A high-interest and refreshing take on a traditionally creepy creature.
On Halloween, a group of friends learns that skeletons aren’t really that spooky after all.
Turning the skeleton’s creepy reputation on its head, Evans exposes the truth: “Old bones can’t hurt you, right?” Three trick-or-treating friends find out that skeletons really aren’t as strong, smart, or brave as humans thanks to their lack of muscles, brains, and guts. Though they initially flee the green skeleton that emerges as they munch candy, the kids end up including the skeleton in their treat-eating treehouse fun. Evans’ rhythmic quatrains maintain a steady cadence and work in a rhyme involving smelly boots and toots that’s sure to entertain little readers. Dreiling’s illustrations make excellent use of shades of gray, the color applied to the background trees, fencing, landscape, and sky. This also helps capture the Halloween mood. The children, two with brown skin and one who’s pale, are the focal point of all of the colors. Gold and red are standout features of their hair and costumes and contrast nicely with the gray tones of the background. Observant readers will notice how Dreiling contributes visual subtext apart from the narration, as with one child’s lost shoe that can be tracked across pages on its way back to the owner. The book nicely demonstrates how something fearful can seem much less so when reduced to its parts, a comforting message for little readers.
A high-interest and refreshing take on a traditionally creepy creature. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 24, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-64567-215-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
A laugh-inducing Halloween read-along.
The Crayons return in time for Halloween as vampire-costumed Purple coaches the dressed-up wax pack through its first trick-or-treating venture.
It takes five houses’ worth of door-knocks for this skeleton crew of seven to perfect the protocol, with enough outlandish flubs to generate giggles in Halloween-savvy preschoolers. At Door No. 1, Orange, dressed as a jack-o’-lantern, says, “Give us your candy, Lady.” At the next, the gang, encouraged by Purple to “think holiday,” responds with an impressive array of misguided greetings, including “Merry Christmas!” and “Happy American Cheese Month!” Later, White, levitating impressively in a ghost costume, overreacts to Halloween’s “scary” aspect by overwhelming residents with a “BOO!” Peach, unnamed here but recognizably wrapperless from the initial title, exuberantly (and inappropriately) repeats, “I’m naked!” Finally, the troupe perfects its treat-inducing line, though a certain ghost cannot resist an ad lib. This excursion, like many of the holiday-themed Crayon books, has a smaller trim size, a lower price point, and far less complexity than Daywalt and Jeffers’ first two Crayon titles. Still, the pair deftly let young children in on the jokes through funny, hand-lettered dialogue and the visually telegraphed, all-in haplessness of this well-branded band. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A laugh-inducing Halloween read-along. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-593-62102-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Philomel
Review Posted Online: Aug. 16, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2022
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Halloween might be scary; independence needn’t be.
A pumpkin gets plenty of excitement on Halloween.
Little Orange Pumpkin sits on the porch with her parents on Halloween night. They review three rules: Remember your manners when given candy; no eating any until getting their OK; stay close. While Little Pumpkin thinks she’s old enough to trick-or-treat alone, her parents believe otherwise. Frustrated and angry, she rolls off the porch, under which she sees a warm orange light. Curious, Little Pumpkin follows it to a hole leading to a wooden door. In front of her is a spooky house. A monster, reminiscent of Daddy, offers a tour. A series of exciting adventures ensue, in which she meets and proves her mettle by engaging with skeletons, goblins, ghosts, a witch (resembling Mommy), a gargoyle, a vampire, bats, and spiders. When Little Pumpkin returns home, her parents assure her that they’re not mad and still love her, even though she shouted. Little Pumpkin concedes that she wants them to observe the third rule: Stay close. This is an enjoyable tale with an uplifting message. Readers will appreciate the Halloween trappings, which form a backdrop for its real story: a child desiring independence, taking those first tentative steps toward it, and being assured of a warm welcome by loving parents. The colorful digital illustrations are animated and filled with non-frightening Halloween characters and symbols. Background humans are diverse.
Halloween might be scary; independence needn’t be. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728289595
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: Aug. 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2024
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