Review - The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat

The Berenstain Bears Trick or Treat (The Berenstain Bears)
by Stan & Jan Berenstain
Date: 1985
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

As Brother and Sister Bear don their costumes to go trick-or-treating by themselves for the first time, they plan to avoid Miz McGrizz's spooky home. But during their Halloween outing, the cubs discover that appearances can be deceiving.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I'm a little conflicted about this one. The writing is strong and the overall message about not judging others by appearances alone is a good one. However, the premise seems a little dated and doesn't take into account today's dangers and realities.

Brother and Sister go trick-or-treating without parental supervision for the first time. Of course, the first thing that happens is that they run into some "bad" older kids who want to play a trick on the neighbourhood crone. They approach her house, but before they can do anything, the old woman invites them in and gives them candy apples. This is enough to convince all the kids that she's a good person.

The scene where the old lady invites the kids in is way too reminiscent of "Hansel and Gretel" for me. Of course, Mama knows that the old woman isn't a threat--in fact, she's the one who tells the cubs that appearances can be deceiving in the first place--but I'm not sure if kids will pick up on that or if they'll just see the cubs accepting candy from strangers, overriding their own gut instinct to be wary of odd adults bearing treats.

This was probably a book that I read and enjoyed as a child. I'm not sure if I like it as an adult, though. I think it needs a bit of discussion on the side, especially about making the decision to enter a stranger's house when parents aren't around.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.17 out of 5

Review - The Spooky Sleepover

The Spooky Sleepover (Monster School)
by Dave Keane
Date: 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Norm is just plain normal until he finds himself in a new school where all his classmates are monsters! When his school hosts a sleepover, Norm is nervous that he'll be too scared to fall asleep. But it's not the monsters that he's scared of--it's sleeping away from home!

Join Norm in this wacky, easy-to-read I Can Read story about learning to fit in. Reluctant readers, boy readers, girl readers, monster readers--any beginning readers--will enjoy the wonderfully silly story and the fun illustrations.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I gather that the premise of these books is that Norm is a "normal" boy in a school populated by various monsters. In this book, his class has won a sleepover in the school library. Each of the characters is developed a little by showing how they get ready for bed. Norm is scared. Eventually, his classmates help him feel better so that he can fall asleep.

This would be an okay book but for a couple of things. First, one of his classmates appears to be a set of dicephalic parapagus twins. Unfortunately, she's depicted simply as a singular monster with two heads. (I wish the book had stuck with obviously fictional creatures like zombies and vampires.) Second, Norm is pretty judgmental. Actually, so is the book. It states that Norm is "normal", when he's clearly not; normality is relative, and at his school, he's clearly the freak. But that's not all. One of Norm's classmates, Gill, snores through his gills. Norm states, "That is just gross." Then, his reaction to one of his other classmates clipping his claws is, "That is a little rude." He's also muttering under his breath throughout the book things like, "Of course it is a spooky story," and "It is a scary movie, of course," which seem like passive-aggressive putdowns of the things his classmates like. By the time they all get into their sleeping bags, Norm can't sleep because he's a whiny little baby (he wants his night-light, his cat, and his mommy humming him a song). His classmates--and teacher--step in to provide him with what he needs, even though he's done little throughout the book to try to accept or learn from his classmates' own traditions and preferences. The book ends with Norm thinking about how scary things can be made a bit less scary by having good friends around... and so he kind of comes across as a spoiled little twit.

The illustrations don't really excite me. They're too simple and cartoonish. Kids might get a kick out of some of the wacky characters, though.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend this one. There was a good opportunity for a discussion about overcoming your fears and trying new things, but it was ignored in favour of letting the whiny protagonist stay in his comfort zone and not learn a thing. (Imagine changing the setting to an international school where one student complains about the others' food, mocks their appearances, sneers at their rituals, and then gets rewarded by having everyone cater to his preferences. Somehow, I don't think that would go over very well.)

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - The Littlest Witch

The Littlest Witch (A Littlest Book)
by Brandi Dougherty
illustrated by Jamie Pogue
Date: 2019
Publisher: Cartwheel Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 27
Format: e-book
Source: library

From the New York Times bestselling author who brought us The Littlest Elf comes a sweet new Halloween story filled with gentle spooky fun and one adorable little witch friend!

In this companion to The Littlest Mummy, Mae the Mummy's friend Wilma is the littlest witch in the Spooky Woods. She may be little, but Wilma knows this is the year she'll be able to fly with her family in the big broom-flying demonstration! But even though she knows the flying routine by heart, Wilma just isn't able to fly yet. Will Wilma be able to find a way to participate in the broom-flying fun, or is the littlest witch still too little?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The Littlest Witch tells the story of Wilma, who is the smallest witch in her community. She'd like to fly in the broom-flying demonstration, and she knows the routine perfectly... but try as she might, she just can't keep up with the bigger witches. As she moves through the community offering assistance to the other witches, her small size keeps sabotaging her efforts. Finally, she has to admit that she's just too small. But on the day of the broom-flying demonstration, something goes wrong... and it turns out that, with the help of her mummy friend, she's the only one who can fix it.

The message here is that, even if you might not measure up physically, you can have other strengths that are just as important. I like the way Wilma is empowered to take charge and set things right with her ingenuity, preparation, and knowledge.

The illustrations are quite cute here. There's really nothing scary to look at, so it's a very gentle Halloween sort of story. (It seems that Mae the mummy previously appeared in her own story. If it's anything like The Littlest Witch, then it might be worth taking a look at.)

Overall, this is a strong Halloween picture book with lovely illustrations and a nice message. Recommended to those who like books about little witches who use their smarts to overcome their seeming disadvantages.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5

Review - Sir Simon: Super Scarer

Sir Simon: Super Scarer
by Cale Atkinson
Date: 2018
Publisher: Tundra Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 46
Format: e-book
Source: library

A delightful, funny story of friendship, ghost chores, a spooky house and a professional haunter.

Meet Sir Simon, Super Scarer. He's a professional ghost who has been transferred to his first house. And just in time! He was getting tired of haunting bus stops and forests and potatoes. And to top it off, this house is occupied by an old lady -- they're the easiest to haunt!

But things don't go as planned when it turns out a KID comes with this old lady. Chester spots Simon immediately and peppers him with questions. Simon is exasperated. . . until he realizes he can trick Chester into doing his ghost chores. Spooky sounds, footsteps in the attic, creaks on the stairs -- these things don't happen on their own, you know!

After a long night of haunting, it seems that maybe Chester isn't cut out to be a ghost, so Simon decides to help with Chester's human chores. Turns out Simon isn't cut out for human chores either.

But maybe they're both cut out to be friends...

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a cute story about a ghost named Simon. He's a super scarer, taking his Ghost chores very seriously. After he gets assigned to haunt a house, he thinks things are going to be easy when a grandmother moves in. The problem, though, is that she's brought her grandson, Chester. Rather than being scared of Simon, Chester is curious about him. Too curious. To get the kid off his back, Simon enlists him as an honourary Ghost and gets him to take over all the Ghost chores (so Simon can do his cross-stitch and work on his novel, of course). Things don't go so well, though; Chester's not very good at Ghost chores... and, as it turns out, Simon's not very good at human chores. But the two eventually become friends and work to their own strengths.

The retro-style illustrations are pretty cute. There's lots to look at, especially on the spreads where the duo are depicted in various rooms of the house. The end papers are also a lot of fun. (And don't miss the illustration on the back cover if you want to crack a smile!)

This is a simple story about friendship, with just the right amount of spookiness and humour for the Halloween season.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5

Review - The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree

The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree (The Berenstain Bears)
by Stan & Jan Berenstain
Date: 1978
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

Three brave little bears explore the inside of a mysterious old tree and go into, up, through, over, down, and out.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a bit different than most of the Berenstain Bears books I remember. The story is kind of detached, with no dialogue and little character exploration.

In this story, three little bears (Brother, Sister, and some random bear I don't recognize) go off to explore the Spooky Old Tree. Inside, rather surprisingly, is a mansion (well, I guess if their family lives inside a tree, it's possible...) and the little bears explore it, getting progressively more scared until they finally reach the homeowner's room. Then, thoroughly terrified, they all run home to Mama.

I'm not quite sure what the point of the story is, other than showing the little bears go on a spooky adventure. Surely Mama bear would've known what was in that tree, so I don't really understand why she would've let the kids go poking around in there (some of the situations they encountered were downright dangerous).

I think I prefer the Berenstain Bears stories that are more focused on character development and message.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 2.83 out of 5

Review - In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories

In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories
by Alvin Schwartz
illustrated by Victor Rivas
Date: 1984
Publisher: HarperCollins
Reading level: C
Book type: short stories
Pages: 64
Format: e-book
Source: library

In a dark, dark room, in a soft, soft voice, tell a scary story!

Newly reillustrated, this classic I Can Read full of spooky stories is perfect for beginning readers who love a bit of a scare.

Victor Rivas's silly and spooky art will introduce a new generation to stories inspired by traditional folktales like "The Teeth," "In the Graveyard," "The Green Ribbon," "In A Dark, Dark Room," "The Night It Rained," "The Pirate," and "The Ghost of John."

The original edition has won many state awards and is an ALA Notable Children's Book.

In a Dark, Dark Room is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a short collection of very short stories aimed at beginning readers. Though most are based on older folktales, I felt the stories were kind of watered down, to the point that they'll probably only be entertaining to the age group they're aimed at. Kids might get a sense of accomplishment from reading these little morsels of fright, but older readers are likely to be left unsatisfied.

That said, the illustrations are great. The edition I read features new illustrations from 2017, which breathe some new life into this 1984 collection.

Here are my thoughts on the individual stories:

"The Teeth" - Creepy more than scary--and without much of a plot--this is basically just the story of a boy who encounters a series of men with progressively larger teeth. The fright factor is highly dependent on the illustrations.


"In the Graveyard" - I can't quite tell if this one features fat-shaming or not (but if I'm questioning it, it could probably be construed that way). An overweight woman sitting in a graveyard meets some corpses. She asks them if she will be like them when she is dead. They say yes. The illustrations show a vision of her future self as a skinny corpse that looks awfully happy. Make of that what you will.


"The Green Ribbon" - I think I've seen a version of this story somewhere before. It's probably the most comical and macabre of the bunch. It concerns a young girl named Jenny who wears a green ribbon around her neck. She won't tell anyone what it's for until the day she's on her deathbed... when everyone finds out in a startling way. (The illustrations make the girl look disconcertingly like Anne Shirley... so the finale becomes even more disturbing!)


"In a Dark, Dark Room" - The title of this story is probably the spookiest part of it. It relies on word repetition to build up suspense. Unfortunately, the payoff is kind of... meh. This is another story in this collection that relies heavily on the illustrations; the ending is next to worthless without them.


"The Night it Rained" - If you're over the age of ten, you'll probably have encountered a variation on this story. A man sees a little boy standing next to a cemetery. It's raining, so he offers the kid a lift and the use of his sweater, with a promise to return the next day to pick up said garment. For kids who haven't read something like this or seen the twist, it will probably be more engaging.


"The Pirate" - Here's yet another story that looks like it stars Anne Shirley (this time with bosom friend, Diana Barry). Diana Ruth is spending her vacation with her cousin Anne Susan. Susan tells Ruth about how the guestroom is supposedly haunted by the ghost of a pirate. So Ruth checks the room thoroughly before going to bed, only to hear a big voice! The illustrations are essential to this story, too; readers won't fully appreciate the final climactic scene without them.


"The Ghost of John" - This is apparently a poem written by an 8-year-old girl (who would now be 48, according to the note at the end). It's surprisingly good, considering the age of the poet; I've read rhyming poems by adults that are a lot worse.


I might recommend this to young children who are starting to read on their own. The actual writing is pretty decent, and the illustrations are deliciously creepy (while still maintaining a sense of humour). For older readers who want a story collection that's actually satisfying on a plot level, though, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.

Overall: 2.64 out of 5

Review - Harriet's Halloween Candy

Harriet's Halloween Candy (Harriet)
by Nancy Carlson
Date: 1982
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

It's Halloween, and although sharing might be okay the rest of the year, on this day Harriet's determined not to share her treats with her little brother, Walt. She is running out of places to hide her stash, and there's only one thing she can do... Harriet's hilarious—and tummy-aching—solution will delight everyone who reads this comical tale of a hard lesson learned. This 20th anniversary edition of a Halloween classic is now in a larger format.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The Harriet books would've been around when I was a kid, but I don't remember seeing this character before. (Being completely unfamiliar with Harriet, I went through the first part of the book trying to figure out whether she was a dog or a bear!)

Harriet's Halloween Candy is a very simple story about gluttony and sharing. It has a similar plot to Jane O'Connor's Fancy Nancy: Candy Bonanza, though the narrative is even simpler. Basically, a child (in this case, a dog child) goes trick-or-treating, eats so much candy that they feel sick, and realizes the error of their ways. In this book, Harriet also learns to share (even though it's really her upset stomach that spurs her to share with her little brother rather than any generous feelings).

It's sort of cute, and young children will probably enjoy it. The illustrations are a bit flat and strange, though I think that was sort of the style of things back in the early 1980s (at least, I've seen quite a few picture books with a similar style from that era).

Overall, this isn't bad. I don't mind the plot, and the illustrations are passable. I guess I just wished it had a little more to the story (but I'm looking at it as an adult reader; children might love the simplicity).

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.67 out of 5

Review - The Itty-Bitty Witch

The Itty-Bitty Witch
by Trisha Speed Shaskan
illustrated by Xindi Yan
Date: 2019
Publisher: Two Lions
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: Amazon.ca

Betty can’t wait to be a first-grade witch. But on the first day of school, her classmates start calling her “Itty Bitty” because she’s small and still uses her kinder-broom. Betty doesn’t like the nickname—or how it makes her feel itty-bitty inside. So she comes up with a BIG idea to prove herself: winning the Halloween Dash.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is almost a really great Halloween picture book. The illustrations are fabulous, and the overall message about persevering despite being put down or bullied is great. But the book has a couple of weaknesses.

The first is the writing. It's a bit stilted in places and doesn't flow that smoothly. That's a minor quibble, though, compared to the second issue I have, which is that Betty basically comes out on top because she uses a different set of rules than everyone else. For the Halloween Dash (which is a broomstick race), the teacher, Ms. Fit, tells the class the layout of the course:

"Mind the cave and the trees. Stay on the path. Ride the breeze."

But what does Betty do? She leaves the path and flies through the cave, using her small size as an unfair advantage. On one hand, you can see how the book is trying to show that Betty is coming up with an ingenious solution to level the playing field. But, on the other hand, it's also showing that she doesn't have to follow the same rules as everyone else. Sure, the bullies learn that being itty-bitty isn't so bad, but I feel sorry for the other kids in the race who weren't acting like jerks, who followed the rules, and who lost because Betty decided to, basically, cheat.

That said, the book could offer a great starting point for discussions with kids about whether what Betty did was fair or not. And the illustrations are not to be missed. So I would tentatively recommend this one to those looking for picture books about overcoming bullying, as well as those who want some adorably illustrated Halloween books for their collection.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 5/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - Little Witch Goes to School

Little Witch Goes to School (Little Witch #3)
by Deborah Hautzig
illustrated by Sylvie Wickstrom
Date: 1998
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 48
Format: e-book
Source: library

Little Witch wants to go to school just like her friends, but her mother thinks she should stay home and learn from her witchy aunts. Mother Witch finally agrees to let Little Witch go, but only if she promises to be very, very bad. It's a wild ride on a broomstick that kids won't soon forget! The third book in the popular Little Witch series, Little Witch Goes to School has all the mixed-up magic and quirky humor kids have come to love in the first two books.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Wow. Things have changed since the late '90s. I don't know if a book like this would get published today. Aside from encouraging bad behaviour, the book also minimizes verbal abuse and makes fun of those with intellectual disabilities.

Little Witch is bored because she has nothing to do. Her mother wants her to hang out with her horrible aunts (who do things like throw eggs at the mailman), but when Little Witch isn't nasty enough for their liking, she gets sent back to her mother, who yells at her some more. So she's sent to do something with Cousin Dippy, who's "always doing something stupid" (in fact, she's trying to tape the leaves back onto the branches of a tree because she "doesn't understand about Fall"). Fed up with her family, Little Witch begs to go to school. Her mother relents, on the condition that she behave horribly and not make any friends. Well, of course Little Witch is a model pupil and makes a ton of friends, bringing them all back to her house after school. Her mother gets angry and tells Little Witch to get rid of them. So Little Witch uses a spell to zap them all home. Then her mother tells her she's proud of her for breaking her promise not to make any friends (because it's bad to break a promise... and it's good to be bad).

I just don't like the message here. Kids might think it's funny, but I don't like Cousin Dippy's disability being used for laughs (even her name is offensive) and the verbal abuse dished out by Mother Witch makes me cringe (yelling seems to be the only way she can communicate). While some of the pictures are cute (I especially like Little Witch's coffin-shaped lunchbox), they're not enough to enable me to overlook the more problematic aspects of the story.

For better tales of a little witch, try Patricia Coombs's Dorrie the Little Witch books.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.17 out of 5

Review - Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere

Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere
by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
illustrated by Lorena Alvarez
Date: 2015
Publisher: Parragon
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

It’s Halloween, and there are pumpkins EVERYWHERE! Pumpkins with happy faces and sad faces, silly faces and mad faces. Pumpkins carved as spiders and cats, wolves and bats. Pumpkins glowing, pumpkins bright, and shining in the starry night. Follow the adventures of four little trick-or-treaters as they make their way to their town’s pumpkin parade.

This lively rhyming text explores the many possibilities of a carved pumpkin. Follow the children in their best Halloween costumes as they trick or treat their way to the pumpkin parade, with a fabulous luminescent orange glow of pumpkins.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book is basically just a simple, repetitive poem illustrated with cute pictures. There are lots of things to look at and find in the illustrations, and the bouncy rhythm of the words is pretty good. I'm not sure if this will be a Halloween favourite of anyone except the youngest of children; there's not much of a story. But it would be a fun (and innocuous) addition to a child's Halloween library.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.29 out of 5

Review - Llama Llama Trick or Treat

Llama Llama Trick or Treat (Llama Llama)
by Anna Dewdney
Date: 2014
Publisher: Viking Children's
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 14
Format: e-book
Source: library

Have a Happy Halloween with Llama Llama! Time to find the perfect costume, pick out a pumpkin for a jack-o’-lantern, and then go trick-or-treating with Mama and his friends!

This board book, with short and simple rhyming text and a smaller format, is just right for introducing Llama Llama to the youngest of listeners!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I think these board books are one of my favourite series of board books. They're short, but they're so cute. With excellent meter and rhyme, they'd be perfect for reading aloud. And it doesn't hurt that Llama Llama and his friends are absolutely adorable.

Highly recommended for the youngest of readers, especially if you're looking for toddler-friendly books for Halloween.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.71 out of 5

Review - At the Old Haunted House

At the Old Haunted House
by Helen Ketteman
illustrated by Nate Wragg
Date: 2014
Publisher: Two Lions
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: Amazon.ca

At the old haunted house
In a room with no sun
Lived a warty green witch
And her wee witchy one.

There are all kinds of creatures in the house: a big Ma monster and her wee monsters two, a scrawny black cat and her wee kittens three, a green Pa goblin and his wee goblins four, and more! Count along as the creatures prepare for the Halloween Fright. The text, written in the pattern of the popular poem “Over in the Meadow,” makes reading aloud fun, while the cinematic illustrations set the scene for an unforgettable romp through the old haunted house. Trick or treat!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I must admit, I don't think I'm that familiar with the poem "Over in the Meadow", which this is apparently based on. Still, At the Old Haunted House is a very cute Halloween book that can function as a story or as a counting book.

The rhyming text takes the reader through numbers from one to ten as various spooky creatures and their offspring get ready for... something. It isn't until the last pages that we understand what all the preparations are for. Along the way, we meet dancing werewolves, scratching black cats, and plenty of spiders.

The book is just creepy enough to be great for Halloween, but not so spooky that it's going to scare anyone. In fact, all of the creatures are pretty cute. I thought the rhymes were pretty good (which is always a plus, especially if you want to read the book aloud; this one would lend itself well to that) and the fun illustrations are full of life... even if some of the characters technically aren't!

If you're looking for strong Halloween picture books for young readers, you might want to give this one a try.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 4/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.86 out of 5

Review - Fancy Nancy: Nancy's Ghostly Halloween

Fancy Nancy: Nancy's Ghostly Halloween (Fancy Nancy)
adapted by Krista Tucker
illustrated by the Disney Storybook Art Team
Date: 2018
Publisher: HarperFestival
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: library

Nancy can't wait to go trick-or-treating with Bree and JoJo, and to show off her fancy butterfly costume. But when something spooky catches their eye, the girls are in for a ghostly surprise.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I thought the other Fancy Nancy Halloween book I read was pretty weak, but this one is even worse. Based on an episode of the TV show, Nancy's Ghostly Halloween features an implausible plot and misses out on the fanciness that makes the character so special.

Nancy, Bree, and JoJo are going trick-or-treating. By themselves. Yes, in TV land, apparently a couple of six-year-old girls are responsible enough to take a three-year-old out to wander the streets in the dark. When the girls go out, JoJo is immediately frightened by a sheet, thinking it's a ghost. The older girls try to reassure her, but then JoJo accidentally gets covered in Nancy's cape and they think she's a ghost. They spend the rest of the book running away from the toddler they're supposed to be looking after.

I just don't like these books that are adapted from the TV series. I've seen a few episodes of the show now, and it's cute... but not as cute as Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser's original books. Everything in the show is too slick, and not nearly fancy enough. (And what is the deal with Mrs. Devine? She looks like she got younger by about thirty years here!) Nancy is supposedly dressed as a butterfly, but really, she's just wearing a variation on her usual TV-show outfit with a pair of wings. (Look, the whole deal with Nancy is that she's fancy. Wearing the equivalent of your street clothes with a pair of wings--that can't even be seen under her cloak--is so not Nancy. At least in Candy Bonanza, she had a fancy costume befitting her character.)

The illustrations here are cute in their own right, but they're a bland representation of Nancy Clancy and everything she stands for. If you love the TV series, you might enjoy this book. Otherwise, give it a pass.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.17 out of 5

Review - Fancy Nancy: Candy Bonanza

Fancy Nancy: Candy Bonanza (Fancy Nancy)
by Jane O'Connor
illustrated by Carolyn Bracken
Date: 2015
Publisher: HarperFestival
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: library

Today is Halloween and Nancy can't wait to collect candy from each house she visits. But it's hard to leave all those delectable treats in her pumpkin pail. Is there such a thing as too much candy?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a fairly weak addition to the Fancy Nancy series. I guess every picture book series needs to have a book for each of the major holidays, but this one just feels like the author and illustrator phoned it in.

Nancy goes trick-or-treating with her dad, little sister, and best friend. As she collects candy, more goes into her mouth than into her pail. Soon, she's got a terrible stomachache, and has to be taken home... so she misses the last bit of trick-or-treating.

Dad really dropped the ball here. Who lets a six-year-old stuff her face with candy handed out by strangers? (I don't know if things have changed, but we weren't even allowed to touch our loot until it had been given a once-over by our parents to check for things like tampering.) I guess maybe, in Nancy's neighbourhood, everybody knows everybody. But that's not really expressed (Nancy doesn't even seem to know most of the neighbours' names).

I'm also not a fan of the way one of the "fancy" words is used here. "Exaggerating" isn't quite "a little like fibbing, only fancier". If we're trying to teach new words with these books, the definitions need to be more precise.

The illustrations don't really impress me, either. With these books, I much prefer Robin Preiss Glasser's original illustrations, or even Ted Enik's lovely approximations of the style. Bracken gets close... but some of the magic is missing.

This is probably fine for fans of Fancy Nancy, but as a Halloween picture book, it falls a little short. I'd probably only recommend it if you're itching to read all the books in the series.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - A Teeny Tiny Halloween

A Teeny Tiny Halloween
by Lauren L. Wohl
illustrated by Henry Cole
Date: 2016
Publisher: Persnickety Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

It happens every fall. The leaves from the tall trees that surround her house drift down until the teeny tiny woman’s teeny tiny house is buried completely. Inside it’s dark and a teeny tiny bit scary, but the resourceful woman has a plan and a few surprises up her teeny tiny sleeve.

Written to be shared through read-aloud or story-telling, the type face indicates where the teller should be whispering and when suddenly s/he should shout – surprising the listeners, even causing them to jump, which puts this book in the realm of jump-tales, so popular at spooky-story times like Halloween and around the campfire on summer evenings. Short enough for even young children to remember after reading or hearing the story a few times, the book encourages children themselves to tell the tale themselves, making a family tradition.

Former Disney Publishing executive, Lauren L. Wohl, tells an all-new story starring a favorite character from folklore with an autumnal chill and a special treat that brings the book to a perfect-for-Halloween ending. Children will want to return to the teeny tiny house again and again to enjoy Henry Cole’s illustrations that capture the mood and the humor of the tale.

Sure to be a perennial holiday favorite, like The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, a book that makes the bestseller list every single Halloween!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I was curious to see where this was going to go with the teeny tiny woman and everything else about her life that's teeny tiny. Unfortunately, there's not much else to it. The gimmick seems to be the repetition of the words "teeny tiny" in very small text. The rest of the story doesn't have much going for it.

Every year, the leaves fall and bury the teeny tiny woman's house. She tries to make noise to get some help, but nobody hears her. So she decides to bake cookies. These attract a trio of trick-or-treaters, who unearth the house and then get rewarded.

I don't know... This almost has "Hansel and Gretel" vibes to me. The teeny tiny woman isn't malicious, but still... I'm not a fan of kids accepting food from strangers (especially handmade food). The fact that it's Halloween is probably supposed to help; after all, if these kids had just found some random woman's house in the forest on any other day of the year, it would've set off big red flags if she'd invited them in for cookies.

Child luring? I don't know. It's just a little too creepy for me. The illustrations are cute, though.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Claudette's Miraculous Motown Adventure

Claudette's Miraculous Motown Adventure
by A. K. Morris & Claudette Robinson
illustrated by Pamela C. Rice
Date: 2019
Publisher: Heavenly Enterprises Midwest
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 42
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Little Claudette lives in the magic kingdom of Motown, where all the happy children sing and dance in the streets. Then one day, an angry witch casts a spell, and the kingdom descends into dark silence. Unhappy and bored, Claudette finds a box of Miracles in her attic. Inside are four little fellows—Smokey, Bobby, Ronnie, and Pete—who sing music so sweet. Claudette and the Miracles begin to sing together, but will it be enough to bring light and laughter back to the kingdom of Motown?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I was expecting a little more reality from this one, given that it appears to be inspired by The Miracles (the Motown singing group). What could've been an interesting biographical picture book is instead a strange fantasy involving a witch and a box full of tiny singing men. It's odd, to say the least.

I probably learned more from the non-fiction information at the back of the book. And I enjoyed that part more, too. The story itself is told in rhyme... and not very good rhyme at that. I would've expected more from a book about music and singers! The illustrations are not my cup of tea, either. They have the look of collage, but I think the pictures are done digitally. Digital "rough edges" are not very attractive, and the book has a strange "beginner's Photoshop class" vibe to it.

It's too bad that the authors didn't choose to go in a more non-fiction direction with this. I've read lots of picture books that simply tell the real story of what happened. No witches are necessary. And some of those books are absolutely wonderful, sharing the magic of other people's lives by showcasing passion, hard work, and determination. So, unfortunately, I can't recommend this one. It's not strong enough as a fantasy picture book, and it doesn't include enough reality for it to be a decent biography.

Thank you to NetGalley and Heavenly Enterprises Midwest for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 1/5
Meter: 2/5
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.71 out of 5

Review - Aya and Papaya Keep Trying

Aya and Papaya Keep Trying (Aya and Papaya)
by Andy Abey
illustrated by Leo Antolini
Date: 2020
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Limited
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Aya wakes up with a big smile on her face. Today she is going to the beach with her family! Hat, suncream, towel, bucket, spade… Aya collects up all the things she will need for the beach. She quickly fetches Papaya. It’s time to leave.

At the beach, Aya builds a big sandcastle. But a huge wave washes up on the beach and eats Aya’s sandcastle, mouthful by mouthful. Aya is very sad, until she had an idea to build the biggest and strongest sandcastle in the world.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is probably the weakest of the Aya and Papaya books that I've read so far. The story is bland (until it gets preachy), the writing is all over the place, and mummy... what's up with mummy?

Aya is all excited to go to the beach. Much of the story is taken up with prep for the outing. After they get to the shore, Aya builds a sandcastle... only to have it destroyed by the waves. Her family urges her to rebuild. She pretends she's a princess, and her siblings go and find shells for her. On the way home, she's basically given a lecture about trying again when something doesn't go right.

Do I have a problem with the basic message? No. But I'm not a fan of how it's delivered. Part of the problem is that the writing is kind of weak. And mummy... Okay, Aya's mummy is apparently in the story, but since she doesn't actually appear until near the end, you could be forgiven for being confused. When Aya's sandcastle is first destroyed, she starts screaming. The book states that her mummy hears her cries. You'd think that she'd then be the one to come and comfort her daughter. But you'd be wrong. Curiously, Lilo (Aya's older sister) steps in immediately after to console the child. The way this transition is written--with a long block of dialogue followed by a speech tag that shows us that Lilo is talking--is confusing. This happens twice. The second time is on the way home in the car. The way the dialogue is set up, it sounds like mummy is about to give Aya some advice. The next block of dialogue is long and kind of preachy... and only at the end do we realize it's the sister talking (again)! It seems like a weird speech for a teenage girl to give her little sister. Why was mummy pushed out of this story? At one point, Aya declares that her brother is a prince, her sister a princess, her daddy a king, and her mummy a queen. But one of the pictures shows the entire family--without mummy--standing in front of the sandcastle. Poor mummy!

The pictures are the same as in the other Aya and Papaya titles I've read: colourful and basic. They're just average for me.

It's the writing here (and the inexplicable shunning of mummy) that really irked me. I don't think I'd recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Troubador Publishing Limited for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2 out of 5

Review - Dewdrop

Dewdrop
by Katie O'Neill
Date: 2020
Publisher: Oni Press
Reading level: C
Book type: graphic novel
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

From the author of The Tea Dragon Society comes Dewdrop, the delightful children's tale of an adorable axolotl who cheers on his underwater friends as they each bring their talents to the pond's sports fair!

Dewdrop is an easygoing, gentle axolotl who enjoys naps, worm pie, and cheerleading. When the yearly sports fair nears, he and his friends—Mia the weightlifting turtle, Newman the musical newt, and three minnows who love to cook—get ready to showcase their skills to the whole pond! However, as the day of the fair gets closer, Dewdrop's friends can't help putting pressure on themselves to be the best. It's up to Dewdrop to remind them how to be mindful, go at their own pace, and find joy in their own achievements.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This little graphic novel about an axolotl is pretty cute. Dewdrop and his friends are excited for the sports fair. But as each gets ready to play their part--whether that's weightlifting, singing, or cooking--they experience doubts about their skills. It isn't until Dewdrop reminds them of what's really important that they find the courage to just do their best.

The story is very simple, and the book reads as though it's for very young children. Which is fine! Little kids will probably love the cute little critters, which are rendered in colourful settings that are easy on the eyes. I noticed a few issues with punctuation, which is perhaps forgivable given the graphic-novel format. (The typo "yesteray"... not so much.)

Overall, I think this a pretty decent book for kids with a nice message and appealing pictures. I've yet to read any of Katie O'Neill's longer works, but if Dewdrop is representative of her style, then I think I might enjoy them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing a digital ARC.

Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
Pace: 3/5
Writing & Editing: 3/5
Illustration: 3/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 ladybugs

Review - Boo!

Boo!
by Leslie Patricelli
Date: 2015
Publisher: Candlewick
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 26
Format: e-book
Source: library

The inimitable Baby brings a humorous spin to the holidays in a cheerful e-book perfect for Halloween.

It’s almost Halloween! How should Daddy carve the pumpkin? So many expressions to choose from! What should Baby be—a princess or pirate, ballerina or clown? When the jack-o’-lantern’s ready (looking suspiciously like Baby), it’s time for a little ghost to head out in the slightly scary night. But fear turns to excitement as the pumpkin fills up with treats. WOW!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

After reading Fa La La last year and not being particularly impressed, I figured I was done with these books about the precocious, half-naked baby. But the library had this one, so I thought I'd give it a try. It's actually not too bad. It basically explains the concept of Halloween to very young children, showing them that there's really nothing to be afraid of. Concepts like trick-or-treating, costumes, and pumpkin carving are all covered to varying degrees. (I especially liked the bit about the pumpkins, as it could also be used to teach facial expression recognition.)

So... maybe I was a bit hasty in writing off this series. I still don't understand why this poor baby has no clothes on. Maybe readers just need to go with it...

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 2.83 out of 5