HALLOWEEN WITH SNOWMAN PAUL

A snowman and his pals celebrate Halloween in this illustrated children’s book.

In this sixth entry in Lapid and Pasek’s (The Amazing Snowman Duel, 2017, etc.) Snowman Paul series, the eponymous roly-poly, carrot-nosed hero joins several friends as they approach a two-story treehouse decorated with jack-o’-lanterns—and warning signs. Warning No. 1, for example, begins “Don’t dare come near this tree house. / Don’t even risk a glance.” The first danger is aliens that might take you to outer space; the second, a witch who will turn you into a mouse; the third, a kidnapping dragon; the fourth, a grouchy ghost. (The roles of witch, dragon, and ghost are played, respectively, by a little red-haired girl, Snowman Paul himself, and a pointy-eared dog.) Having passed these dangers, Paul and friends have a Halloween treehouse party, playing games, singing songs, telling stories, and getting themselves deliciously spooked. Lapid has an excellent ear, and his verse consistently scans well, offering a well-judged blend of Halloween-y suspense and reassuring, gentle humor. The story has plenty of energy, fun, and bounce. Pasek’s fine illustrations are a perfect match, with soft colors and rounded edges; another plus is the racial diversity shown among the kids. The images boost the story, letting readers see the sweet personalities underneath the oh-so-scary costumes.

Entertaining, well-structured, and beautifully illustrated—a winner.