SAMMY'S SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN
by Mike Petrik ; illustrated by Mike Petrik
Sammy’s Halloween tricks are no treat for his family when they last the whole year.
The Loomis family really goes all out on Halloween, their haunted house putting all others to shame. But no one loves the holiday more than Sammy, the youngest child. In fact, the day after Halloween, he’s already planning improvements for next year’s celebration, and he practices them on his hapless family. But the Thanksgiving turkey carved like a jack-o’-lantern doesn’t impress, the zombie Christmas is a dud, and the Frankenstein Fourth of July is the last straw: No more Halloween until the rest of the family is ready. But at this point, Sammy’s older siblings recognize his good ideas and offer to help him refine the ones that are not so awesome, and this year’s haunted house is the best ever. Sibling cooperation, parental recognition of hard work, and Sammy’s stick-to-itiveness give this book a little something extra beyond just a funny Halloween tale. Petrik’s digital illustrations have a Saturday morning–cartoon aesthetic. The Loomises all present white, and the sister and mother wear glasses.
Perseverance has its rewards.
(Picture book. 4-8)