A lively, lighthearted celebration of all the things that make Halloween special! A fun counting element makes this book perfect for reading aloud.This adorable book is a lively, lighthearted celebration of all the things that make Halloween special! From making a costume and picking pumpkins to making spooky decorations and trick-or-treating, this is an ideal choice for the holiday and the perfect book to share aloud during story time.
Samantha Sweeney's favorite thing about writing and editing children's books is marveling at how much can be said in so few words. She lives in London in a tall house with a lot of stairs and comes up with some of her best ideas while she's on her way to the kitchen to make strong cups of tea. Her other great passion is soccer, and she is a dedicated supporter of a team that doesn't win very often.
Jordan Wray is an international children's author and illustrator. With crayons as fingers, Jordan has always loved to draw and is inspired by the world around him, especially his little black cat, Iver. When he isn't writing or illustrating, Jordan spends most of his time going on adventures, taking care of his house plants, and dreaming about one day visiting the moon!
Counting up from one to 10, a child joyously lists their favorite things about Halloween.
A small child jumps excitedly on a chair to watch Dad at the sewing machine, happily helping to make a “spooktacular” vampire costume. “Making my costume” is No. 1, and the narrator’s light-skinned little sister, dressed as a pumpkin, cheerfully applauds the “terrifically terrifying” look. Riding on a tractor-drawn trailer to go pumpkin picking with both parents is No. 2, while carving the gourd is third. No. 4 is decorating a haunted house, while No. 5 is a “mummy race,” with kids wrapped in toilet paper. No. 6 is getting the house decked out for Halloween. For No. 7, telling spooky stories, the siblings are joined by a friend inside a blanket tent. The counting draws to a close with apple bobbing and dangling doughnuts; a Halloween parade; and, of course, trick-or-treating. And the sadness of day’s end is dispelled by the reassurance of more fun next year. This upbeat tale leans heavily on the sweet rather than the scary side of Halloween, Lively, colorful, slightly simplified illustrations with changing background color washes offer many details for young viewers to spot, including lots of lights and the family’s black cat. The main character and their family are light-skinned; the supporting cast is diverse.
Downplaying fright, this book is a fine introduction to the holiday for smaller participants.
(Picture book. 3-7) --Kirkus Reviews
