A gentle take on spooky season that still has a classic Halloween feel.
The scene is set for frights, but a trio of witches has some delicious magic that offers everyone a thrill.
Archer provides a suitably shivery soundtrack (“Whoosh! goes the wind! / Hoot! goes an owl”) as the young witches, sporting hats nearly as tall as they are, enter a derelict Victorian manse, set against an eerie blue-gray backdrop. But a wink from one and the emergence of warmer hues hint that all isn’t as it seems. These youngsters prepare to cast a spell, observed by the owl, a cat, a spider, a mouse, and a “musty, dusty ghost.” Accompanied by more sound effects, they sweep, build a roaring fire, place a cauldron in the fireplace, and generally make the place more inviting. Surprise! Guests arrive: a moaning mummy, a grinning, green-skinned goblin, and a “huge, hungry ogre, / with a rumble-grumble tummy.” Drinking hot apple cider, they gather by the fire. And soon the magic happens: Popping sounds, followed by a cauldron bursting with popcorn for all the creatures. Eating and sharing “not-too-scary stories” (like this one), everyone has a “haunting good time.” As Bordicchia’s attractive images grow more colorful, even the supernatural creatures seem friendly-faced. A selection of well-chosen details will reward repeat reads; this charming tale trades scares for happy surprises. Two of the witches and the ogre are light-skinned; another witch is darker-skinned.
A gentle take on spooky season that still has a classic Halloween feel. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 11, 2026
ISBN: 9780316579339
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: April 20, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2026
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available.
A ghost learns to appreciate his differences.
The little ghost protagonist of this title is unusual. He’s a quilt, not a lightweight sheet like his parents and friends. He dislikes being different despite his mom’s reassurance that his ancestors also had unconventional appearances. Halloween makes the little ghost happy, though. He decides to watch trick-or-treaters by draping over a porch chair—but lands on a porch rail instead. A mom accompanying her daughter picks him up, wraps him around her chilly daughter, and brings him home with them! The family likes his looks and comforting warmth, and the little ghost immediately feels better about himself. As soon as he’s able to, he flies out through the chimney and muses happily that this adventure happened only due to his being a quilt. This odd but gently told story conveys the importance of self-respect and acceptance of one’s uniqueness. The delivery of this positive message has something of a heavy-handed feel and is rushed besides. It also isn’t entirely logical: The protagonist could have been a different type of covering; a blanket, for instance, might have enjoyed an identical experience. The soft, pleasing illustrations’ palette of tans, grays, white, black, some touches of color, and, occasionally, white text against black backgrounds suggest isolation, such as the ghost feels about himself. Most humans, including the trick-or-treating mom and daughter, have beige skin. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 66.2% of actual size.)
Halloween is used merely as a backdrop; better holiday titles for young readers are available. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-7352-6447-2
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Tundra Books
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
Only for dedicated fans of the series.
When a kid gets the part of the ninja master in the school play, it finally seems to be the right time to tackle the closet monster.
“I spot my monster right away. / He’s practicing his ROAR. / He almost scares me half to death, / but I won’t be scared anymore!” The monster is a large, fluffy poison-green beast with blue hands and feet and face and a fluffy blue-and-green–striped tail. The kid employs a “bag of tricks” to try to catch the monster: in it are a giant wind-up shark, two cans of silly string, and an elaborate cage-and-robot trap. This last works, but with an unexpected result: the monster looks sad. Turns out he was only scaring the boy to wake him up so they could be friends. The monster greets the boy in the usual monster way: he “rips a massive FART!!” that smells like strawberries and lime, and then they go to the monster’s house to meet his parents and play. The final two spreads show the duo getting ready for bed, which is a rather anticlimactic end to what has otherwise been a rambunctious tale. Elkerton’s bright illustrations have a TV-cartoon aesthetic, and his playful beast is never scary. The narrator is depicted with black eyes and hair and pale skin. Wallace’s limping verses are uninspired at best, and the scansion and meter are frequently off.
Only for dedicated fans of the series. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-4894-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
