempt to startle by hiding in the fridge merely leaves her shivering and pathetic. Fortunately, there’s Gabe, who knows just how to turn big and hairy while lurking outside the bathroom and whose red-eyed stare and gross drooling sends the lad scrambling into bed to save his toes. “Kid, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” the toothy terror growls. Right he is, the lad concludes, snuggling down beneath the covers: “His snorts and ooze were perfect.” As usual, the white-presenting child’s big, bright, smiling face and the assortment of bumbling monsters rendered in oversaturated hues keep any actual scariness at tentacle’s length. Moreover, Monster, Inc. fans will delight in McWilliam’s painstaking details of fang, claw, hair, and scales.
Frightful and delightful: a comforting (to some, anyway) reminder that no one sleeps alone. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-947277-09-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Flashlight Press
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2019
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2019
A warmly reassuring tale for those who prefer their scares on the lighter side.
Bash is back for another session of Scare School.
This second series installment sees the young ghost tasked with completing a group project that requires him to learn about a terrifying place in or around the school. Bash is assigned to work with Wes, a shy but gentle and artistic werewolf, and Vicky and Vlad, two prickly vampires. The group decides to research the spooky forest. Bash is nervous about exploring the forest; plus, he must contend with teammates who don’t pull their own weight (Vicky and Vlad goof off in the gym while Bash and Wes wait for them in the library). But Bash eventually finds a way to confront his fears as he and the others complete their project. Despite the premise, this tale’s more sweet than spooky. Endearing Bash frets about new experiences but proves eager to jump in. He has a delightful, supportive friend in his roommate, Itsy the spider; her tiny knitted socks are an especially charming detail. The characters’ realization that fear can sometimes hold us back will resonate with readers. The plot moves at a steady clip, while stick figure illustrations and comic panels break up the text, giving the tale an appealing, Wimpy Kid–esque vibe.
A warmly reassuring tale for those who prefer their scares on the lighter side. (Fiction. 6-8)Pub Date: Nov. 5, 2024
ISBN: 9781665922128
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: Oct. 12, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2024
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